Special Olympics golfer swings for gold
The Special Olympics is the largest sport organisation in the world for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.
At 10 years old, Andrew White picked up a golf club and today he boasts with a gold medal in golf which he earned at the Special Olympics. His father began teaching him golf when he was younger and it wasn’t long before his swing took him the world over.
“In 1995 I competed in America for the first time. The Rugby World Cup final was on and we were on the road when Joel Stransky kicked the drop goal. I was the only golfer then and I didn’t have a coach either. It was very nice. I beat the Americans in their own backyard,” he chuckled. He said he still enjoyed competing.
The 56-year-old has represented the country in Los Angeles, Denmark and Abu Dhabi. “I felt very humbled.” The next summer games will be in Germany in 2023. His favourite has been Abu Dhabi.
Andrew practises once a week at Eagle Canyon golf course. The last time he competed was in Abu Dhabi in 2019 and he came home with a gold medal. He said his favourite golfer used to be Ernie Els, “… but now he has gone to senior tour so now maybe it’s Louis Oosthuizen”. For him, the short game is more difficult to handle. “The short game is chipping and putting. But I enjoy golf very much, I even watch it on TV.”
Andrew has been to Stellenbosch for a coaching course and hopes to one day be a coach in his favourite sport. “I also hope to become a scratch golfer or a professional golfer. Scratch golf does not involve a handicap.” When he is not on the course, he enjoys ten pin bowling and cycling.
The Special Olympics is the largest sport organisation in the world for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. Andrew is a resident of Logwood Village in Muldersdrift.
