Staff WriterKen Powell has rewritten the scorecard of possibility, becoming the first Paragolfer ever to book a tee time in the England Golf Race To Woodhall Spa Final—sponsored, fittingly, by Your Golf Travel.
For Kent’s own Ken Powell, the leap from spinal strokes to stroke play is the sort of comeback even Hollywood might consider a touch far-fetched.
One point short, one giant leap ahead
Competing on the cliff-top contours of North Foreland, Powell rattled off 38 Stableford points, finishing a solitary peg behind winner Mason Hannant yet earning the golden ticket to Woodhall Spa in August.
Not bad for a man who, four years ago, wondered if he would ever stand unaided again—never mind stand over a birdie putt.
“I’m extremely thrilled to come through the regional qualifying at North Foreland. The setting was perfect for good golf.
The course was in magnificent condition and the weather was kind, with just a gentle breeze.”
That breeze, of course, was nothing compared to the tailwind of support from his home club. Powell admitted the local gallery of friends and members dialed the nerves up a notch, but they also cranked his short game to “sizzling.”
“I was a little nervous representing my home club, but I received a lot of encouragement from the membership. Fortunately, I had a good game and the short game was hot!
“It’ll be great to showcase the Paragolfer in the final at Woodhall Spa and hope I can play well. Just being there is a bonus!”
From setbacks to set-ups: the Paragolfer in action
Powell’s journey into adaptive golf began in 2021 after two spinal strokes left the 67-year-old Ramsgate resident almost a full year in hospital.
Rehabilitation was gruelling; a full swing felt galaxies away. Yet two and a half years, a GoFundMe campaign, and one life-changing Paragolfer later, he was back on the fairway—albeit from a seat that does the rising for him.
“It was like starting golf all over again. I had played to a fairly good standard before—but then I was trying to hit a golf ball using just my arms.
“The Paragolfer raises you up to the golf position. So I’m sitting down in the buggy and, when I go to hit a shot, on the control panel, I put it into the mode to raise me up and it raises me up in the air.
That obviously allows me to swing because you can’t swing from the position of sitting down.”
The machine’s hydraulic magic restores the posture most golfers take for granted, allowing Powell to coil, uncoil, and occasionally unleash something spicy down the middle.
More importantly, he hopes the sight of a Paragolfer on a marquee stage will spark fresh ambition in others facing physical obstacles.
“Hopefully the Paragolfer will encourage others who never thought they would play golf again, to have a go, as it gives so much enjoyment.
“Hopefully I can keep improving. I would love to get down to a single-figure handicap and just enjoy the whole golfing experience with old and new friends.”
Why Ken Powell’s story matters beyond Ramsgate
Ken Powell is the first Paragolfer to qualify for the Race To Woodhall Spa Final—opening doors for adaptive athletes across England Golf’s grassroots network.
His GoFundMe success shows how local support can bridge the gap between rehab wards and tee boxes.
And his presence at the final could influence golf clubs across the UK to improve accessibility, boosting both inclusion and community spirit.
Eyes on August—and on inspiration
When the finalists gather at Woodhall Spa’s famous Hotchkin course this August, keep an eye on the man in the mobile perch.
Ken Powell won’t just be swinging for a trophy; he’ll be swinging for every golfer who ever wondered if the game had left them behind.
And if you overhear a gallery whisper—“Who’s that in the bionic buggy?”—you’ll know it’s the fella from Kent proving that grit, gadgets, and a groove in your wedge can still beat the odds.
