1000 free lessons for blind and disabled golfers

The International Sports Promotion Society (ISPS) has announced it is to support a ground-breaking PGA academy programme.

Under the initiative ISPS, founded by Japanese philanthropist Dr Haruhisa Handa, will provide up to 1000 free golf lessons for blind and disabled golfers with PGA Professionals.

The scheme is also being supported by De Vere, who have committed their venues and resident PGA professionals as well as creating regional events for blind and disabled golfers.

The announcement was made as part of ISPS's sponsorship of the PGA Seniors Championship which will be held at De Vere Slaley Hall.

Dr Handa said: "We are pleased to be sponsoring such a prestigious tournament as the PGA Seniors Championship in the superb setting of Slaley Hall.

"Sponsoring tournaments like the PGA Seniors Championship provides an ideal platform to promote and grow the game of golf and we also welcome the opportunity to support this unique PGA academy programme."

PGA director of education and career development, Kyle Phillpots, said: "Many of our members already do excellent work with golfers with a range of disabilities but this is the first time we have had the opportunity to devise a specific programme for PGA professionals interested in this field."