EDGA Announce 2022 RSM European Play-off Series

By: Golfshake Editor | Fri 02 Sep 2022

The EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association), have announced details of the 2022 RSM European Play-off Series, that will see 16 qualifying players from the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability (WR4GD), tee it up in a three-day match-play knockout tournament at Stratford-on-Avon Golf Club in September.

The 2022 RSM European Play-off Series takes place from September 20th-22nd and will champion golfers with a disability in Net and Stableford categories – growing their international playing experience while seeking to promote the benefits of golf to a wider audience.

EDGA - Tero Peltola

The innovative EDGA event is supported for a second year by leading audit, tax and consulting firm RSM. The accent for the week will be on top competition on the fairways while raising awareness for golf as a great sport for anyone looking for a positive new activity. The full list of qualifying players can be seen below.

Alongside the tournament play, work is also being carried out locally to create playing opportunities for interested people who have a disability, and their family members. RSM staff, who have been trained as volunteers by EDGA, will provide outreach sessions to a range of disability associations and offer a ‘first touch’ of golf to a new audience in this area of Warwickshire.

In last year’s inaugural Play-off Series, Miroslav Halmo of Slovakia won the Stableford trophy. Miro, then aged 44, qualified for the event with a handicap of 31.8. Born with a missing lower right leg (Hemimelia), Miro had only been playing golf for 18 months before qualifying for Stratford-on-Avon. His victory was much acclaimed in Slovakia and helped grow awareness back at home.

Miro said: “I have been on many golf courses so far and I really enjoy the nature. And at the same time there is this challenge; it doesn’t matter how old you are, how many years you have played, you can still all play together. People from different backgrounds, different ages, different experience, you can still play together and this for me is amazing.”

Tony Bennett, President of EDGA, said: “The RSM European Play-off Series provides a particularly exciting format for developing Net and Stableford players from all over Europe. Our qualifiers all exhibit a true passion for golf and a highly competitive edge, hence their position in the World Ranking.

“These ingredients can encourage many more people with a disability to enjoy golf; those brand new to the game, who might be looking for an activity that offers them physical and mental health benefits, and also to existing golfers who will read about, or see them, and be even more determined to reach their full potential on the golf course.”

Tony Bennett added: “We are hugely appreciative that the team at RSM understands the value of our work to grow the game at the grassroots level for golfers with disability. Our team is really looking forward to working with RSM at Stratford-on-Avon and presenting our great sport to many new people in the area.”

Kirsty Sandwell, national head of transactions at RSM UK, commented: “We’re delighted to continue to support the European Play-off Series. Having seen first hand the hugely positive impact that golf can have on the physical and psychological well-being of people with a disability, I am thrilled and excited to support EDGA’s important programme of events. We look forward to working closely with EDGA to widen participation among golfers with a disability and to raise the profile of the sport.”

At the higher level of competition, RSM supports a dedicated RSM Gross Series of six tournaments to support golfers with a disability aiming to qualify for G4D Tour events (the G4D Tour is EDGA’s collaboration with the European Tour Group).