Kent Golf Limited
Disability Golf: Paul Bidder's story
Date published 13 Feb 2026
We would like to thank Paul Bidder (Upchurch River Valley) for sharing his story about living with Multiple sclerosis (MS) and applying for the EDGA pass to be able to compete in disability events. We hope that Paul's story will inspire many more golfers with a disability to do the same, which will enable them to enjoy the competitive side of golf and join a growing global community of people who enjoy the sport.
The EDGA is for all disabilities... Including Neurological ones
"Have you any shame?" That's what I heard from some voices when I told them I had been accepted for an ACCESS+ pass by the EDGA, and maybe they have a point. Yes I have MS, but like many others who have a neurological disability, I felt I could not join the EDGA and I went through the process believing I would be told that I was declined. But to my surprise, I was wrong.
The EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association) promotes golf for players with disability at every level and aims to encourage golf to be fully inclusive. The EDGA provides advice relating to golf for disabled players to The R&A, The International Golf Federation, The European Tour and The European Golf Association on golf for the disabled.
With my own children who have ADHD and Autism, and knowing other children who have the same, I've been amazed and proud to see how they have been able to utilise the beautiful game of golf as a way to channel positivity, and to see them improve their mental health. Whilst discussing an upcoming EDGA tournament that my children would be invited to, Tim Ewer from Kent Golf was the person who suggested I apply to the EDGA. "I don't think so, Tim, I'm not disabled", I said... he understood my reticence but convinced me to apply anyway. I applied online and supplied the medical evidence required, which was a very simple process to complete. The following day, I received a response from the EDGA representative to confirm that I had been successful for the application of the ACCESS+ pass, clearly stating this was due to my MS and loss of sight in the right eye. But that is when things got me down... I felt huge Imposter Syndrome!
So let's get into this a little, as I really want to expose how I feel, and maybe it will resonate with others in a similar situation and encourage them to apply to the EDGA, and to not feel shame about their condition or guilt about not being physically disabled to be classified as having a disability. I was diagnosed with MS 15 years ago, but if you saw me, you would assume there is nothing wrong, and that is also how I project it and how I see my condition, as I can walk, play golf (badly), and I work full-time. I don't have limbs missing, I don't have a physical disability (other than a blind eye and prolapsed discs). Mine is a Neurological condition, therefore, how can that possibly mean I have a disability?... but it does.
For me, my first relapse made the left half of my body go numb for 4 months, though it was painful to the touch. The second relapse took the sight in my right eye, and it never returned. As far as everyone else knows, this is all that has happened, but only my wife knows and sees the reality. MS is unique for every sufferer, just like Autism is different for each person that has it, and the same goes for other neurological conditions. These invisible disabilities may make the sufferer feel the need to deflect or defend what they have, as they feel awkward about what they have, or they just want to ignore it totally in order to fit in and not stand out in the room. The reality is that they are likely affected on a daily basis by their condition, they may hide this from as many people as possible and the things they are living with will almost never be consistent or predictable in nature. You may be ok for hours, days, weeks, and then all of a sudden the world is upended, and you cannot mentally function, or you lose the ability to control your muscles, and they go into spasm, or your limbs go weak or numb, or your mood changes from happy to angry... These are hard to deal with, and they are not obvious or visible to others, especially when the sufferer can typically mask them.
I have now signed up for my first tournament, which is great, but now comes my next big test. How do I turn up and play golf at an event where there will likely be golfers with physical disabilities, and I feel I need to have a sign above my head that says "I've got MS and am blind in 1 eye" in order not to feel like an Imposter. How on earth will the other competitors accept me as a player in the tournament? Will they just trust I've been approved through medical evidence, or will they call me being there an insult to disabled people? What if I'm having a good day where the body feels fine and my fatigue is ok? As you can sense, my anxiety is going through the roof about this, but it is something I need to stop ignoring, and I need to stop feeling that MS is not a "real" disability, as this does a disservice to all the other MS sufferers out there. It is important to remember and accept that not all disabilities are equal, that what you see with your eyes is not always the reality of the whole situation and that judging a book by its cover is not a wise thing to do, especially when assumptions are used instead of facts.
So when I turn up at my first tournament, my nerves will be heightened, and I will not know what to expect. I would like to be a positive example to others who suffer from Neurological and other Invisible disabilities, so that they can see there are opportunities for them in golf where they can make a difference, can improve their own lives, can support improving other people's lives and encourage more players to want to be a part of the EDGA and promote access for all and grow the game.
What I hope people get from reading this blog is that the EDGA are a fabulous organisation, who want to make the world a better place for people with disabilities, and that includes people with physical, neurological, intellectual or visual disabilities. I would love for people to realise that the EDGA is there to grow the support for disabled people in golf, and I would encourage anyone with a disability who wants to get additional access to golf tournaments and more to apply to them (https://edgagolf.com/online/pass/) and be part of something amazing.
As for how I'll do in the tournament, I'll probably be at the bottom of the leader board, but that does not matter. I just hope to meet inspiring people, make new friends and start a new chapter in my personal golfing journey.
The EDGA are there to support you, join them and let's grow the game together without limits.
Paul Bidder
Junior Organiser - Upchurch River Valley Golf Club
*COMING SOON* Kent Open for Golfers with a Disability
>> Click here to find out more
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