00:00On a course where every shot counts, one Kent golfer is helping set a new direction for the sport.
00:06Five Acre Wood, a special needs school in Matestone, was invited to the London Golf Club to learn skills outside
00:12of the classroom through golf.
00:14It definitely gives you a bit more confidence when you're out here with everyone else.
00:18It's more of competition. You can see how each other is both improved in that few weeks as well.
00:23Even today, everyone's just happy.
00:24Even if you don't hit such a great shot you did last time, everyone's still happy.
00:28You got that, got that good shot down.
00:30Oh yeah, I really enjoy it. I think it's really fun. I like being outdoors, it's really nice.
00:35It was an event hosted to bring not just these children together and to help develop their confidence,
00:41but to support international disabled golfers compete, with funding being secured for 50 young players to receive a year of
00:48lessons.
00:49The world number one disabled golfer from Sevenoaks is bringing together players from across the country,
00:55right here in Kent, for an event to spread awareness about disability in sport.
01:01Kip Poppert is helping drive disability golf into the spotlight.
01:06Born with Serral Palsy, he became one of the leading figures in disability sport globally,
01:11a three-time US Adaptive Open champion and multiple G4D Tour winner.
01:16Now he's turning the focus from breaking par to breaking barriers, using this event to bring people together
01:23and to inspire the next generation of disabled golfers to take their own shot at the sport.
01:29The other 18 disabled golfers who are the best in the world, we're all once those children and every child
01:34deserves a dream.
01:35And if there are children that want to play golf and they have a disability, I want to make sure
01:40that they can do.
01:40And I want to also show them and create a pathway for elite disabled golf to be one of the
01:47biggest disabled sports in the world,
01:48providing true, sustainable growth and opportunity to the people playing it.
01:53And golf has been something that has helped me get through a lot of tough days and a lot of
01:57operations.
01:58And you never know what a kid might see that might inspire them for the rest of their life.
02:03And so if they choose golf, then I want to make sure that the opportunity is there for them.
02:06Disabled golf has really grown in the last four years and I hope all disabled sports continue to grow
02:12and provide a true, sustainable pathway for people to do it for a living,
02:16but also just to do it full-time or at the highest level to inspire the next generation.
02:22As disability golf continues to gain momentum, events like these are helping to drive change,
02:28opening doors for the next generation of players.
02:31Because here, the real goal is making sure everyone has the opportunity to take their best shot.
02:38Maisie Walker for KMTV, Sevenoaks.
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