Wales’ Richie Willis will proudly tee up alongside the world’s best on home soil in next week’s G4D Open at the Celtic Manor Resort – after golf played a key role in his recovery from an accident that claimed his leg.
The 68-year-old will join many of the sport’s most talented golfers with disabilities for the first-ever staging of the Championship in Wales (14-16 May), following three previous editions at Woburn.
Staged in partnership by The R&A and the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA (formally the European Disabled Golf Association), the Championship is one of the most inclusive ever held.
The G4D Open features nine sport classes across multiple impairment groups, with 80 men and women players of both amateur and professional status set to compete over the renowned Roman Road Course in Newport.
Willis – a member at Celtic Manor for 25 years who has played an estimated 3,000 rounds on the Roman Road lay-out – will fittingly have the honour of striking the first tee shot when he makes his Championship debut next Thursday morning.
A golfer since his 20s, playing in the summer off-season away from his life as a semi-professional footballer, Richie’s life dramatically changed after he needed an above-the-knee right leg amputation following a road traffic accident aged 41.
In December 1999, the articulated lorry he was driving was blown onto its side and slid into the central reservation while crossing the Severn Bridge on the M4. His liver was also lacerated and he was initially only given a 10% chance of survival. Golf has since played a huge part in his rehabilitation.
“Golf has been a really important part of my life since the accident and it's wonderful that people of all ages and abilities can play this sport,” said Richie, who will compete in Sport Class Standing 2 next week.
“I love golf because it helps me live life to the full. I play for the friendship, competition, exercise, challenge and my mental wellbeing. I don't know where I would be mentally without this game – it keeps me going.”
A former defender in the Southern League for Trowbridge and contributing to the non-league revival of Newport County in the early 1990s, Richie has swapped football for golf since his accident.
Helped greatly by the Welsh Disabled Golf Association, he has represented Wales internationally in matches against England, Scotland and the USA. He also used to compete regularly in EDGA events, giving him the opportunity to play golf across Europe.
Richie, who was club captain at Celtic Manor in 2012-13, added, “It will be a very proud moment for me to play alongside the world's best golfers with disabilities in The G4D Open on my home course.
“I usually play three times a week with a regular group of friends at Celtic Manor and I was truly honoured to spend my year as club captain. The club has always been very supportive of my golf and the effort they have put into modifying the bunkers to make the course more accessible for The G4D Open has been incredible.
“I think my biggest advantage will be knowing the greens because there are some tricky slopes on the Roman Road and they're speeding up nicely as we approach the Championship.”
The G4D Open is contested over three days and across 54 holes of gross stroke play, with overall men’s and women’s winners and a gross prize in each of the sport classes which cover various categories in Standing, Intellectual, Visual and Sitting. Ireland’s Brendan Lawlor and Daphne van Houten from the Netherlands are the respective defending men’s and women’s champions.
Richie, who has a Handicap Index of 9.7, said, “I'm sure there will be a few familiar faces from the EDGA events I've played in, and it will be fantastic to welcome them all to Wales. Golf is a fantastic way of socialising as well as getting exercise. I'm delighted to get the opportunity to compete and hope my local knowledge might count for something.”
Spectators are encouraged to attend at Celtic Manor for The G4D Open, with attendance and car parking free of charge.
