This summer, Paultons Golf Centre in Hampshire welcomed a field of the best golfers with disabilities from across the UK and Europe. The venue was selected as host of the first Hampshire Disabled County Championships and the EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) President’s Cup. Here, we speak to Hampshire Golf’s county secretary, Richard Arnold, and Paultons’ general manager, Molly Pavey, about the collaboration that successfully delivered these inclusive events.
What was the catalyst for Hampshire Golf introducing a county championship for disabled golfers?
Richard Arnold: At Hampshire Golf, inclusivity has always been a key part of our ethos. Over the past two years, we have had the privilege of playing a key role in supporting the British Blind Masters, an experience that proved truly inspiring. Witnessing the passion, skill and community spirit of the competitors highlighted just how powerful golf can be in bringing people together, regardless of ability. It reinforced our belief that we could do more at county level to provide opportunities for disabled golfers. The Hampshire Disabled County Championships was born from that motivation, to create a welcoming, competitive and celebratory event for golfers of all abilities within our county.
How long was it from initial idea to delivery?
Richard Arnold: From the initial discussion to the first tee shot, the process took around 12 months. The concept evolved through consultation with England Golf, the EDGA, local disability sport organisations and our member clubs. The aim was to ensure we delivered an event that was both inclusive and professionally run, providing a memorable experience for all involved.
Why did Hampshire Golf decide to hold the event at Paultons?
Richard Arnold: Paultons Golf Centre was a natural choice for the inaugural Hampshire Disabled County Championships. The club has a fantastic reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, excellent accessibility and supportive team. Its facilities lend themselves perfectly to hosting inclusive events, and the course layout offers a fair and enjoyable challenge for golfers of all abilities. Crucially, Paultons have an almost unlimited number of buggies, which the competitors and officials rely on, so that played a big part too. Above all though, Paultons also shares our commitment to community engagement and promoting golf as a game for everyone, which made them an ideal partner.
How did you set about ensuring that Pautons was ready to accommodate a disability event?
Molly Pavey: We started by looking at every part of the golfer journey to identify areas where accessibility needed to be improved. This started at the car park, which has to be hard standing for wheelchair users, to improving accessibility to the clubhouse and the facilities inside. When it came to the course, we were really fortunate. Our bunkers are accessible by design, even for those playing in Paragolfers, and our course layout also makes it easy for people with disabilities to get around. We did add a couple of additional bridges and pathways, but those were the only on-course changes we needed to make.
Once we had done our assessment and made necessary changes, we collaborated with BrokenPlayaz to conduct an audit to ensure we hadn’t missed anything. The whole experience was eye opening for me and has changed the way I see the world. So many clubs and businesses have inherited buildings that aren’t accessible and probably have no idea what minor changes can be made to make a massive difference for disabled people.
Were there any other considerations that you and the team took?
Molly Pavey: It didn’t matter how small the change was, we wanted to get it right. This meant, providing staff training. We also consulted our membership. It was really important to have them involved, excited and interested in the event. Many became volunteers on the day, which gave the event a really welcoming, friendly atmosphere.
We also considered the practical aspects of running inclusive events, from course setup and registration processes to communication and support on the day. We wanted everyone to have the best possible experience.
What have you learnt along the way?
Richard Arnold: The biggest lesson has been the power of collaboration. Working closely with players, clubs, the EDGA and other disability organisations has shown us just how much can be achieved when people come together with a shared purpose.
Seeing golfers with disabilities take part has been truly inspiring.
The players’ perseverance, dedication and love for the game are remarkable and remind us why events like this are so important. Most importantly, we have been reminded that golf’s true spirit lies in its ability to unite people through shared passion, enjoyment and opportunity.
Do you have any advice for clubs looking to host events like this?
Molly Pavey: Make sure you have loads of buggies, take all the advice you can get and don’t shy away from supporting this part of the golf community. There are some amazing organisations and individuals out there running successful inclusive events and they – just like us – are willing to share their knowledge and experiences. Golfers with disabilities want more places to play, and that demand is something that all golf businesses should be reacting to.
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