S/Africa disabled students join Canon’s First Swing Golf Competition
Children with varying disabilities from four Gauteng schools got the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Canon First Swing Gauteng Inter Schools golf tournament hosted by the South African Disabled Golf Association’s (SADGA) First Swing Programme and Canon South Africa on in June 2016. For many of the children this was the first time they had the chance to pit their skills against other emerging golfers who too have overcome disability in a regional competition.
The competition took place at the Wits Golf Academy, Raikes Road, Braamfontein. The participating schools were Hope School, West Rand School, Prinshof School and Alma School. All of the participants took part in SADGA’s First Swing Programme which works to develop skills and inculcate a passion for golf amongst young school children with disabilities. All of the young competitors are level 2 and 3 golfers on the First Swing Programme and are able to play four to nine holes of regular golf.
The First Swing Programme offers a platform which exposes children with disabilities to the game of golf. The primary focus of the programme is on rehabilitation and psychological development of disabled children. The programme is operational in 35 schools across the country, with some 800 children benefitting every week.
“Through our First Swing Programme we create a modified sports environment where children with disabilities can participate in sport and feel part of a group. It has tremendous benefits, increasing selfesteem, confidence, respect, responsibility, honesty, integrity and perseverance.