BEYOND THE TEE – NAVIGATING THE COURSE: The player journey for golfers with a disability, lessons learned, and changes made.
This thesis explores the barriers and facilitators affecting participation in golf for the disabled [G4D]. Drawing on a scoping review and qualitative research with 77 golfers with a disability [GwD], it examines lived experiences, access issues, and the practical changes needed to make golf more inclusive. The research highlights the importance of increasing awareness of golf as a viable option for individuals with disabilities [IwD], improving affordability and access, and addressing barriers such as transport, equipment, support, services and ableist attitudes. It concludes with practical recommendations for the game, considers how knowledge can be moved into action through Integrated Knowledge Translation [iKT], and identifies early impacts and future research opportunities.
Authors: Tony Bennett – Supervisor Professor Brett Smith
Read: https://www.edgagolf.com/web24/wp-content/uploads/PhD_TB.pdf
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Performance measures across playing categories in competitive golfers with disabilities: a cross-sectional study
This study looked at golf swing performance in 142 competitive golfers with disabilities across sport classes. Researchers measured how players hit shots with three clubs using radar technology. Results showed large differences in skill and consistency both within and between disability groups. Golfers who played while sitting generally hit the ball shorter distances and had more variation in shot distance, although their shots were straighter. Golfers with visual impairments also showed greater variation in distance. Few other performance differences were found between groups. The findings provide useful benchmark data that can support future research and help golf organisations and tournament planners improve classification and competition systems.
Authors: Kristian Jones | William Wynter Bee | Brad Stenner | Roger Hawkes | Eric Wallace
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Golf for the Disabled – Inclusion, Classification, Care & Performance
In 2016, Martin-Ginis and colleagues highlighted the critical importance of sport for people with disability to help improve health outcomes1, while others outline that sport can challenge negative stereotypes about disability and provide opportunities for full participation in social life. The current paper on golf for the disabled (G4D) highlights why golf can be considered an inclusive sport, how the game is ensuring that the mainstream sport is accessible for players with a wide range of impairments, and describes key considerations for classification, clinical care and to support maximum performance in these players.
Authors: Roger Hawkes | Tony Bennett
Read: https://shorturl.at/knz58
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Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on an international sample of golfers with disabilities
Participation in adaptive sports can mitigate the risk for obesity and social isolation/loneliness in individuals with disabilities (IwDs). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and related changes in physical activity exacerbated existing barriers to participation in adaptive sports. There is limited literature assessing the potentially disproportionate effect of pandemic-related changes to physical activity in IwDs.
Authors: Rose Darcy BS | Christopher Lewis MD | Cameron Fausett MD | Alexander Neuville | Tony Bennett MPhil | Prakash Jayabalan MD, PhD
Read: https://shorturl.at/bgqFU
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The global state of play: A study of the demographic characteristics of disability golfers
Golf is a moderate-intensity physical activity that provides positive physical and mental health benefits. However, the inclusiveness of the sport for individuals with disabilities globally is unknown.
Authors: Stanley Guillaume MD, MPH | Tony Bennett MPhil | Peter M. Allen PhD | Andrew Morrison PhD | Roger Hawkes MB, FFSEM | Prakash Jayabalan MD, PhD