“From that first swing it was love at first sight”

How Riccardo Bianciardi met the challenge of his health condition square-on, his smile later lighting up his win at The RSM European Play-offs in 2023. 

 It was a moment charged with emotion. The 2023 RSM Play-offs in England had drawn to a close, and Riccardo Bianciardi, a determined and disciplined golfer, stood victorious in the ‘Net’ category. Wearing the Italian badge on his shirt, he had just achieved something deeply personal and profoundly significant. Overcome with emotion, he called his father, who, through a flood of tears, shared in his son’s triumph. This was more than just a sporting victory, it was a testament to resilience, dedication, and the boundless possibilities of golf as an inclusive sport.

For Riccardo, the journey began in 2004 when he first encountered golf through a school project. From that first swing, it was love at first sight. Golf offered not only a challenge but also a sense of purpose. The fairways of Abbadia Golf Club in Colle di Val d’Elsa, Siena, became his proving ground, a place where he honed his skills under the guidance of dedicated teachers. Over the years, he mastered the art of patience, perseverance, and self-improvement. Today, with a handicap of 9.9, he competes at a high level.

However, the road to success has not been without its issues. Riccardo was born with cortical dysplasia and hemiplegia, a condition that weakens the right side of his body. To some, such a diagnosis might have seemed an insurmountable barrier to athletic achievement. Yet, for Riccardo, golf became a vehicle of transformation, his own personal renaissance. The essence of the game, the duel between the player and their surroundings, resonated deeply with him. As he once reflected, “The beauty of golf is the challenge between you and the course. I have always worked hard and though I love to smile on the golf course and enjoy it, I am also very competitive!”

Riccardo’s story is made hand-in-hand with this philosophy. Each shot, each round, and each victory over the terrain mirrored his own triumphs over adversity.

Embracing the tough hours of practice and having a steely focus out on the course, Riccardo has refused to let his condition define his limits, and the support of RSM has been instrumental in this pursuit. His determination was on full display in 2022 when he won the EDGA Giovanni Nasi International, an extraordinary feat accomplished just nine months after undergoing a kidney transplant. That victory meant more than a trophy for this friendly and engaging man, who combines his unwavering resolve with a joy for playing shared with those around him on the course. His success underlined the very ethos of golf: strategy, discipline, and the willingness to endure setbacks in the pursuit of excellence.

Yet, playing golf with a disability presents unique challenges. For Riccardo, balance and weight distribution are constant concerns. Hemiparesis, which affects his ability to twist his body for optimal shots, forces him to adapt his technique. A loss of balance can mean the difference between a perfect drive and a missed opportunity. However, rather than be discouraged, he meets the task square-on. He works diligently to strengthen his body, knowing that, just like in golf, progress requires patience and persistence.

Riccardo acknowledges the profound impact of RSM in making sport more inclusive, providing players like himself with the chance to compete on prestigious stages. For Riccardo, support from RSM and other leading organisations has helped him discover the true essence of the sport, not just as a game of skill, but as a powerful tool for personal and collective growth.

– With thanks to RSM for their support. Click here to find out more about the RSM European Play-offs

– You can read more detail on Riccardo’s golf and life here with EDGA.

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