Scotland’s first indoor golf centre opens for disabled people

An inclusive gym which offers one-to-one support for disabled people hopes it can give many the chance to play golf.

DR Inclusive Fitness and Wellbeing has opened Scotland’s first indoor golfing centre fully dedicated to training disabled people in Mayfield, near Dalkeith.

Using a paragolfer all-terrain wheelchair, people with vastly different levels of mobility can use the virtual driving range and putting green.

Tutoring from a PGA-qualified coach is available, with staff hoping the centre can help give many people who never thought they’d be able to play a chance to enjoy golf.

“I thought my golf days were over,” said Olivia Fulton.

It had been roughly eight years since she was able to play “proper golf” due to her declining mobility.

She told STV News: “While I can stand up, I wouldn’t be able to stand up and swing a club.

“You can really adapt it to what the person needs.”

With golfing a massive family activity, Olivia couldn’t be happier to have been able to rediscover a long-held hobby.

“I was really gutted to not be able to play anymore. Particularly because all of my family play.

“So just to be able to swing a club, It’s a really unreal experience.”

It’s not just a chance for people to get back into the game, for some it’s an opportunity to try it for the first time.

Omar Haq has taken up personal training sessions at the centre with coach Ross Millar.

“The closest I’ve got to golf is Tiger Woods on PS3,” Omar said.

“Even to stand up, first of all, is amazing.

“It gives you another avenue to try something and also its good camaraderie with the coaches.”

For years, Ross has coached on golf courses – but he began to realise there were barriers preventing many people from taking part.

That inspired him to get involved with tutoring at the gym.

He said: “There are people who have been able to get in the paragolfer and get out of their wheelchairs.

“People like my brother Cameron who’s neurodivergent. He’s got autism.

“It’s a nice environment for him to be able to come. We can control it for him, and he really enjoys using the space.”

Staff at the centre also hope they can help drive an increase in the number of people competing in paragolf across Scotland.

Owner Dale Robertson said: “We’re doing a bit of partnership work with Scottish Golf.

“I think the idea for Scottish Golf is to create a pathway for disability golf in Scotland through us and that’s really positive.”

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