Inclusivity key for Bristol-based Academy

Bristol’s Paul Mitchell Golf Academy was honoured for its dedication to disability golf at the prestigious Golf Foundation Awards.

The academy, run by PGA Fellow Professional Mitchell and his wife Caren, secured the Laddie Lucas Award during the annual ceremony which took place at Wentworth Golf Club on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship.

Mitchell (far left) and his team (pictured with Bernard Gallacher) host inclusive golf sessions on weekends at their Bristol & Clifton Golf Club base which are regularly attended by dozens of disabled children.

The club is also in the process of adapting its practice ground, turning the area into a six-hole academy course suitable for disabled players.

The Laddie Lucas Award recognises local development projects which create access to golf for people who would otherwise be unable to try their hand at the game.

“It really is amazing to be here and accept this award,” Mitchell said.

“To see the scale of this award ceremony and the way in which they are celebrating the work that PGA Professionals do across the country, we’re proud to be a part of that.

“We’ve had a massive amount of support from the golf club and that’s really made this possible – once you have that support its actually quite easy to get a golf club up to a standard where it can cater for disabled people.

“The reaction has been incredible, the golfers absolutely love it and our groups are growing in size all the time.”

Mitchell and his team are now set to focus on the Inclusive Festival, a new initiative aimed at bringing disabled golfers of the south west together.

“It’s an exciting time for us,” his wife Caren said. “We’re going to be bringing several schools together to help give them the chance to enjoy the game together.

Mitchell added: “We’ll have five or six games going on together and we’ll just be encouraging them to get involved.

“It’s about bringing them together to get involved in the game of golf – hopefully they’ll love it and want to carry on playing!”