Swiss ParaGolf Association is a new reality.
Our story
The founding team, Patrick Rosenast, Emmanuel Berset, Urs Bucher and David Luisi, created the association in November 2022 to attract members in order to reach out to golfers with an impairment in Switzerland who do not yet know that this movement, with a delay of 30 years (England, Germany, Italy and France), now also exists in Switzerland.
The numerous golf tournaments for people with an impairment, both in Europe and in other parts of the world, prove that golf is also an ideal sport for people with various disabilities. Clubs and pros are adapting to golfers with an impairment, even to attract them as an additional target group: Thus, more and more clubs are adapting to facilitate access to the courses for golfers with special aids (para-golfers, prostheses, etc.), while at the same time adapted golf rules allow participation in open competitions.
One main objective of the association is to improve the flow of information through cooperation with other national and international associations and to seek a dialogue with other associations with common interests
The focus of the activities is the sport. We cater to both casual and ambitious sports golfers.
The Swiss ParaGolf Association will also organize integration tournaments to establish or intensify contact between impaired and non-impaired golfers.
Board of Directors
Patrick Rosenast
President
Born in 1970 in Zurich. I am a one-armed Paragolfer since May 2021, as a routine brain surgery in October 2020 resulted in brain hemorrhage and left sided paralysis. Golf means a lot to me and has been enormously important for my recovery process. I am convinced that golf can be an inspiration and game changer for every physically and mentally impaired person.
Emmanuel Berset
Vice President
Born in 1970 in Fribourg, married with 2 children, I am a paragolfer since 2008, with an amputated right leg. I participated in 2 Paralympic Games as an athlete in the throwing disciplines.
My main motivation is to help the next generation of athletes and to promote this wonderful sport for people with impairment.
Urs Bucher
Advisory Board
”The grey eminence”
Born in 1953 in Luzern, profession architect with 2 adult daughters and proud 3 times grandfather. I was injured in a car accident in June 1993 that was not my fault, and since then I have been dependent on a wheelchair as an incomplete quadriplegic.
About 3 years later I started to look for a solution to be able to play golf again. Together with friends I developed the first golf wheelchair. What was then gasoline-powered has now become a high-tech device used by wheelchair golfers all over the world.
David Luisi
Finance Chief, Secretary,
Revisor
Born in Zurich 1973, as the father of Miro Waldvogel, a paragolfer who plays with one arm. Together with my son I discovered the potential of golf as an inclusive sport.
Film producer as a profession, I am committed to raising awareness among people with disabilities to play and enjoy golf.