Games have fairways abuzz

IN A year in which golf made its return to the Olympic Games, South Africa’s Special Olympics golfers once again showed how the game is still thriving at this level of competition.

The Special Olympics includes million athletes in 169 countries.

Golf is a key sport in the Special Olympics programme and the PGA of South Africa supports this through its association with the Special Olympics SA National Golf Championship, which was played at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club last month.

“The Special Olympics helps us to transform more lives through the power of sport, and golf in particular. It is a key focus area for the PGA of South Africa in terms of our vision of “Touching Lives through the Game of Golf”,” PGA of South Africa chief executive Ivano Ficalbi said. 4.7-

More than 160 golfers, all from Gauteng, took part in the tournament.

There was also a team representing Special Olympics Zimbabwe.

The golfers participated in various divisions, beginning with Level 1 (Skills Division) where they took part in five disciplines including the short putt, long putt, chip shot, pitch shot and wood shot.

At Level 2 and 3, a Special Olympics athlete played in a foursomes team format with a golfer without a disability. They also took part in nine or 18 holes of golf on the West Course at Royal Johannesburg and Kensington Golf Club.

“It’s been a momentous year for golf in terms of the return to the Olympic Games. But for us it’s equally important to highlight how. . . the game is playing such an important role in people’s lives,” said Ficalbi.