The South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA) First Swing Programme (FSP), sponsored by Canon South Africa, is gearing up for its fourth annual Inter Schools Gauteng Festival at Zwartkop Country Club on Thursday, August 15. The event will see aspiring young golfers with disabilities compete in a modified golf environment.
FSP exposes children with disabilities to the game of golf. Its primary focus is on the rehabilitation and psychological development of children with disabilities. The programme is operational in more than 35 schools across the country, with some 750 children benefiting every week.
It also arranges an interschool tournament to give the young players an opportunity to participate in competitions. Provincial tournaments are hosted annually for the elite golfers. All the young players competing in the FSP Inter Schools Festival are from Gauteng schools where the programme runs.
Each of the participating schools will be represented by ten children with physical disabilities. They will play on a modified golf course created especially for the children on the putting and chipping areas at Zwartkop Country Club, where the event has been hosted over the past three years.
The participating schools include Alma School, Pretoria; Hope School, Randburg; and WestRand School, Krugersdorp.
Canon South Africa has supported SADGA since 2001 with a focus on the FSP and the South African Disabled Golf Open.
“We are delighted once again to be part of bringing the FSP Inter Schools Festival to fruition,” says Dana Eitzen, corporate and marketing communications executive of Canon South Africa. “These competitions are immensely spirited. The children revel at the chance to be part of the action and show off their golfing skills. It is gratifying to see how their confidence and abilities have grown over the years.”
The festival will kick off at 10h00 at Zwartkop Country Club. Spectators are welcome to come and cheer on the young players.
