Graham’s story: a bear with a soft spot
A tough competitor who can be a match for anyone, with a laser-like glare down the fairway as he prepares for the next shot. That’s one side of Graham Freeman, who at the same time also likes nothing better than to celebrate great golf and have a laugh with his friends, often accompanied by his soulmate Naomi and their dog Poppy. Life is a paradox perhaps, or maybe two sides are needed to forge a priceless gold coin.
Graham is certainly something of a golfing force, hailing from Belgium’s rolling green landscape. At 47, he is living the game with a passion, offering unwavering determination whether he competes in tournaments, plays golf for fun with friends, helps in coaching sessions to encourage others, or simply practises at his home course of Drie Eycken Golf Club in Antwerp. Most of all, Graham plays for the unique combination of health and joy that the game can offer, in whichever way we choose to play it.
However, behind the smile, Graham is very much a competitive player. He uses technical knowledge, experience and strong hand-eye coordination to strike the ball well and consistently, the latter being an important facet of the game for a golfer who plays from a seated position.
Despite being a T10 paraplegic, Graham takes on the course with his wheelchair-adapted Paragolfer. Crowned Champion of The G4D Open’s Sitting 2 Sport Class in 2023, and with a 13 Handicap Index (at time of writing), he is one to watch out for on the G4D (golf for the disabled) leaderboards internationally.
Given that he doesn’t hit the ball 270-300 meters he relies on a heightened level of skill that belies his golf handicap. Would any ‘scratch’ or ‘plus’ golfer out there like to take a seat in a Paragolfer and take Graham on? The results could be interesting.
For longer shots, timing and rhythm are of the essence. “I am sometimes known for some eye-wateringly long drives, hence my nickname, the Belgian Bear,” smiles Graham.
Graham, originally from South Africa, will also admit that whenever he can play to his full potential, with the good scoring that follows, this all helps to give that feeling of accomplishment (and fun) in doing well as a player; feeling mentally and physically strong and ‘in tune’, and surpassing the expectations of yourself and others. Performing a task well after practise can have a highly positive effect on the psyche.
The sport has many gifts to bestow that can make us feel good: beautiful courses, regular exercise, friendship and social inclusion, even a safe place to call a second home for many. Like the vast majority of golfers out there, Graham subscribes to this thinking absolutely.
“The Paragolfer allows me to be outside in nature and in areas that would otherwise be inaccessible,” he explains. “This means fresh air for health, enjoying old friendships, making new ones, while encouraging others when we can.”
Golf for Graham offers a complete experience, it’s a game that has been close to his heart for more than 30 years now.
“I started playing when I was about 10 years-old and not disabled,” he explains. “It was an 18-hole par-3 municipal course in South Africa. We would try and go as regularly as possible. Before I had a set of clubs I made a ‘golf club’ out of a metal pipe and would use that to play around with in the garden. I am actually left-handed but couldn’t get hold of left-handed clubs so I learned to play right-handed.”
Having long been good with his hands, Graham has been seen helping other seated players in repairing machinery during a tournament.
He also likes to give back to the game. He has helped to lead a number of golf clinics for children who use wheelchairs to highlight golfing possibilities and grow awareness.
Then there is his taking part in a demonstration session at the DP World Tour Soudal Open, held at Rinkven International near Antwerp in May, 2026.
Interestingly, this coaching session and his watching of the tournament will mark the end of Graham’s own ‘Road to The Open’ – from Belgium to Wales and back – a one-month golfing odyssey by motorhome along with wife Naomi and dog Poppy.
Central to this will be his fourth appearance in The G4D Open, which this year takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort in Wales, which was home to the Ryder Cup in 2010.
Graham says: “I’m really looking forward to The G4D Open in Wales, Celtic Manor will present a golfing challenge for everyone but our good golf can be rewarded.
“Our trip started by coming over the Channel. We will all have been on the road for a month in our motorhome. It is all very exciting, full of highlights. It will be fantastic to meet all our friends in G4D.”
Back in 2023, at the inaugural G4D Open at Woburn, Graham was asked to share the Championship’s opening tee shots with Sweden’s Erika Malmberg.
“This was quite an honour and an emotional moment for both of us,” remembers Graham. “To hear your name announced by the Official Starter, the first names being called out, in the first of such an important tournament series, this was a proud moment I’ll never forget.”
The rest of Graham, Naomi and Poppy’s odyssey was to take in a Cotswolds golf fundraiser; up north to St Andrews to play in the Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability; south again for the EDGA Tour London Club; west to The G4D Open in Wales and then making their way back east to home in Belgium.
And back home is Berendrecht, a village on the outskirts of Antwerp. Nearby, Graham is a dedicated member of Drie Eycken GC. He has enjoyed competition success here but continues to do so further afield.
This includes representing Belgium. Graham has played in two EGA European Team Championships (2022 and 2024) proudly wearing the national colours. In the EGA European Individual Championship, in his category, he won a bronze medal in Portugal in 2021, bronze in Holland in 2023 and silver in Sweden in 2025.
A recent performance that delighted Graham came in the EDGA Algarve Open in 2025, where Gross rounds of 87 and 82 at the challenging Pinta course underlined his class. He didn’t win that day but it was an emotional moment for Graham, who was accompanied by Naomi, and they celebrated together those rounds of the highest quality on a challenging course.
Graham and Naomi are a popular couple and known by so many of the G4D players, officials and volunteers as they navigate their own disabilities. Graham adds: “We definitely work well together and can anticipate each other’s needs. If one of us is having a bad day, the other will take over for a while.” Graham says meeting people and sharing experiences is what golf is about in many ways. He and Naomi are always open for discussions on any topic, so if you see them around just go up and say hello. And remember, although he is called ‘the Belgian Bear’, Graham doesn’t really bite.
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Further reading from The G4D Open
Graham is one of 80 players from more than 20 countries who have qualified to play in The G4D Open in Wales, the fourth staging of this Championship by The R&A and DP World Tour, supported by EDGA.
This prestigious international tournament features players competing in nine Sport Classes, making for a highly competitive but also inclusive three-day, 54-hole test of skill and nerve in G4D.
Readers can learn more about The G4D Open here.
The EDGA team has helped create articles on players including Gustav Stigsson Andersson of Sweden and Nicky Weeks of England, fellow English player Lucy Leatham, Guy Harrison of New Zealand and Richie Willis and Mike Jones of Wales.
You can read more (here) about the famous Roman Road course at Celtic Manor and how it has been prepared for staging this significant Championship.
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