Singapore: Persons with disabilities (PWDs) will have more opportunities to participate in golf under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the Singapore Golf Association (SGA), Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) and Keppel Club.

Appropriately, the signing took place on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – a UN day that is celebrated every year on December 3.

As part of SGA’s strategic plans to introduce and promote golf to the wider community, which includes PWDs, the tri-partite agreement will also identify and develop suitable talents who may represent Singapore at major disability golf tours and high-performance levels.

At least one golf session per month for persons with disabilities will be conducted over a three-year period. Each session will include training, practice, and game experiences at Keppel Club’s facilities.

Under the terms of the MOU, the SGA will also develop a golf curriculum tailored to the needs and abilities of PWDs. SGA squad members, coaches and support staff will facilitate these sessions with Keppel Club.

Together with SDSC, they will also support talented PWD golfers with the potential for high-performance competition, offering them access to further training and opportunities to represent Singapore at disability golf events and tours.

Speaking at a community engagement programme, which is part of the SGA Golf Week that is returning for the second year, Eddie Chua, Honorary Treasurer of the SGA, said: “Our latest agreement with SDSC and Keppel Club reinforces the SGA’s commitment to making golf a very inclusive sport that reaches out to all spectrums of the community, including people with disabilities.

“This timely development also falls in line with Singapore’s Disability Sports Master Plan and we are excited to see how golf will continue to make its wider impact on Singaporeans from all walks of life.”

Kelly Fan, Executive Director, SDSC, said: “This is our first Memorandum of Understanding inked with a mainstream National Sport Association to actively expand sporting opportunities for persons with disabilities. We hope that more sport enablers will join SDSC to champion inclusivity and empower more individuals with disabilities to access sports.”

Maniam Stacy Anthony, Captain of Keppel Club, added: “At Keppel Club, we are committed to making golf a game for all. As a hybrid club, we embrace our CSR responsibility to disability sports and to promote inclusivity, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to experience the game of golf.

“With this MOU, Keppel Club, with its facilities and vision, is dedicated to working with SGA and SDSC to break down barriers and make golf accessible to all levels and communities.”

As part of the SGA's CSR initiatives, all proceeds from this week's 'Golf for All' programme will be donated to the SDSC. The programme allows all Singaporeans to ballot and play a round of golf held across multiple courses in Singapore. Ther entry fee is 50% of the guest green fee at participating clubs.