Date: May 24, 2019
Author: Mark Hayes

Making the Bellarine truly accessible

The Curlewis Golf Club has continued its bent for innovation, this time in the All Abilities realm.

The club, located east of Geelong, will tee up a new program with GenU in making the Bellarine golf region accessible for people with a disability.

The GenU & Golf Australia initiative begins with a FREE come-and-try clinic on Friday, 7 June, for golfers with a disability at the Range @ Curlewis.

The feature of the day might well be the ParaGolfer, the all-terrain wheelchair that elevates users into a standing position to permit a conventional golf swing.

“But we’ll also have qualified PGA all abilities coaches on hand to help anyone who wants to enjoy what golf could become in their lives,” said Christian Hamilton, Golf Australia’s senior manager of inclusion.

Hamilton is excited the entire region will become accessible for all golfers through the initiative.

“It’s the first time we have taken this approach with a partner such as GenU whereby we will be able to make an entire region accessible with the Paragolfer able to move around local clubs and facilities,” he said.

“And we couldn’t be more delighted that Curlewis is leading the charge to get everyone involved.”

The program will also include sessions at XGolf in South Geelong and more venues with programs run by PGA all abilities coaches in the region.  

To book a spot, contact Katie Bourke at GenU on email at katie.bourke@genu.org.au or via phone at 0488 100 074.

The clinic will be held from 2-4pm at The Range @ Curlewis, the club’s innovative practice facility, function centre and restaurant adjacent to the club.

NB: the author of this article is a (proud) member of Curlewis GC