Golfers with varying levels of visual impairment joined their guides – who help them to play and navigate the course – in a clinic as part of a new working project between England and Wales Blind Golf and EDGA.
During the G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters, EDGA’s Head of Instruction and Education Mark Taylor delivered a short-game workshop to four golfers.
On the practice ground at The Belfry Hotel & Resort, Taylor took the players and their guides through short, medium and longer chipping.
While training the players he was simultaneously training the guides using EDGA’s experience on how to develop better communication between player and guide, using coaching techniques such as player-led focus, questioning, checking for understanding, and two-way feedback, all fantastic for developing skills on the course and also building a trusting relationship.
In the player group were two recent champions: Amanda Large won the women’s event of the IBGA World Blind Championships, while Stuart Hutcheson and Large won the 2025 ISPS HANDA British Blind Open in the men’s and women’s categories respectively.
EWBG Board member John Kennedy, who was in attendance with the group, said: “Everyone took something good away from Mark’s tuition. It was some great learning for the players and guides together; the guides learning a lot about helping a player’s approach to a shot and the player/guide communication was also great. We had a drink together afterwards and everyone was buzzing.”
Taylor added: “Fantastic effort from the players and their guides today, everyone learned something positive, including me, which is what you hope for as a coach. The players did great in a busy playing environment and we all had fun out there.
“EDGA has worked extensively with visually impaired and blind golfers to develop specific training programmes not only for players but also guides and coaches. We will next deliver a wider guide education training session for volunteers and guides with EWBG either later this year or during the 2026 season to coincide with an EWBG national event.”
The G4D Tour was launched in 2022 as a partnership between the DP World Tour and EDGA, formally the European Disabled Golf Association. The G4D player pathway aims to cater for everyone with a disability who wants to play golf, and for many, the G4D Tour is seen as the pinnacle of competition with competitors playing on the same course, in the same week, as the leading Tour professionals on the DP World Tour.
Due to the European Tour group’s ongoing financial support, EDGA has been able to raise awareness, confirm eligibility, organise tournaments, and deliver golf development and coach education worldwide.
