The life-changing power of disability golf

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Golf helps all of us in so many ways; it keeps us fit, lifts our mood and provides a great way of making new friends.

But perhaps the one thing that most sets it apart from so many other sports is its inclusivity.

Anyone can play golf, absolutely anyone.

No matter what your age, ability or fitness level, golf is totally accessible to all.

This makes it a particularly brilliant sport for those with mental and physical disabilities and EDGA, formerly known as the European Disabled Golf Association, has set itself a target of getting 500,000 more people into the game.

Advocate of disability golf Aimi Bullock is one player who’s determined to help them do this.

Diagnosed with MS a few years ago, she tells W&G how disability golf has totally changed her life for the better.

“Four years later I was officially diagnosed with MS - I had a really bad episode, had to give up work and sell my business.

Then, one night when I reading about athletes who had MS on the internet, I stumbled across disability golf and EDGA.

I was already a casual golfer and a member of a club so I thought ‘sod it’ and decided to just go for it and enter some competitions.

So, even though I’d barely played in even a club comp before, my first event was the EDGA European Individual Championships.

My best friend, who had never even been on a golf course before in her life, caddied for me and we just didn’t have a clue what was going on. We just copied what everyone else was doing and there’s a brilliant photo of me sitting in a buggy looking so petrified and like I’m going to wet myself.

But the best thing ever happened to me there; because it was at this tournament that I met some fantastic friends from all over Europe.

I was playing with a Danish lady who had cerebral palsy and after chatting for a little bit and on around the third hole, she turned to me and said: “you’re part of our family now”. It was so lovely and she was totally right.

I don't say this likely, we are like one big family and it has honestly made such a difference to my life.

So from that point I decided to take golf a bit more seriously and I got my handicap down to 6.

People with MS are stereotypically very stubborn; I was so keen to prove I could still do things and it was even a big deal when I stopped carrying my bag through every round.

Last year I had so many amazing experiences that I’ll never forget. I was captain of the English Disability B Team and I also got to play on the final practice round day of the Solheim Cup at Gleneagles. I was introduced on the first tee like the players are and interviewed by Iona Stephens afterwards. It was phenomenal.

Then I was put forward for the R&A leadership programme and that was really amazing too.

I love golf; I love the difference it has made to my life.

I have been through some very bad times but out of all that I have found disability golf. I’m so grateful for that.

Particularly during lockdown, having friends around the globe helped remind me the rest of the world did still exist and it was actually bigger than my living room.

Golf is great for my mental health and my fitness, and my neurologist keeps telling me how specifically brilliant it is for my MS health too.

For people with disabilities it’s better than many other sports because all you have to do is worry about yourself and your body as the ball is staying still.

It’s really nice to meet like-minded people who have the same disability as you as well.

There are so many reasons why I’m passionate about getting more women playing.

I’m in a situation where I’m not well enough to work but I can volunteer. I was going to start running some disability get into golf schemes and we had dates scheduled for April and May. But as we're a group who are all very vulnerable, it’s not going to be possible to do it for a while now.

I have a dream of creating a hub in every county where disabled women can go and experience golf. Including myself there were only four women in the last English Disability Championships, it’s not enough. I would love to create a women’s competition for all abilities."

If you know someone with a disability who might benefit from golf, why not share her Aimi's story with them?

It's amazing to hear about the difference disability golf can make and we wish her the best of luck with her mission to grow the game.

For more information about EDGA visit edgagolf.com.

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