Communication guidance.

Practical questions, examples and ready-to-use resources to help golf organisations communicate more effectively about G4D.

31 guidance pointsSearches questions and answers
SECTION 01

From guidance to action

Use the guide as an improvement tool, not simply as a checklist. Focus first on the gaps that most affect whether people can find, understand and act on your information.

1. IdentifyWhat is already in place, partly in place or missing?
2. ActUse the practical actions to make the next achievable improvement.
3. CheckTest whether the information is clear and accessible in practice.
4. Get supportUse EDGA resources or ask for help where specialist input is needed.
SECTION 02

Communication foundations

Start with the shared language, messages and principles that help Federations build and communicate G4D consistently.

Strong communication foundations help a Federation explain G4D consistently, support local activation and create a clearer path from awareness to participation. Communication is also the gateway to helping people understand that golf is a sport offering significant physical and mental health benefits, as well as important social benefits.

  • Use consistent language across website, social media and press content.
  • Make it clear that golf is open to disabled people.
  • Show that G4D includes first participation through to competition.
  • Keep the next step clear, practical and welcoming.

Use terminology that is accurate, respectful and easy to understand.

  • G4D means Golf for the Disabled and is the clearest overarching term for this work.
  • Individuals with a disability (IwD) and golfers with a disability (GwD) may also be used where appropriate.
  • Avoid terms that can confuse audiences or narrow the meaning, such as adaptive golf, paragolf or disabled golf, unless there is a specific local reason to reference them.
  • Recognise the distinction between impairment and disability. An impairment relates to a person’s body or mind, while disability can arise when environmental, communication or attitudinal barriers restrict participation.

Recommended core messages include:

  1. Golf is open to people with a disability.
  2. G4D includes opportunities from first participation through to international competition.
  3. Support can be shaped around the individual golfer.
  4. Local opportunities and informed support are available.
  5. G4D is part of golf, rather than a separate version of the game.

Communication should reflect a wide range of needs without making assumptions about any individual.

  • Offer information in several formats where possible.
  • Keep instructions clear and direct.
  • Reduce unnecessary visual complexity.
  • Consider the needs of people with visual, auditory, mobility and intellectual impairments, neurodivergent conditions, acquired brain injury and long-term health conditions.
  • Ask the individual what support is helpful to their needs.
Accessibility essential

Start with these communication basics

  • Images: add useful alternative text when an image communicates meaningful information.
  • Video and audio: caption spoken content and provide a transcript where it adds value.
  • Text: use clear headings, plain language, readable type sizes and sensible spacing.
  • Colour: use strong contrast and do not rely on colour alone to communicate meaning.
  • Documents: use structured headings, meaningful link text and selectable text rather than image-only documents.
  • Alternative formats: consider easy-read, large-print or other formats when these are appropriate for the audience.
Who may need to help: Communications, digital or web teams, document owners and event teams.
How to check

Test the information before relying on it

View it on a mobile phone, enlarge the text, navigate by keyboard where possible and check key pages with a screen reader. Where practical, ask a person with relevant lived experience to test whether the information is easy to find, understand and use.

Every significant piece of content should usually have one clear primary call to action.

Examples include: Find a local opportunity, Contact the Federation, Register for a session, Speak to a coach, Apply for a pass, View upcoming events, Explore player stories, Access club guidance and Contact EDGA for support.

SECTION 03

Accessibility essentials

Practical basics to help make websites, social media, documents, video and event information easier for more people to access and understand.

Add alternative text to meaningful images so a person using a screen reader can understand the important information or action. Describe what matters rather than simply repeating the caption. Decorative images can usually be left without descriptive alt text.

Example: instead of “golfer”, use “Golfer using a seated mobility device playing a bunker shot during a G4D event”.

Caption all spoken video accurately. Include important sounds where they affect understanding and identify speakers when useful. If important information is shown visually but not spoken, add a written description or explain it in the accompanying text.

Use a clear, readable typeface, avoid very small text and make sure information remains legible on a mobile phone. Use short paragraphs, clear headings and sensible spacing, and avoid placing essential information only inside graphics.

Use strong contrast between text and its background. Do not rely on colour alone to indicate status, meaning or instructions. Check buttons, links, graphics and overlaid text as well as normal body copy.

Where appropriate for the audience, provide information in easy-read, large-print or other accessible formats. Easy-read content should use plain language, one idea at a time, clear headings and supportive imagery where this helps understanding.

Use properly structured headings, meaningful link text and selectable text in documents. Avoid image-only PDFs. Links should explain where they lead rather than using vague wording such as “click here”.

SECTION 04

Website content

Build a useful G4D area that answers the questions a potential player is likely to ask before making contact.

People often research privately before approaching a club. Your page should therefore reduce uncertainty and answer practical questions directly.

  • Can I play with my impairment or health condition?
  • Will I need specialist equipment?
  • Can a coach modify the way golf is introduced?
  • Is the venue accessible?
  • Can I bring a family member, carer or support person?
  • What will the first session involve?
  • How much will it cost and what equipment is provided?
  • Who can I speak to before attending?

Photographs, short videos and first-person testimonials are particularly useful because they allow a potential player to imagine themselves taking part.

Your website should give a visitor enough information to understand that golf may be possible for them, what the first step looks like and who can help.

A strong G4D page should include:

  • A clear explanation of what G4D is and who it is for.
  • Explain to current non-golfers the physical and mental health benefits, as well as important social benefits that golf can offer.
  • Real player stories showing different routes into the game.
  • Details of local clubs, introductory sessions, coaches or programmes.
  • A simple explanation of recreational and competitive pathways.
  • Information about passes, Rule 25 and reasonable modifications where relevant.
  • A named contact, email address and clear next step.
Template

Ready-to-use website resource

Federations can access the EDGA G4D Website Template. It provides a practical starting point that can be adapted with your Federation’s branding, contacts, local opportunities and calls to action.

Avoid making the page only about elite competition. Many visitors will first want reassurance that they can try golf in a welcoming environment.

Use stories to demonstrate possibility, not simply to celebrate achievement. The most useful stories explain where the person started, what concerns they had, who supported them and what golf now adds to their life.

Feature a broad mix of ages, genders, impairments, nationalities and levels of experience. Include people who play socially as well as those who compete. Avoid presenting every story as exceptional or heroic. The player should be shown as a golfer and a person, with disability included only where it is relevant to the story.

A useful story format is: before golf, first contact, first experience, support received, current participation and advice to someone considering starting.

TemplateEDGA player story example featuring Lucy Leatham

More than 200 EDGA player stories

EDGA has more than 200 player stories that Federations may use free of charge. They cover different countries, ages, backgrounds, impairments and levels of participation.

View player story library.

In early 2023, Scottish Golf identified an opportunity to strengthen its communication and activity within G4D. With an EDGA-supported event approaching, the organisation needed to establish relevant online content.

With support from EDGA, Scottish Golf used:

  • Ready-to-use text, photographs and player profiles
  • Content that could be adapted to its own brand and audience
  • Live links to rankings and event entry information
  • Resources that reduced the need for frequent manual updates

This enabled Scottish Golf to establish a dedicated G4D page alongside the announcement of its national event. The website has since developed into a broader resource covering national competitions, EDGA Pass applications and opportunities for golfers with disabilities.

What organisers can learn

  • Use approved white-label content where internal resources are limited.
  • Create a permanent G4D webpage rather than relying only on temporary event posts.
  • Include clear routes to participation, competition entry and player eligibility information.
  • Use live links for rankings and other regularly changing information.
  • Continue developing the page after the initial event.
View Scottish Golf webpage
SECTION 05

Social media

Create a consistent, accessible presence that informs, reassures and connects people with opportunities.

G4D communication should continue throughout the year, not only during a championship week or disability awareness campaign.

A realistic starting point is one meaningful G4D post every two weeks, supported by more frequent content around programmes and events. The exact volume matters less than consistency and relevance.

Build G4D into the main editorial calendar. Plan evergreen posts for quieter periods, including player introductions, beginner questions, benefits of golf, Rule 25, coaching examples and routes into local participation.

Accessibility should be built into every post rather than added later.

  • Add alternative text to meaningful images.
  • Caption all spoken video and identify speakers where useful.
  • Use strong colour contrast and readable type sizes.
  • Avoid placing essential information only inside an image.
  • Use plain language, short paragraphs and descriptive links.
  • Avoid excessive emojis, symbols and decorative characters.
  • Describe important visual action in the caption when it is not obvious.
Action

Put this into practice before you publish

  1. Images: write alt text that explains the important information or action, rather than simply repeating the caption.
  2. Video: add accurate captions for spoken words and important sounds. Describe important visual information where it is needed to understand the content.
  3. Graphics: check that text can be read comfortably on a mobile phone and that text and background have strong contrast.
  4. Written content: use short sentences, clear paragraphs and descriptive links rather than vague wording such as “click here”.
  5. Final check: review the post on a mobile device, enlarge the text and, where available, check how it works with a screen reader.
Who may need to help: Usually the person creating or publishing the content. Brand or digital colleagues may need to help with templates and contrast standards.
How to check

Can somebody still understand the post without seeing or hearing everything?

If the answer is no, add the missing information through alt text, captions, written description or a clearer link to the full information.

Yes. Players can help ensure that content reflects real experiences and avoids assumptions. Invite them to suggest topics, review language, appear in short interviews or explain what helped them begin playing.

Participation must be voluntary and based on informed consent. Explain where the content will appear, how long it may be used and whether partners or media may also receive it. Players should have a reasonable opportunity to review personal quotations and sensitive details before publication.

Respond promptly, respectfully and with a clear next step. People may be asking personal questions about impairment, access or confidence, so avoid making assumptions or requesting sensitive medical information in public comments.

Where a detailed answer is required, invite the person to use a private contact route. Provide the name of the relevant person, a direct email address and an expected response time.

For questions that require specialist knowledge, contact the EDGA team or your Federation’s disability lead before replying. This is particularly important for questions about eligibility, passes, Rule 25, impairment-specific support or competition entry.

Use a clear internal procedure for negative comments or complaints:

  1. Acknowledge the message promptly and move any personal or detailed discussion to a private channel.
  2. Record the issue and refer it to the appropriate named person, such as the communications lead, disability lead or safeguarding contact.
  3. Confirm the response or action taken, and retain a record where the matter may require follow-up.

Record recurring questions because they can become future website FAQs or social media posts.

In most cases, G4D should be visible within the Federation’s existing social channels rather than separated into a small account with limited reach. Use a dedicated content theme, playlist, highlight, hashtag or pinned post so people can find relevant information easily.

The profile should:

  • Use the Federation’s recognised name and branding.
  • State clearly that G4D is part of the Federation’s work.
  • Link to a permanent G4D landing page on the website.
  • Provide an accessible contact route.
  • Pin or highlight a “How to get started” post.
  • Use consistent terminology and visual templates.

The social channel should act as a route into reliable information, not as the only place where important guidance is held.

Use a balanced mix of participation, education, people and competition content. Each post should have a clear purpose, such as informing, reassuring, celebrating or directing someone towards a next step.

Participation

  • Introductory sessions and local opportunities.
  • What happens at a first session.
  • Club, coach and volunteer features.
  • Practical answers to common concerns.

People

  • Player stories and short interviews.
  • Milestones, personal progress and social benefits.
  • Family, peer and community involvement.

Education

  • Rule 25 explained simply.
  • Passes, eligibility and competition pathways.
  • Equipment, coaching and reasonable modifications.
  • How clubs and coaches can create a welcoming first experience.

Competition

  • Entry opportunities and deadlines.
  • Pre-event introductions to players.
  • Results, photographs and short highlights.
  • Post-event stories that explain more than the final score.

The G4D Open brings together golfers from different countries and across a broad range of impairment categories. Alongside reporting results and performances, The R&A invited players to explain why they enjoy golf and the benefits the game provides.

This created content that remained relevant after the competition and helped audiences connect with the players as golfers and individuals, rather than viewing them only through their results or impairments.

What organisers can learn

  • Ask a broad range of players the same simple question to create a consistent series.
  • Focus on themes such as enjoyment, friendship, competition, wellbeing and personal development.
  • Capture players from different countries, impairment groups and positions within the field.
  • Create short content that can be shared during and after the event.
  • Tag featured players, their clubs and their national federations.
See R&A post
SECTION 06

Press and public relations

Give journalists clear, accurate and usable stories that present G4D as part of golf.

A strong story has a clear news reason, a human angle and evidence of wider relevance. It may focus on a new programme, a player journey, a national milestone, a partnership, research, an event or a change that improves access to golf.

Lead with the central news point. Explain why it matters now, include a concise quotation and provide practical facts such as dates, locations, participation numbers and next steps. Avoid relying only on inspirational language. Journalists need a specific story they can verify and explain to their audience.

Important note

Press teams should recognise the different sport classes and impairment groups represented at each event. For example, players from nine sport classes competed at The R&A’s G4D Open. Athletes with higher dependency needs may have a reduced likelihood of winning the overall prizes, but this should not prevent them from being shown throughout the coverage.

Use person-first or identity-first language according to the individual’s preference and the Federation’s agreed terminology. In EDGA communication, use golf for the disabled and G4D consistently.

Disability should not automatically be the headline. Describe the person’s golf, role or achievement first where that is the genuine subject. Avoid language that implies pity, tragedy, suffering or superhuman achievement unless it is part of the individual’s own account and is relevant.

Provide a small, carefully selected set of high-resolution images. Include a strong action photograph, a clean portrait and, where relevant, a group or presentation image.

Images should show the golfer clearly, include the golf context and avoid cluttered backgrounds. Supply a full caption naming people from left to right, the location, event and date, together with the photographer credit. Confirm that consent covers editorial distribution to third-party media.

Do not limit outreach to golf publications. Depending on the story, consider national and regional news, disability media, health and wellbeing outlets, local radio, community publications, education, travel, business and sports industry media.

Match the angle to the outlet. A local newspaper may value a player or club story, while a national sports journalist may be interested in competition, policy or a significant partnership. Maintain a current contact list and build relationships before you need coverage.

Examples from the UK

In the UK, platforms such as the following have published content on G4D and are keen to do more:

  • SEN – Special Educational Needs
  • Able Magazine – Disability Lifestyle Magazine
  • Disability Review Magazine
  • A direct headline that explains the news.
  • A short opening paragraph covering who, what, where, when and why.
  • One or two quotations that add insight rather than repeat facts.
  • Relevant context about G4D, the Federation and EDGA.
  • Accurate terminology and names.
  • A clear call to action or source of further information.
  • High-resolution photographs with captions, credits and consent.
  • A named media contact who can respond quickly.

Keep the main release concise. Put background information, statistics and organisational descriptions in notes to editors.

State your commitment clearly

Across press releases and other formal written communication, clearly articulate your organisation’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility. Explain your mission to create opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in golf.

This commitment can appear within the body of the release and should also be considered for the Notes for Editors or About the Organisation section below the release. Use this area to provide concise facts about your organisation’s aims, achievements and philosophy.

Example: the DP World Tour

Established in 1972, the European Tour group is committed to “Driving Golf Further” through its guiding principles of being innovative, inclusive and global.

Inclusive: “We are committed to include all who share a love for the game of golf. We are passionate about closer collaboration with the women’s game, golf for the disabled and promoting the many physical and mental health benefits of playing golf.”

Template

EDGA Press Release Template: Golf Club

A club preparing to announce that it will host a G4D tournament can use the EDGA Press Release Template: Golf Club. It provides a practical structure that can be adapted with the club name, tournament details, local contacts, quotations and supporting information.

Preview press release template
SECTION 07

Rule 25

Explain how the modified Rules of Golf support fair play, accessibility and enjoyment for eligible players.

The creation and implementation of Rule 25 was a key development in the promotion of golf for players with disabilities. It positions golf as an inclusive, welcoming and equitable sport.

Introduced by The R&A and USGA, the rule applies to all forms of play and all levels of competition. It modifies specific Rules of Golf to better serve players in four broad categories:

  • Players who are blind, including specific levels of visual impairment.
  • Amputee players, including people with limb deficiencies or limb loss.
  • Players who use assistive mobility devices, such as wheelchairs or carts.
  • Players with intellectual disabilities.

Eligibility and classification determine which players can benefit from these modified Rules, but the central principle is simple: Rule 25 supports fair play, accessibility and enjoyment for all participants.

ExampleExample Rule 25 communication asset

Customisable Rule 25 communication asset

EDGA has created a customisable visual asset designed to be shared across your Federation, local unions and golf clubs.

View Rule 25 example
SECTION 08

Branding and language

Use a clear and recognisable presentation that connects G4D with the wider game.

Yes. EDGA resources are designed to support national Federations and partners. Adapt examples, contact details, photographs, language and calls to action so they are relevant locally, while retaining the accuracy and intent of the original guidance.

When translating material, use a reviewer who understands both golf and disability terminology. Do not translate technical terms literally where the result may be unclear or misleading.

G4D should look and feel like an established part of the Federation rather than a separate or temporary project. Use the Federation’s core logo, colours, typography and tone, supported by a consistent G4D identifier where appropriate.

Create a small set of templates for social posts, event notices, player stories, presentations and press materials. Consistency makes the work easier to recognise and reduces the time required to create new content.

Yes. EDGA’s “You Can” campaign is designed to introduce golf to people with a disability in places where they already receive support or spend time, including rehabilitation centres, hospitals and community spaces.

The campaign uses real player experiences to show that people with a disability can play golf, make friends, compete and improve their health. Its materials use clear messages, representative images and QR codes that lead to deeper content such as videos, interviews and written stories.

Federations can adapt the branding and local information while retaining the campaign’s central message. This makes it suitable for outreach beyond golf clubs and for building partnerships with health, rehabilitation and community organisations.

CampaignEDGA You Can campaign graphic

EDGA “You Can” campaign

The EDGA “You Can” campaign is designed for use in non-golfing venues, helping people with disability see that golf may be possible for them and directing them towards further information and participation opportunities.

View campaign overview

The R&A, DP World Tour and EDGA worked with LEXI to develop a visual system that made player classification easier for audiences to understand.

The graphics were used across entrance boards, television coverage and social media, providing each player with a clear and recognisable visual profile. This reduced reliance on lengthy or clinical descriptions of impairment and helped spectators understand the breadth of players competing.

What organisers can learn

  • Explain classifications before the competition begins.
  • Use consistent visual information across physical and digital channels.
  • Keep impairment information clear, concise and approved by the player.
  • Use graphics to support the player profile, not to make impairment the main story.
  • Apply the same system to signage, social media, websites and broadcast coverage.
Key lesson: Explaining classification before and during an event allows audiences to understand the competition while enabling the live coverage to concentrate on the golf.

Example: The R&A’s Just Swing campaign

The R&A launched the global Just Swing participation campaign in March 2025 to broaden golf’s appeal and challenge perceptions of who can participate. Its campaign materials presented golf as an activity for people of different ages, backgrounds and abilities, rather than treating each audience as a separate market.

Including a golfer with a disability alongside girls, boys, adults and older golfers helps position G4D as part of golf, rather than as an activity that sits outside the wider game.

What organisers can learn

  • Include golfers with disabilities naturally within wider participation campaigns.
  • Present the individual as a golfer, rather than making their impairment the campaign’s central message.
  • Avoid language or imagery that separates G4D unnecessarily from other areas of the sport.
  • Ensure representation is meaningful and visible, rather than tokenistic.
Key lesson: The most effective inclusive branding shows that golfers with disabilities belong within the full picture of the game.
SECTION 09

Photos, video and consent

Source and manage strong visual content while protecting the dignity and choices of those featured.

Build a balanced library that shows the breadth of G4D rather than repeatedly using one player or impairment group.

  • People with physical, sensory, intellectual and neurological impairments.
  • Different ages, genders, ethnic backgrounds and levels of play.
  • Beginners, social golfers, coaches, volunteers and competitors.
  • Action, instruction, preparation, social interaction and celebration.
  • Portraits with clean backgrounds for media use.
  • Landscape and portrait formats for websites and social platforms.

Capture the person’s face where possible and show enough of the environment to make the golf context clear.

Use informed consent. Explain who is taking the images, why they are being collected, where they may appear, who may receive them and how long they may be retained.

Written consent is particularly important where a person is identifiable, where content may be supplied to partners or media, or where a child or adult requiring additional safeguarding support is involved. A parent, guardian or authorised representative may need to consent, but the individual’s own wishes should still be respected.

Use the EDGA Photo Consent Form to record informed consent and refer to the your Federation’s approved photography and image-use policy for the requirements governing capture, storage and use.

EDGA provides a substantial collection of photographs, videos and player content that National Federations and partners can use to promote G4D, subject to the stated conditions of use.

ResourceEDGA Photo Library example

EDGA Photo Library

Access photographs from G4D events, players and programmes through the EDGA Photo Library.

View photo library
ResourceEDGA Video Library example

EDGA Video Library

Access interviews, player features, event footage and educational content through the EDGA YouTube channel.

View video library
SECTION 10

Interviews

Use respectful, accurate interview practice when profiling golfers with a disability.

A short interview guide can help Federations gather better stories and support the person being featured.

  • Agree the purpose in advance.
  • Ask the interviewee how they would prefer to be interviewed, such as by email, online call or telephone, as different communication methods may be more suitable for different people.
  • Ask how the person wishes to be described.
  • Focus on the golfer’s experience, views and achievements.
  • Do not assume the impairment is the central story.
  • Avoid intrusive medical questions.
  • Allow the individual to decline questions.
  • Confirm quotations where appropriate.
  • Explain where and how the interview will be used.

For International Women’s Day 2024, the DP World Tour created a feature with Michelle Lau exploring her experience of golf, autism and the welcome she had received within G4D.

The interview covered sensory challenges, anxiety, fatigue, communication and the benefits golf had provided. It also gave Michelle the opportunity to explain that she did not want to be presented as inspirational simply because she has a disability. Her objective was to encourage other people to experience the benefits she had gained from golf and the EDGA community.

As Michelle is a player with an intellectual impairment, additional preparation helped create an environment in which she could communicate comfortably and confidently.

Before the interview

  • Michelle was invited to participate in advance.
  • The purpose and intended use of the interview were clearly explained.
  • The questions were shared beforehand, allowing her time to consider her responses.
  • A quiet and peaceful location was selected to reduce noise and other distractions.
  • Sufficient time was allowed for pauses and retakes without creating pressure.

What organisers can learn

  • Invite players to participate in interviews before the event wherever possible.
  • Explain the interview format, subject and intended use clearly.
  • Share questions in advance when this may help the player prepare.
  • Ask whether the player has any communication or environmental preferences.
  • Select a quiet, accessible and comfortable interview location.
  • Allow sufficient time for pauses, clarification and retakes.
  • Avoid rushing the player or expecting every interview to follow the same process.
  • Give the player the opportunity to express their experience in their own words.
Read Michelle Lau’s DP World Tour feature

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