Australian Julia Bowen said of her debut in the G4D Tour Scandinavian Mixed: “I am beyond excited to be coming all the way across the planet!”
Julia made the long trip to Sweden in June to play in one of the nine tournaments staged by the DP World Tour in 2023 for leading World Ranked ‘G4D’ players (golf for the disabled).
A club champion well-respected in the Sydney area, Julia, aged 60, currently plays off a 2.7 handicap out of the renowned Long Reef Golf Club and The Lakes GC, and is looking to improve her golf handicap best of 0.1 as she drives forward in her competitive golf.
Her appearance on the G4D Tour was the latest landmark in her journey from novice in 2002, when the naturally athletic Julia (she had been a sprinter and rugby referee) wanted to find a new sport after recovering from being hit by a car a few years before. Taking up golf, she practised every day for six months and saw her handicap drop from 45 to 16.
Julia has severely limited use of her right arm and a degenerative spinal complaint following her accident.
As her golf handicap tumbled, her ambition to play at a high level has expanded: Julia recently played in Golf Australia’s Victorian and Queensland Inclusive Championships and all four PGA Webex Players Series events in her home country.
“I love how you never conquer golf. Even at my age, I can see plenty of opportunity for improvement, working with my coach to adapt my technique… Despite my many surgeries, I still plan on being out on the course in my 80s, or even my 90s!
“I have also met many people over the years who embody the spirit of the game and the honourable way in which you can play. This is very important to me and has underpinned many new and lasting friendships.”
Julia found the G4D Tour after discovering EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association), of which her national governing body Golf Australia is an enthusiastic member, the two organisations working together to make golf more inclusive.
Meeting the other EDGA players at the Swedish event was a highlight for Julia.
“It was nice to meet all these people who have been through a lot of similar things to me. It’s like, yes, we are just all there together. I like the whole inclusive EDGA thing.”
There are a lot of people to thank concerning Julia’s golf. Crucially, her partner Peter, for his never-ending patience both at home and on the golf course. Also, Christian Small, Julia’s coach for the past 10 years or so, “for working with my limitations to get my golf to where it is now”.
And “the many people over the past 20 years who have supported, encouraged and reassured me that I am actually quite a decent golfer! The entire team at EDGA who have created an amazing system and culture that makes all of this possible, Christian Hamilton of Golf Australia for his tireless efforts to grow golf for the disabled – especially for women – and the Australian PGA and DP World Tour for creating the opportunities to experience major tournaments.”
– Watch/listen to profiles of EDGA players at www.edgagolf.tv
– Learn how to get involved at www.edgagolf.com
By Ben Evans
