“I started golf after a very difficult time and was encouraged by my friends. The sport allowed me to smile again after living with fear.”
Giving her confidence, keeping her well, playing her best: golf is about so many things for Luisa Ceola. Wearing the badge of Italy, she is now also a groundbreaking international golfer.
Together with nine other ‘G4D’ players (‘golf for the disabled’) from seven countries, this calm and generous-spirited golfer from Padova near Venice played in a first-of-its-kind ‘Net’ tournament presented on the established international G4D Tour, which is staged by the European Tour Group, supported by EDGA.
The event was the G4D Tour @ Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Championship held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January, one of nine G4D Tour events in 2024 at the pinnacle of G4D sport, played in the same weeks and on the same courses as by the star professional golfers of the DP World Tour.
In a ‘Net’ event players can compete using their golf handicap as part of their scoring, a format which is more inclusive to players with a range of abilities. However, this UAE field all qualified through consistent performances over time to earn points on the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability. The achievement in qualifying should not be underrated for a second.
Having earned her place, Luisa, a member at Padova Golf Club, embarked on the 5,600-mile round-trip to test herself on the challenging Al Hamra Golf Club layout.
Her presence at the tournament held special resonance after a lifelong health battle. Luisa was born with a rare genetic condition (not accurately diagnosed for many years) affecting her legs, joints, spine and circulation, that is thought to have led to a heart attack when she was 29. She also had to battle a rare cancer in her right leg at 43 years-old. From those days of concern, golf had been her growing friend and ally to keep her fit, sometimes allowing her to escape from her worries, while giving her the positive feelings to move forwards in her life with more vigour.
Before her G4D Tour debut in January Luisa admitted to being nervous but liked the feeling “that there are no limits. To play on the same course as the biggest champions makes me feel over the moon.”
Luisa later wrote to us: “Playing on the G4D Tour was amazing. I was impressed that we G4D players were effectively DP World Tour players for the week and we were treated by the organisers as equal to the professional players.
“I really appreciate the total inclusion that exists in the EDGA and G4D competitions, that is, regardless of the type of disability, your gender, regardless of your age, we play together in the same tournament. I think this is the best.”
The 10 featured players in the UAE included leg amputees, an arm amputee and those with neurological, orthopaedic and intellectual disabilities.
A key ambition of these tournaments is to provide a showcase for ‘G4D’ to encourage players both established and new at all levels of the player pathway, from the person taking tentative first putts and chips as a ‘sampler’ to those who become participants, and players who wish to test themselves further in competition at different levels.
This central aim is embraced by the European Tour Group and The R&A in key G4D events: the G4D Tour is featured on the DP World Tour global feed, which is served to broadcasters in 165 different countries, while a great many people will see clips and stories of players on social media.
Luisa earned her place after an outstanding 2023: winning the Italian Open for Golfers with a Disability by seven shots in April and returning to the same venue of Royal Park I Roveri in October to win the EDGA President’s Cup by five clear strokes, playing off around a 14 handicap.
It has marked a new chapter in her wider story including the very real part golf has played in her rehabilitation, and its role in promoting her confidence to get more out of life. You can read and listen to this story on the EDGA website: Luisa’s article is among nearly 150 stories of endeavour, spirit and skill, and the joy that golf can offer golfers who have a disability, wherever they are in the game.
Luisa tells you that golf, along with her daughter Emma, offers the joy in her life. “I remember… It was better than any medicine. It filled my head with new goals and took away many other thoughts. Golf represents the freedom to pursue my dream. I don’t feel invisible, I feel good and happy… forget the hospital, the doctors, this is like being in heaven for me.
“I started golf after a very difficult time and was encouraged by my friends. The sport allowed me to smile again after living with fear. Being in tune with nature for a few hours every week, with fresh air cleansing my lungs, and the warm Italian sun on my face. To learn the game I had to focus on balance and motor co-ordination but I have a fierce determination and commitment to training.”
At Ras Al Khaimah, Luisa teamed up with fellow female competitor Michele Lau of England to talk golf and life when not on the fairway. Luisa writes: “I think there is mutual respect between us and a strong bond that goes beyond the fact of having played together in two different tournaments. Both of us play against ourselves to improve and not simply against other players, and that is as the game of golf should be. I feel very honoured to have Michelle’s friendship.”
Luisa wants to see more women and girls taking to the fairways, including in these top level events. She signed up to be an EDGA Advocate, and together with fellow Italian player and Advocate Alessandra Donati, volunteers to spread the word about why golf is great for everyone to try.
“I hope that with the example of the opportunities that can be created with golf and EDGA there will be more and more people who have the strength to participate in our tournaments. The first difficulty to overcome for some is to declare oneself disabled publicly, but I like to think that disability is a characteristic and not a limitation.
“I also like being able to talk about invisible disability because nowadays I think that the time is ripe to undermine the common concept that disability is only what you see. There is no need to be ashamed of declaring that you have hidden difficulties.”
After her recent tournament success, Luisa says she must thank all her family for their recent and long-term support: Mirco, her partner, for his patience and being the best caddie in the world at her tournaments; the Italian Golf Federation who believed in her potential; all her coaches in the National Paralympian Team and a special thanks for the quality of support from her coach, Alex Senorer, and her mental coach Tullia Calzavara (former professional on the Ladies European Tour). She has relied on all of them to reach her goals.
Looking ahead to the future, Luisa says she wants to continue to have fun. “I think the most important thing is to enjoy golf as long as you work hard to chase a dream. My dream is still to play to ‘one digit’ [single figure handicap]… I haven’t achieved it yet. Maybe I’ll never reach this but it doesn’t matter. In my experience it’s really helpful to have goals that aren’t just work and family.”
“I can’t think of my life without golf. I wouldn’t have the same quality of life that I experience thanks to golf. It is for this reason that I am very happy to talk about how good golf is for me because I hope that more people will become players and have these fantastic opportunities that I am experiencing.”
We thank Luisa for writing so well about her progress. What a year it has been for her in golf, and keeping pace with this competitive focus, her generosity, thoughtfulness and humble attitude remain as consistent as ever.
You can listen and read more about Luisa’s wider story here. On our website at www.edgagolf.com you will find many other stories of people with different disabilities all over the world who are thriving through playing golf.
NB: When using any EDGA media, please comply with our copyright conditions