Golf&Diversity co-operation

Promotion

of golf for people with disabilities is important to Hörmann

Engagement

and fun are at the forefront of the “Golf&Diversity” project

674000

players and 837 members are part of the DGV

The promotion of golf for people with intellectual disabilities is particularly important to the Hörmann Group. Up to now, golf programmes for people with intellectual disabilities have been extremely limited in Germany. Together with the German Golf Association (DGV), Hörmann therefore supports barrier-free access to golf. The “Golf&Diversity” project intends to widen and promote barrier-free access. The aim is to establish a comprehensive and sustainable offer for people with intellectual disabilities at all interested golf courses, breaking down barriers and reducing reservations about the sport.

Enabling engagement and providing support

As part of the co-operation between the DGV and Hörmann, golf clubs can receive support in setting up training sessions and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities until the end of 2023. The training offer for instructors will also be expanded to enable them to motivate and instruct people with intellectual disabilities as successfully as possible and without any prejudices.

“For many years now, we have been committed to fostering practical inclusion projects, with the vision of showing people with a wide range of needs and talents new and alternative possibilities. We are very grateful for this co-operation with the DGV and hope that it will facilitate barrier-free access to golf for people with intellectual disabilities and reduce reservations they may have about the sport,” states Martin J. Hörmann, personally liable partner of the Hörmann Group.

The power of golf: a win-win for everyone

As an individual sport, golf is particularly suited to people with intellectual disabilities. This is because learning certain movement sequences can contribute significantly to the development of motor skills. Getting together on the golf course provides scope for community engagement, meeting others and lots of fun. All of this contributes to breaking down barriers effectively and long-term. In short: Golf training has a positive effect on the social integration, personality development and therapeutic potential of people with intellectual disabilities.

The Deutsche Golf Verband e.V. (DGV – German Golf Association) was founded on 26 May 1907 and is the umbrella association for all golf clubs and golf course operators in Germany. With around 674000 players and 837 members, as well as 722 golf courses, the DGV is one of the ten largest sports associations in Germany.

Overview of our commitment

Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin

The Special Olympics World Games were held again in June 2023. Over 7000 participants from around the globe came to Berlin to take part in the various competitions, including 182 competitors in the discipline of golf. A total of eight medals were celebrated by the German golf team at the end of the competition. Lukas Kollmeyer, 22, who is a member of the Hörmann-sponsored golf club at the Mamre Patmos School, also took part and even won silver in his performance class. Special Olympics participants Petra Constanze Pithan and Sophia Schmidt also recorded great successes in golf and tennis, respectively.

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Sport in nature

People with intellectual disabilities have a much less stimulating everyday life, as many activities involve costly transport and are only possible if they are accompanied. Golf offers athletes a possibility to be active in nature. Over the long term, players themselves have to adapt to the weather conditions and get to experience a sport through the changing seasons.

Social contacts

The social benefits of being part of a sports group have been proven time and again for people with intellectual disabilities. Experiencing fun in a group is key for the athletes. As part of a community, they learn to support each other, helping them to become more confident and self-efficient.

Special Olympics

As part of an active golf team, the athletes can participate in all regional and national competitions of the Special Olympics. All participants can compete on an athletic level and generally just get to know each other. They meet other similarly minded athletes and become part of the golf community.

Instructor qualification

The qualification of instructors is complemented by a range of further education courses that deal specifically with aspects of methodology and didactics of disability sports. Within the scope of the co-operation across Germany with the DGV entitled “Golf&Diversity”, the first full-day instructor training focusing on the special requirements for training individuals with intellectual disabilities was held at the Bielefeld Golf Club.

Co-operation with the Mamre Patmos special school and the Bielefeld Golf Club

Promoting golf for people with disabilities has long been of particular importance to the Hörmann Group. To this end, Hörmann closely collaborates with the Mamre Patmos special school in Bielefeld-Bethel and the Bielefeld Golf Club. Klaus-Hermann Bunte and Bradley Kerr, pro trainer at the Bielefeld Golf Club (BGC), established a partnership in 2001 that brings intellectually disabled and non-disabled people together.

Funding options

The “Golf&Diversity” project offers interested parties the opportunity to financially support a golf programme for people with intellectual disabilities. It is geared both towards already existing golf programmes and people wishing to set up a new project. Three types of funding packages are available: taster, start-up aid and big start-up aid. Different requirements have to be met for each of them to benefit from the funding.