Disabled golfers get boost with partnership

It is less than nine months since The Extra reported on the first Paragolfer arriving at the golf club.

With the fundraising support of Mearns Castle Golf Academy and a local business man, Social Care Ideas Factory (SCIF) are now making plans to take ownership of a second machine and launch ‘Paragolf Scotland’.

SCIF is a Scottish based charity whose founder Charlie Gavigan said: “The Paragolfer, is an idea that changes peoples’ lives.”

“We heard that in the past some disabled golfers from the USA came to Scotland looking to play golf using a Paragolfer machine, but there were none available for public use. The group had to arrange for a machine to be shipped here from Germany.

“That is something we found really disappointing. Paragolfer machines should be available to disabled golfers in Scotland, especially given that Scotland is the home of Golf.”

The Paragolfer provides disabled people with the equipment to play golf with their friends, family and colleagues on a mainstream golf course.

The Paragolfer has three wheels and the console to control it has a joystick that may be familiar to some Powerchair users. After transferring to the Paragolfer you are strapped in.

The Paragolfer is easy to manoeuvre and when you’re in position you simply use the joystick to elevate yourself into the swinging position.

In January 2015 SCIF teamed up with Mearns Castle Golf Academy, where Paragolf has been providing anyone with a mobility impairment (including wheelchair users) the chance to stand up and play golf anywhere on the course.

In only a few months Mearns Castle members, staff and friends of the club have raised over £2780 towards the purchase of a second Paragolf machine, which both SCIF and the club hope to see installed within the next few weeks.