CAPTION: Darren Grey, the Durham County Golf Partnership’s Disability Ambassador, is looking forward to showing that golf is a sport that can be enjoyed by all in his new role.

DARREN GREY is a man on a mission – to prove that golf truly is an inclusive sport that can be enjoyed by all! The 27 years-old from Darlington has been appointed as the Durham County Golf Partnership’s new Disability Ambassador.

He will sit on a disability focus group which will drive forward new projects across the county. Darren has proved throughout his own life that golf is accessible to all. He was born without the lower half of his left arm, but has gone on to become a single figure golfer. The dad-of-one is a member of the Disabled Golf Society and the One-Armed Golf Society, clinching the latter’s world championship in 2010.

In September he is off to Chicago to represent Europe against America in the Fightmaster Cup – one-armed golf’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup. Like the Ryder Cup, which will be played a week later at the same Medinah Country Club complex, the Fightmaster Cup features two teams of 12 golfers competing over foursomes, fourballs and singles matches.

Darren, who plays at Dinsdale Spa Golf Club and is off nine, says of his new role: “My focus will be on helping people with a disability to get into golf, whether that be working with special needs schools and organisations or developing schemes with individual clubs to help them be more inclusive. “Some people with disabilities might think golf is not a sport for them, but the developments in technology, coaching methods and new forms of the game mean they can find a lot of enjoyment from getting out and playing.

“They do not necessarily have to be able to play a full 18 holes – new developments like 60-60 Golf, for example, are offering a golfing challenge while on the driving range. But it is important that we make them aware of the options that are available to them.”

Darren has been playing golf since he was a child. “I started out swinging a golf club in a field, but progressed to playing at a club and then moving on to playing in competitions,” he says. “I also had a hole in one when I was 14.”

Darren, who has been helped in his golf development by PGA professionals Craig Dilley and Martin Stubbings over the years, also hopes to help raise awareness within golf coaches of how the game can be taught in a way that makes it accessible to all. “While the basics of getting the club in the right position to make good contact with the ball are the same for everyone, sometimes the coaching needs tailoring to suit a certain person’s strengths or abilities,” he says. “Helping the coaches understand what is required is all part of the on-going work to make it as easy as possible for people of all ages and abilities to try the sport.”

Says Jonathan Ward, county development officer for the Durham County Golf Partnership: “I am delighted to have Darren on board in this important new role as his experiences as a disabled golfer will be invaluable. “The Durham CGP are committed to making golf truly a game for all and have already hosted a PGA coach development workshop to give coaches the skills needed to get involved in upcoming inclusive projects and initiatives.”