RSM celebrated its long-established support of EDGA by inviting leading G4D players to special charity tournament at Roganstown Hotel & Country Club.
RSM partners, staff and guests welcomed players who compete regularly in the 140 EDGA-run, badged or supported G4D Tour.
Through the support of RSM, golfers with a disability now have more opportunities to participate and compete in golf.
The day’s team event at Roganstown Hotel & Country Club on 13 June followed the Irish Open for Golfers with Disability, which took place at the same venue the day before. The invited players teed it up with RSM teams for not only a golfing day to remember at this superb golf course, but one that underlines the company’s philosophy in encouraging G4D players with EDGA since 2019.
G4D players included Fiona Gray from County Down, currently 11th in the gross World Ranking and plays with orthopaedic injuries, Cian Arthurs from Dublin who plays with one arm and has been a leading competitor in more than 20 EDGA events over five years, and Scotland’s Gordon Mclay, a lower leg amputee and winner of the 2024 Johnny Reay Classic.
All G4D players feature in one of nine ‘Sport Classes’ created by EDGA to offer competitive opportunities across the spectrum of disabilities. At Roganstown, golfers from Visual and Standing sport classes took part.
Widening participation among golfers with a disability
Niall May, Managing Partner of RSM Ireland, said: "We were delighted to host this important charity event with EDGA and our colleagues at RSM UK, following on from the Irish Open for Golfers with Disability.
“EDGA does incredible work to widen participation among golfers with a disability and to raise the profile of the sport, and the golfers themselves are an inspiration to us all. At RSM Ireland we are committed to working to create an inclusive environment and partnering with EDGA helps us continue to deliver on this. Despite the weather, it was a brilliant day out with great competitive spirit.”
RSM support makes a significant impact on EDGA’s work across multiple areas, including:
- The EDGA-RSM European Net and Stableford Play-off Series for 16 players who qualify through the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability
- The EDGA Gross Series which covers six events in 2024
- Training volunteers (including RSM staff) to provide outreach sessions to a new audience of players
- Supporting women across G4D to ensure golf can become more inclusive
- Golf course/facility training and the donation of equipment
- Continued research and development to better understand the playing needs of golfers with a disability
Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “The support of RSM is so important because it really is helping to change the lives of people with a disability. Just one good example is that we were not at all surprised last year when a number of RSM team members chose to volunteer to help EDGA in providing outreach sessions to a range of disability associations, including delivering our R&A approved ‘first-touch’ golf format for brand new ‘samplers’ wanting to try golf.
“It is wonderful that the team at RSM invited our G4D players to join them at Roganstown, and our players and everyone associated with RSM enjoyed meeting each other and having a great game together. There was much in common on the fairways, as both groups share characteristics such as positivity, the desire for inclusion and the commitment needed to make great things happen. That RSM really understands this philosophy is a credit to all involved.”
