Welcome to this week's episode of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast has a new format, which is in line with the growing wish to have shorter forms of golf. So this four-shot episode will become our new par. That is not to say that we won't occasionally make a bogey with a slightly longer episode, or for that matter, score a birdie with a super concise edition. So let's get to episode 56 of the EDGA Golfers First Podcast.

Drive: 

The opening shot this week lets you know that the Johnny Reay Classic part of the EDGA Tour, including the RSM Gross Series, is just a couple of weeks away. Three divisions, Gross (open to players less than 7.5 handicap, Net for players with handicaps 7.5-18.4 and Stableford for players from 18.5 and above, will be played.

The Gross Series event sponsored by RSM will feature up to three cash prizes (within the limits of amateur status) for the top finishers. The net and Stableford events will have voucher prizes, and we expect that competition in all three categories will be strong. You can enter the events at www.edgagolf.com and scroll to view events.

Approach:

This week's approach follows our Head of Development Mark Taylor's visit to South Africa. Mark, a PGA Fellow Professional, will arrive in South Africa for phase two of the coach education and development support to EDGA member federation Golf RSA supported by the Alfred Dunhill Links Foundation. The visit will help up skill existing coaches and train a further 25 PGA of South African coaches at the SADGA offices at King David Mowbray Golf Club just outside of Cape Town.

The last time Mark visited South Africa, the Omicron strain of Covid meant that his planned two weeks visit lasted six weeks as he could not fly home. Hopefully, we will see him back with us before the middle of May.

Pitch shot:

Having missed the green, here is a neat shot from the sand.

Benedicte Finnema was 53 years-old and like many Norwegians she loved her sport; enjoyed everything about keeping fit and being an athlete. Then came a ski accident in 2016 that would have a huge impact on her life. As she lay in the hospital and then in the long hours of rehab before later finally deciding to have her leg amputated, Benedicte was able to first cope, and then take a positive view for the future, by focusing on three things: her golf, her love of kayaking at sea and a treasured friend called Ollie.

You can find Benedicte's story in the Tough Love and Second Chances Podcast, which is available on most leading podcast platforms and our youtube channel, which can be found by typing edgagolf.tv into your browser.

Tap in

So a short tap in is a call to watch out for next week's first G4D Tour event at the Betfred British Masters. The following ten players will be teeing it up on the iconic Brabazon Course at the Belfry.

Brendan Lawlor, Kipp Popert, Juan Postigo, Kurtis Barkley, Chris Biggins, Tommaso Perino, Fredrik Fjaeraa, Johan Kammerstad, Mike Browne, Daphne van Houten.

The next event is at the Porsche European Open in Hamburg, and qualifiers will be informed in just a couple of weeks. So for those who just missed out this time, there is still time to get some good rounds in to count for the Ranking.

Please keep up to speed on the event at the EDGA socials and watch out for coverage on Sky Sports and some of the leading Golf TV broadcasters.

Have fun, and I hope to see you on the course in the near future.