Breaking down the barriers: Tom’s journey

Tom Doherty fought back from a serious accident to be a champion for inclusive sport. In golf, he’s also no mean player, now a proud twice-winner of The RSM European Play-offs.

The Irishman’s opening comment deserves to be echoed. “Let’s spread the waves, let’s move those barriers,” Tom says with conviction. His words encapsulate the very essence of what EDGA strives to achieve; creating opportunities for golfers with disabilities to thrive, compete, and most importantly, feel part of a wider community.

Tom Doherty is no stranger to the power of inclusion. He has witnessed first-hand how golf has the ability to bring people together, fostering camaraderie and a shared sense of purpose. For him, the game is not just about competition; it’s about connection, confidence, and creating spaces where everyone belongs. In his native Ireland, strides are being made towards a more inclusive golfing landscape, and Tom has taken it upon himself to ensure that his local Kerry region is in this mix.

A 20-handicap golfer, Tom is not defined by performance but by his relentless enthusiasm and ability to bring people together. A former sports administrator, he has the skills, the passion, and the network to effect real change. Golf has become his platform, a means through which he can inspire others and continue his own journey of resilience.

His most recent achievement? Claiming his second RSM European Play-off Series championship title in the Stableford at North Hants Golf Club in 2024, an event proudly supported by RSM. His win is significant not just for the trophy, but for the message it sends: golf is for everyone, and with the right support, people of all abilities can flourish.

Tom’s journey into golf for the disabled was shaped by an accident that changed his life forever. As a 15-year-old student at St Brendan’s College in Killarney, sport was everything to him. He dreamed of glory on the Gaelic football field, on the athletics track, and even in the European Cup for Liverpool FC. But in one unexpected moment, those dreams were shattered.

He recalls: “I was an energetic youngster, loved Gaelic football, soccer, basketball, athletics, you name it. My school had a big church beside it and a dyke that ran alongside a pavement. My friends and I were there on our bikes doing ‘wheelies’. I did a poor six-foot wheelie, expected a bit of teasing, and tried again. This time, when I turned the handlebars, the wheels didn’t turn. I rolled off in a somersault and was paralysed from the chest down for a few weeks.”

What followed was an immensely difficult period, not just for Tom but for his entire family. His education was disrupted at a crucial stage, and his recovery required extensive treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in County Dublin. He spent six months there and continued to receive therapy in school holidays.

“My family were always very supportive. My mother, a true Irish mammy [he smiles], made sure they all came to visit me, even though Dublin was a three-and-a-half-hour journey away. They stayed close by, especially at Christmas.”

The accident changed everything, but it also gave Tom a unique perspective on life. “As a teenager, you see things a certain way. But an experience like that makes you appreciate life much earlier than most people do. I valued it then, and I hope I always will.”

Tom regained movement in his left leg, but his walking spinal injury means he now uses a cane and a buggy on the golf course. Every step requires careful precision to avoid tripping or losing balance. Yet none of these challenges have diminished his love for the game or his determination to promote inclusivity.

Tom’s story is one of resilience, but it is also a call to action. Golf should not be a sport of exclusion, but one that welcomes all, regardless of ability. His message is clear, opportunities must be created, barriers must be dismantled, and more people need to step forward to support initiatives that make golf truly inclusive.

Thanks to EDGA and the unwavering support of RSM, that vision is becoming a reality. And as long as people like Tom Doherty continue to spread the waves and move those barriers, the game of golf will be better for it.

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

– Learn more about Tom’s golf and life here in our EDGA profile.

Contact EDGA