Disabled people got into the swing of golf at the Brian Mayo Disability Golf Open, held on Monday June 16.
Around 25 golfers with a range of disabilities were able to take to the course at Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel and Spa, thanks to Sport Caerphilly, Disability Sport Wales, the Welsh Disabled Golf Association and Golf Development Wales.
Bryn Meadows first accommodated disabled golfers in 1989, when enthusiast Brian Mayo contracted meningitis after licking a golf ball contaminated with weed killer. Doctors were forced to amputate both his legs, but he was able to continue playing the sport he loved thanks to Bryn Meadows. He sadly died in 1999, but disability golf is back at the hotel giving disabled people the chance to enjoy this great sport.
Mike Overton from Usk, who had half of his right leg amputated around ten years ago and is the Chairman of the Welsh Disabled Golf Association, commented, “This event is great for getting more people involved in the sport. We are quite a small group of golfers so it is wonderful to see people with a whole range of disabilities gathering for a good game of golf.”
All of the golfers who took part in the event had a disability ranging from amputations, visual impairments, cerebral palsy and deafness. Stan Bembenek, who was the only golfer at the event with two impairments, is deaf and has also had his whole left leg amputated. The 64 year old CEO for the Disability Golf Association in England had travelled all the way from his home near Reading to take to the fairway with other disabled golfers.
Cllr Dave Poole, Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure Services, said: “We pride ourselves on being inclusive in Caerphilly County Borough and this is just another event we have been involved in which shows that anyone can take part in sport regardless of disability. I hope everyone enjoyed their time on the course today and come back to visit for another game soon.”