'We’ve Seen Well Over A Quarter Of A Million People In 12 Years' – How The Golf Trust's New Approach Is Helping Grow The Game In 'Untraditional Golfing Spaces'
We speak to Cai Menai-Davis, the founder and director of The Golf Trust, which aims to bring new faces to the sport through its work in the community
Cae Menai-Davis set up The Golf Trust in 2012. According to its website, "We are passionate about using golf to inspire and empower the people we work with to lead happier and healthier lives. Our specialism is adapting the golf activity to suit the needs of the community.
"The Golf Trust believes in engaging people fully in their golf development. We choose to deliver in community spaces such as inner city estates, school halls, adventure playgrounds and parks. These untraditional golfing spaces enable us to reach new faces who can discover golf for themselves.
The organisation has helped people like Charlie Crosby, who is remarkably back playing golf after a near-death experience. Below, we chat to Menai-Davis to find out more about The Golf Trust.
When and why did you set up The Golf Trust?
It was founded back in 2012 in the wake of my old man getting quite ill. Golf has given our family everything we have, so I was thinking, ‘If dad does have a disability, what can I still do with him in golf?’ There were a few organisations out there doing disability golf so I contacted a couple of them. I just wanted to put on some sort of an event primarily to get my dad active again.
What was the event?
Some members of the Disabled Golf Association came in and played a Texas Scramble alongside our members at The Shire. Afterwards, all anyone could talk about was, ‘Did you see that guy with Down’s Syndrome playing? Did you see that guy who is blind playing?’ I thought, ‘Hang on, this is quite an interesting field.’
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
What happened next?
Someone sent me a message asking if we did community stuff. A guy called Frank Harrington, who was doing SNAG (Starting New At Golf), and I thought, ‘This is what we want to do, so let’s do it.’ SNAG is oversized, colourful clubs and targets so you’re teaching a fun game rather than proper golf. We went into a leisure centre where there were 45 young adults with learning disabilities playing five-a-side. It was carnage! We thought we had no chance, but within five seconds of setting up the golf, the room was silent. Everyone was getting involved. We thought, ‘We’ve got something.’
Where are you at with it now?
We’ve seen well over a quarter of a million people in 12 years. We’ve got just over 300 coaches up and down the UK, and we’ve got projects in Ghana and in Grenada in the Caribbean. The goal is to provide an opportunity for people with disabilities and their families to play social, recreational golf. Elite golf isn’t our game. Our game is to put them on a pathway, give them the opportunity, get them playing and keep them playing.
How much of your time does it take up?
I don’t see it as ‘taking up my time’ because I enjoy it. When you’re getting bogged down in all the paperwork, you always have the coaching to fall back on to see why you do it. You watched what we did with Charlie and his dad today – how can you not love what you do when you’re seeing that?
Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.
Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf
Jeremy is currently playing...
Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft
3 wood: Srixon ZX, EvenFlow Riptide 6.0 S 50g shaft
Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft
Irons 3- to 8-iron: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Irons 9-iron and PW: Honma TWorld TW747Vx, Nippon NS Pro regular shaft
Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts
Putter: Kramski HPP 325
Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!)
- Nick BonfieldFeatures Editor
-
Tiger Woods To Make PNC Championship Return Alongside Son Charlie
The 15-time Major winner is set to tee it up for the first time since back surgery in September, with Team Woods making their fifth appearance in the tournament
By Matt Cradock Published
-
These Drivers Are Being Replaced In 2025 So Now Is The Best Time To Grab a Deal
New drivers look to be on the way early in 2025 so now is a great time to pick up some notable discounts models that impressed us this year
By Conor Keenan Published
-
What Lies Beneath? The 8 Items You’re Likely To Find Buried In Golfers’ Bags
Golf bags are home to balls, clubs and valuables, but there’s typically much more lurking in the depths that hasn’t seen the light of day in months or even years…
By Nick Bonfield Published
-
'I Didn't Think I'd Walk Again... Now I Can't Think Of My Life Without Golf'
Double amputee Kushal Limbu recounts the day in Afghanistan that changed his life and tells how golf has been an integral part of his rehabilitation...
By Jeremy Ellwood Published
-
I Missed My Golf Club Membership So Badly (For Reasons That Might Surprise You) But I'm So Glad I've Rejoined...
Our Women's Editor Alison Root has rejoined a golf club and believes it is one of the best decisions she has ever made
By Alison Root Published
-
'I Became The Middleman, Players Would Sometimes Come To Me First' - Solheim Cup Player Anna Nordqvist On Her Dual Role
We sat down with Anna Nordqvist as she prepares for her 9th Solheim Cup appearance and a second time as playing-assistant captain
By Alison Root Published
-
Another Exciting Spectacle Of Golf Is Set To Unfold... Our In-Depth Preview Of The Solheim Cup
What can we expect from the 19th edition of the Solheim Cup?
By Alison Root Published
-
An In-Depth Preview To The AIG Women's Open, The Major Everyone Wants To Win....
Who will lift the coveted AIG Women's Open trophy? Reflection and predictions for the final women's Major of the year
By Alison Root Published
-
Monthly Trivia Special: Impressive Stats, Facts and Figures From Around The Golfing World
Are you interested in golf trivia and keen to learn more about stand-out performances in the men's and women's professional games? You've come to the right place...
By Nick Bonfield Published
-
The Big Junior Golf Survey: What Do Young Players Think About Dress Codes, Adult Members, How They’re Treated, Mobile Phones And More…
We asked 45 juniors how they feel about various aspects of golf club life, from dress codes and etiquette to how they’re treated by adults
By Nick Bonfield Published