LET players and their young protégés in Madrid

Several Ladies European Tour professionals spent an hour on the driving range on Wednesday teaching golf to youngsters with disabilities.

Spanish speaking players Laura Cabanillas, Marta Prieto, Beatriz Recari, Itziar Elguezabal, Diana Luna and Anne-Lise Caudal assisted almost 40 children and teenagers in hitting balls from golf mats.

Young people aged 18-25 from the charity “Best Buddies”, which provides volunteer companions for young people with mental illness, were given special one-on-one tuition, as were 22 pupils from the nearby Penalara School, aged 14-20, who had already been playing golf for two years.

Held in conjunction with the Madrid Ladies Masters, the clinic was organised by the Madrid Golf Federation, which brings “adapted golf” to schools throughout the Comunidad de Madrid. Some children even hit golf balls from wheelchairs adapted for the golf course.

Isabel Cermeno, director of the school, commented: “Golf is a great sport for everybody. It is beautiful for everybody but especially these children. It helps to bring out their emotions and is a great motivation.

“They can take a class for free every three weeks from the Madrid Golf Federation, which has some great teachers. It really pushes them.”

Following the clinic each participant was presented with a medal by either the recent Finnair Masters champion Beatriz Recari or Elguezabal.

Diana Luna giving advice