Golfers with disabilities tee off

The 2025 South African Golf for the Disabled Open drew golfers with varying disabilities to complete in this inclusive game

The 2025 South African Golf for the Disabled (G4D) Open took place at The Wanderers Golf Club in Johannesburg from October 20 to 22, 2025. There were 44 entrants from around the world with 42 men and two ladies.

With a wide range of physical and sensory impairments, the Open uses Gross Stroke play, which is the total number of strokes taken by each individual player over three rounds.

While the main championship uses gross scoring, some G4D events on the tour schedule also featured a separate Net event, where players can compete using their golf handicap to allow for a more inclusive competition across a wider range of abilities.

Winner of the Gross division was Spain’s Juan Postigo. The Net division was won by Ian St John from Ireland (the only para golfer in the field) and Roux Steenkamp won the Stableford division.

Players earn points across the season-long G4D tour to crown the top player based on an Order of Merit ranking system. I managed to speak to some of the local golfers after their 18 holes on day two and was happy to see that everyone was trying their best – no matter what their score!

For Greg Wynn, this was his first tournament. He was just happy to have completed the two rounds with a total of 126 and 128 on both days. A stroke in 1999 caused his disability. He has gone on to open an organisation called “Open Hands”, which raises awareness around people with disabilities.

Dehan Van Der Walt has been playing at ERPM Golf Club for the past two years after losing his arm 10 years ago. One of the two ladies, Yolandi Magatye, who has been an amputee since 2018, hails from George. She works and plays at Fancourt, where they supported and sponsor her golf.

Overall winner Juan Postigo is a wonder to watch as he doesn’t play with a prosthesis. Instead, he balances on one leg! The strength he must have in the remaining leg is phenomenal.

Ian St John from Ireland was a pro golfer before a tumour in his spine caused his paralysis in 2016. After nearly two years of rehabilitation, he was discharged and since then has managed to get back on top with multiple top placements in various tournaments. In 2024, he played for the Ireland European team.

Starting golf at age eight has obviously given him the advantage of the knowledge, but he had to start from scratch as a para-golfer making use of a specialised vehicle for which he had to fundraise to purchase. This vehicle allows him to move around the course independently. Once at his ball, the seat straightens up to allow him to be vertical for his golf shots.

The body movement is completely different as the hips are fixed and do not pivot. Thus, all the action is from the shoulders and upper body. Putting is possible as the weight displacement across the four wheels allows the vehicle to not cause dents onto the greens.

I was privileged to be able to watch a session of development golf at Wanderers when scholars from Alma School in Pretoria came through to showcase their weekly golf development session. This school guides and enables both mobility and cognitive impaired children to live with dignity. They use golf as part of their therapeutic programme and I was amazed at the agility of the children and their dedication to these sessions.

Corinne Human, deputy principal, and the entire team of assistants and therapists are dedicated and caring for their scholars, ensuring that their needs are met in every way. CE Mobility provides most of their motorised chairs with Shonaquip assisting with specialist chairs.

Golf is definitely a sport that gets you outside and in the fresh air, however for those permanently in wheelchairs, the equipment can be costly. With determination and sponsorship anything is possible.