Golfers with a disability in Wales will be boosted by a half million-pound fund, an award from Sport Wales with the support of the Welsh Government, thanks to hosting The G4D Open for the first time.
The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a transformative fund to help improve facilities at golf clubs across Wales for golfers with a disability.
It will help enhance the offer provided by golf clubs for golfers with a disability, disabled facility users, care providers and the wider local community.
The Celtic Manor Resort will host the world’s most talented golfers with disabilities when The G4D Open is staged in Wales for the first time from 14 – 16 May, 2026, and will also play host for the following two years.
Established in 2023, The G4D Open is held in partnership by The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association).
A field of 80 male and female amateur and professional golfers from across the world will compete over 54 holes of strokeplay gross competition on the Roman Road Course, featuring nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups which cover categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting.
The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund means each club can apply for funding towards their projects up to a maximum of £20,000. All projects will be required to contribute 20% of the total project cost.
The investment in capital projects at Welsh Golf Clubs should develop the sport, enhance facilities and promote equality, diversity and inclusivity.
“Wales Golf is committed to ensuring that golf in Wales is a game for everyone,” said Wales Golf Head of Facilities and Sustainability, Dilwyn Griffiths.
“The Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is intended to act as a catalyst for growing the game and addressing some of the key factors affecting the organic growth of the sport for golfers with disabilities.
“Following on from last year’s successful Wales Golf Women’s Golf Legacy Fund, linked to Wales hosting the AIG Women’s Open, this year’s fund aims to build upon the impact of Wales hosting world class sporting events as we welcome The G4D Open to Wales for the next three years.
“Wales Golf celebrates the fact that our sport is inclusive, and hopes to distribute the fund to golf clubs who are committed to a shared goal of making golf ‘Everyone’s Game’.”
Eligible projects could include: stairlifts, suitable parking provision, ramps, handrails disabled toilets, changing facilities, benches, braille on signage, accessible tees, automatic doors, signage, driving range modifications and outdoor lighting.
Minister for Sport, Jack Sargeant, said: "We want sport in Wales to be accessible to everyone, and this £500,000 fund is a clear statement of our commitment to ensuring golf is no exception. By investing in facilities at clubs across the country, we are removing the barriers that prevent too many people with disabilities from enjoying the game.
"Hosting The G4D Open at Celtic Manor Resort for the next three years is a fantastic opportunity for our nation, and it is right that we use this moment to create a lasting legacy for golfers with disabilities in communities across the country. I encourage clubs to take full advantage of this fund and help us build a more inclusive future for Welsh golf."
Kevin Barker, Director - Golf Development - GB&I and Africa, at The R&A, said: “We look forward to staging The G4D Open at Celtic Manor Resort in May, the first time the Championship has ever been held in Wales.
“Building on the success of the Championship at Woburn since 2023, The G4D Open will shine a spotlight on golfers with a disability and help further promote the sport in Wales and beyond.
“We encourage clubs to apply to the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund to not only improve their own facilities, but enhance their offering to golfers with a disability and help encourage newcomers into the sport.”
Maria Grandinetti-Milton, Director of Sustainability at the DP World Tour, added: “The G4D Open is one of the most inclusive tournaments in world golf and by showcasing incredible golfers with inspirational stories, the tournament is helping to drive increased awareness and interest in golf for the disabled. The new Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund will be vital in building a long-term legacy, ensuring that people with a disability have the resources at their disposal to try golf and enjoy the many physical and mental health benefits that come from playing this great game.”
Celtic Manor Resort Director of Golf Courses and Estates Management, Jim McKenzie, said: "We are delighted that Wales Golf is launching this Accessibility Fund ahead of our staging of The G4D Open in May. The fund's aims align with our own commitment to making golf accessible for everyone and the enhancements we have been making to the Roman Road Course to welcome the world's most talented golfers with disabilities will leave a lasting legacy for inclusive golf at our venue."
EDGA President, Dr Tony Bennett, added: “The vision of Sport Wales in supporting the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund is a tangible action that clearly demonstrates the importance placed on equality, diversity and inclusion.
“The R&A and the DP World Tour have created a championship that shines a spotlight on the players competing, the venue, and the wider provision of golf for disabled people in the local area. More importantly, it has a ripple effect that can extend across the world as the media covers the three days of competition at Celtic Manor.
“At EDGA, we congratulate Wales Golf, Sport Wales and the Welsh Government on this far-reaching fund. We are confident that the legacy created through successful funding applications and The G4D Open will ensure that people with disabilities increasingly see golf as a viable and health-enhancing sporting option.”
The G4D Open took place for a third time over the Duchess Course at Woburn in May last year, with Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten the respective men’s and women’s winners.
Building on the success of the last three years, Celtic Manor will now welcome one of the most inclusive championships ever staged.
To gain access to the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund application form, clubs must first complete the Club Accessibility Audit.
Upon receipt of a Club Audit, Wales Golf will forward an application form for the Wales Golf G4D Accessibility Fund.
For further information, please visit https://www.walesgolf.org/resource-detail/wales-golf-g4d-accessibility-fund.
