The G4D Open at Woburn Golf Club

Woburn Golf Club hosted the G4D Open in May, having also staged the inaugural event for golfers with disabilities in 2023.

Courses Manager John Clarke reveals how the Bedfordshire venue prepared for what is the premier tournament on the G4D calendar.

 

How proud were you of your team’s efforts to prepare the Duchess Course for the G4D Open?

It was fantastic hosting the G4D Open for the second year running and we certainly learned a lot working with The R&A and EDGA hosting such an inclusive event.

We have a team of 43 across the greenkeeping department at Woburn and each day 18 greenstaff were involved in preparing the course for play. The work for any major tournament starts months in advance, but with the event held in May - particularly following such a tough autumn, winter and spring - it was very challenging ensuring a safe, playable course so early in the season.

What were some of the practical measures required to ensure the course was accessible to all players?

We have hosted a huge number of professional events here over the years but never one where over 100 golf buggies are inside the ropes each day, with a whole sporting class of players who drive their vehicles on to the greens and into the bunkers to play and putt.

Some of the practical challenges are very similar to every tournament, but for different reasons. The greens need to be firm enough to accommodate the players riding their vehicles, without being too firm to create additional challenge. Green speed is also a key factor as the challenge needs to be fair for all sporting classes. The nine sporting classes include three classes of standing, two intellectual, two visual and two seated classes, making up a field of 80 players.

We worked hard to preserve multiple areas of teeing grounds for the various categories, which was really challenging after a long winter, especially with only 0.6Ha of teeing ground available on the Duchess Course. Bunker access is one of the biggest differences to other events we have hosted, with temporary ramps being built into every bunker to facilitate safe access and ensure the integrity of the golf course.

 

What did you make of the level of media interest in the event?

The media interest certainly increased this year, as did the number of spectators.

The quality of golf on display is fantastic and the stories from many of the players are hugely inspiring. It was also great to see the next generation of G4D players here this year, experiencing golf clinics and tuition from experts at the European Disabled Golf Association.

What feedback did you get from players and others in attendance regarding the course?

Not only was the player feedback about the golf course spectacular, but the fact there is now an inclusive major with the look and feel of other major championships has been really well received.

Having a players lounge, on-site physio and a golf course fully accessible for all is really great to be involved in and we hope the event goes from strength to strength.

 

Would you encourage others to take steps to ensure their facilities are as inclusive and accessible as possible?

Absolutely. Some changes only need to be small to increase accessibility so having inclusivity as part of your agenda ensures improvements can be seamless and a benefit for all. GI

 

Woburn’s Managing Director Jason O’Malley

“We pride ourselves on being welcoming and friendly and this shows our level of commitment to inclusivity. My view is that while some may see 80 golfers with a disability, they’re actually just 80 players with incredible ability and it’s a really good spectacle.

“If you ever want to question where you think your golf is, or how testing it is or, if you want to really get deep about it, what adversity is in life – come along this week, have a watch and see what these 80 people overcome to enjoy the sport that we love. It is nothing short of spectacular, and great to be involved with.”