DIFFERENT STROKES
How Irish Amateur Open champion Peter O’Keeffe is working to help people overcome disabilities through golf
PETER O’Keeffe will take on some of the best golfers in the world when he begins his defence of the Flogas Irish Amateur Open title at Royal County Down today.
But the 6’5” gentle giant from Douglas gets as much pleasure out of helping people stay active despite battling physical or intellectual disabilities.
Thanks to the support of the Cork Sports Partnership and with help from friend Darren Prince, a registered physical therapist, the Irish champion will give the first of four “Cork Golf for All” clinics at Mahon Golf Club next Tuesday, May 22.
Designed to help people who might have suffered a stroke or are living with other physical or intellectual challenges, he’s hoping the project will take off and lead to more support for people who are no longer able to enjoy the game as fully as they did before or simply need to take up a sport for some exercise.
“I have a sister-in-law with special needs and Darren is a good buddy of mine,” Peter said this week. “He had a client who had a stroke and has very restricted movement with only the use of one arm.
“So I have been doing a bit of work with him to get him moving and it’s worked well.
“Working in tandem with the Cork Sports Partnership, we are starting this four-week ‘Golf For All’ course at Mahon where anyone with a disability can come and give it a go.
“The CGI came down for the initial meeting and they are behind it as well so we are hoping it leads to something.
“A man in his sixties, a golfer I knew who had had a stroke, came to our initial meeting and just said, ‘All I want to do is get involved in something.’
“So it’s very rewarding and while it means looking after people with a wide range of challenges, it’s great to be able to help.
“Disability – whether it be physical or intellectual – is something that’s in lots of people’s families all around the country and getting out and about is hugely beneficial.”
Young Corkman James Dorney suffered a stroke in his teens and golf with O’Keeffe was something his physical therapist Prince felt might be just what he needed to get the exercise he needs to avoid a secondary stroke.
“Subsequent to his stroke he had an acquired brain injury but he functions well,” said Prince, who is also TPI certified said. “He’s an inspiration to me. It just shows you what spirit can do.
“James came to me in my capacity as a physical therapist and we had tried many things to get him active but it was sometimes a challenge.
“One day he said he’d been to the driving range to hit a few balls so I said ‘Well that came from you, we need to latch on to this.’
“From a balance and movement point of view and even a social normality and cardio point of view, golf is just great.
“If we get him moving more, that reduces his risk of having a secondary stroke, which is obviously vital.
“So I brought him into Peter, and
the transformation in his ability to move was amazing from the first session to now.
“We have him rotating to his left side, and he is moving his back, and his shoulders and there is a positive side effect when it comes to cardio.
“So with the focus on improving his golf swing and hitting the ball further, we can get James to do all the exercises he couldn’t do in the past.
“As he said after meeting Peter for the first time, ‘Well, he’s too big to hit him, so I guess will have to do what he says’!”
Arising from their work with James, Peter and Darren arranged a meeting with various parties they felt could help them start a bigger enterprise.
“Sports Disability with the Cork Sports Partnership organised for Mahon Golf Club, under the control of the City Council, to provide us with the golf course for free for four weeks. So we are going to set up stations and figure out what we can do,” Darren said.
“With Ireland recently signing up for Disability Golf our logic is that if we can bring disability golf into the mainstream, it could really grow.
“With clubs having quiet times midweek, we believe that if we can have these golfers and their carers playing, that’s great for them and it brings revenue back into the club.
“There are also lots of golf pros doing a lot of similar work with people who are able-bodied. Wouldn’t it be an unbelievable challenge to take people who are disabled, who have Down Syndrome or have had a stroke and help them play golf. We would love the GUI to accredit each golf club that facilitates this so that it happens from the top down.
“You can say to people who might have had a stroke that golf will still be there for them because there will be pros and people there willing to help them get back. That’s our philosophy.”
The “Cork Golf for All” programme begins on May 22 and will be held at Mahon GC on Tuesdays from 6-7pm. The cost is €20 and it is suitable for adults aged 18 years or over with a disability.
To register contact Pádraig Healy, the Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with the Cork Sports Partnership at phealy@