DIGA DELIVERS AS KELLY RECALLS MEMORABLE ST ANDREWS WIN
Team Ireland in St Andrews. L-R Mark Clougherty, Dianne, Conway, Cathy Fitzgerald, Paul Kelly, Kevin Cassidy and Adam Lockhart (Photo: Paul Kelly/Golf Ireland)
Paul Kelly is the Irish Disability Team Captain but he recently set sail for Scotland and let his clubs do the talking at the Home of Golf in St Andrews
A few years ago, to mark my 50th birthday, my regular Saturday four‑ball travelled to St Andrews for three days of golf.
St Andrews Links run a winter package that includes one guaranteed tee time on the Old Course, plus rounds on the Jubilee and New courses. So, in the cold light of February, we took the ferry, drove across the neck of Scotland and had an absolutely brilliant time.
We’ve been on plenty of golf trips over the years, but it’s that visit to St Andrews we still talk about the most. If you’re a golf person, there’s something about the place that makes you feel instantly at home.
With those memories tucked away, I wasn’t going to miss the chance to return for the 2026 PING Scottish Open for Golfers with a Disability.
Disability golf is having a moment. There’s a determined push towards Paralympic inclusion, and in 2026 there will be more than 100 EDGA-supported or approved events worldwide.
Closer to home, the establishment of Golf Ireland in 2021 opened the door to a more progressive, more inclusive approach to getting people into the game. This year, Golf Ireland will host three disability events:
G4D Invitational at Co. Sligo GC
ISPS Handa Irish Close for Golfers with Disabilities at Co. Meath in May
ISPS Handa Irish Open for Golfers with Disabilities at Roganstown in early June
Last year, Golf Ireland launched a development programme to identify and nurture young golfers with a disability, and this year they’ve added a High Performance programme.
Golf Ireland continues to support the Disabled Inclusive Golf Association (DIGA) which organises inclusion events across Ireland — no classification criteria, no barriers, just golf. These take place from March to September and are all about participation, community and visibility.
I came to disability golf relatively late in my golfing life. My first ranking event was in 2022, and I wish I’d discovered the community sooner. The events are competitive, yes, but they’re also incredibly supportive and encouraging.
At St Andrews, 72 players lined up to tackle the Eden Course — the biggest disability field Scottish Golf has ever assembled — including six of us from Ireland.
KELLY WINS AT THE HOME OF GOLF
“After a long, wet winter, my clubs had spent more time in hibernation than in my hands. Scotland felt like the perfect place to wake them up again. Expectations were low but it turns out that not playing golf for months might actually be good for you.”
I’m currently the Irish Disability Team captain, and with the European Team Championships coming up in July in Italy, the trip doubled as a chance to scout players and dust off my own game.
After a long, wet winter, my clubs had spent more time in hibernation than in my hands. Scotland felt like the perfect place to wake them up again. Expectations were low but it turns out that not playing golf for months might actually be good for you.
The Eden was playing just shy of 6,000 yards, and in classic links fashion the ball was running forever. I’m not blessed with length off the tee, but with firm fairways and a helping wind, it became more about choosing the right club and staying out of the bunkers.
I posted an 85 on day one — three better than my 18 handicap — and was genuinely surprised to find myself joint leader in the nett section.
Day two brought more sunshine, even faster conditions and, thankfully, less wind. Low scoring was inevitable, and I knew another 85 wouldn’t be enough.
I started nervously, five over through six, but a solid shot into the heart of the seventh green settled me. From there, I played some really tidy golf: 41 out, 38 back, for a 79 — my lowest ever round and the first time I’d broken 80.
I signed my card and waited. Mark Clougherty, one of the Irish High Performance players, was closing fast but ran out of holes and finished second. Another High Performance player, Dianne Conway, shared third. Another of the Irish contingent, Cathy Fitzgerald, powered through the field to win the Stableford section to cap a brilliant week.
So, St Andrews delivered – again. Good weather, good company, a badly sun-burnt nose and the best golf I’ve ever played.
It did however come at a cost, a hefty WHS cut to 14.7 my lowest ever – nightmare.