Disabled golfer: Anchor putter ban discriminates against me
A one-armed golfer has said that the controversial ban on anchor putters, which came in at the start of this year, is discriminatory and has effectively ruled him out of all club competitions.
Following years of debate, in 2013 The R&A announced that from January this year golfers would no longer be allowed rest clubs against a part of their body, using broom-handles or belly putters, in competitions. People with certain disabilities were exempt from the ban, but not one-armed golfers. At the time the then chief executive of The R&A, Peter Dawson, admitted: “We recognise this has been a divisive issue but, after thorough consideration, we remain convinced this is the right decision for golf.” It was contentious not least because when the ruling was made four of the previous six major winners had used anchor putters.
But it also means that now, as well as the top professionals, golfers in amateur club competitions who have got used to sticking a club against their chest, chin or any other part of their body to prevent the club from swinging freely have to find a different way to putt.
Bob Payne is a 71-year-old golfer from Norfolk who lost his left arm in an accident as a child, and has anchored his long putter against his body ever since taking up the game. He mostly plays at Norwich Family Golf Centre.
He says the ban has discriminated against him.
“I anchor a broomstick putter against my body,” he said.
“The ruling has effectively ruled me out of all club competitions that adhere to the rules of golf. This ruling applies to all golfers apart from disabled people who have to anchor the club to enable the club to swing. In my case, this is not so, I can swing through the stroke, but, without anchoring, I have little control over the steadiness of the swing.
“I contend that The R&A are discriminating against one-armed golfers who use a belly putter, or other methods of steadying the putter, other than with the one hand.
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