Guy Harrison is a shining embodiment of resilience and determination in the world of G4D (Golf for the Disabled).
Born and raised in New Zealand, Guy's journey is not only inspiring but profoundly heartwarming - not merely for his achievements on the golf course, but for his triumphs over adversity.
His story came to a pivotal moment at the prestigious Club de Golf Sotogrande in Spain, where he made history by becoming the first New Zealander to compete in the G4D Tour's Estrella Damm Andalucía Masters event, which was the second tournament of 2024 in the Net division.
For Guy, this was not just a personal milestone, but a moment to represent his country and other Net players on an international stage.
Guy’s path to this point has been anything but straightforward, shaped by the challenges of living with cerebral palsy.
His is a tale of passion, perseverance, and, above all, the unyielding support of his family, including his father, Keith, who still acts as his caddie and got him started in the game, and his mother Vickie who has been a fierce supporter of inclusion and opportunity for Guy at every turn.
As Keith recalls, their journey was not one anyone could have foreseen.
It began with a terrifying episode during Guy’s early childhood. He suffered a life-threatening febrile convulsion, a moment etched in his father’s memory. “His eyes rolled back, and we rushed him to the hospital,” Keith recalls. “They pronounced him dead on arrival.”
But fate had another twist: the doctors managed to revive him. The aftermath brought a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, a condition typically caused by complications at birth. The prognosis was grim - doctors suggested that Guy might never walk and would likely face severe physical limitations. But the Harrisons refused to accept this.
Determined to keep Guy active, his parents introduced him to various sports. “The doctors asked, ‘What’s he going to do to keep moving?’” Keith remembers. “So I took him out with me to play golf, and straight away, he was good. His hand-eye coordination was just remarkable.”
Golf became more than a pastime, it was a vehicle for strengthening Guy’s body and fostering his confidence. Yet, golf was not his first love - initially, he had his heart set on athletics and swimming, even training with dreams of representing New Zealand at the Paralympics.
Swimming, in particular, played a crucial role in Guy’s rehabilitation. “It was massively important just to keep me moving,” he reflects.
Years of training followed, pushing him closer to his goal of qualifying for the Paralympics. But in a cruel twist, just as he neared the required time, his classification was changed, placing him in a more challenging category. This reclassification dashed his Paralympic hopes.
Reflecting on this moment, Guy says with characteristic calm: “You just have to go with the cards you’re dealt.”
While swimming’s loss became golf’s gain, his journey to the fairways wasn’t without setbacks. Golf, however, always held a special place in his heart.
“I’ve always loved golf. It’s so much fun, going to different places, meeting new people, and just playing,” Guy says.
His excitement was palpable when the call came to join the G4D event in Spain. “I was pretty shocked to get the call-up," he said. "Being able to play on such a good course, in such a big event, it’s amazing.”
The Net division of the G4D Tour has given players such as Guy, who often have more limiting impairments, the opportunity to experience and test themselves over a Tour-ready course lay-out.
But even in Spain, adversity followed. Upon arrival, Guy discovered that his driver had been damaged in transit. “I didn’t hit a driver today - just a three-wood off most tees,” he explained with his usual composed optimism. “I’ve still got another 13 clubs, so I’m doing OK,” he added with a chuckle.
The hiccup was soon resolved with the help of EDGA’s long-term partners, PING, whose tour truck technicians replaced the broken driver shaft. Guy took it all in stride, focusing on the positive, as ever.
Guy’s whole family, including younger sister Nina, were following his progress in Spain. His father Keith has been a unique and constant presence from his first swings as a kid, not just as a dad, but as his caddie and supporter on the course through thick and thin.
Reflecting on their shared journey, Keith is visibly proud. “Guy’s always proven a lot of people wrong,” he says. The family bond is clear to see, forged through years of overcoming challenges together. Keith and Vickie Harrison were never going to falter on this journey.
Keith recalls how difficult those early years were, particularly Guy’s struggles with speech. “He knew what he wanted to say, but it wouldn’t come out,” he explains. Sport became an outlet, a way for Guy to express himself when words failed.
Cerebral palsy, which affects muscle tone and motor skills, has inevitably shaped the way Guy plays golf. Fatigue is a constant companion, forcing him to make adjustments to his training and competition schedules.
In 2017, Guy faced a particularly challenging period when issues with his right heel worsened, severely affecting his mobility. What could have been the end of his athletic pursuits instead became a new beginning. He leaned further into golf, finding solace in the sport.
Golf has not only offered Guy physical benefits, but also a sense of community. The camaraderie he has found within the disability golf community, both in New Zealand and internationally, has been invaluable. Now, his dream is to see more golfers with disability, particularly younger players, emerge from his homeland.
“It’s really cool being the first New Zealander to play in one of these events, but I’d love to see more Kiwis having the opportunities I’ve had,” he says.
Keith shares this sentiment, noting that increased visibility is key to growing the sport for those with disabilities. “When people see what’s possible, it inspires them,” he adds.
And Guy has already achieved plenty to encourage others, including a strong debut around the challenging Club de Golf Sotogrande in Spain on the G4D Tour. After getting that driver fixed, finishing in fifth place in this Net field with rounds of 80 and 77 and a score of 13 over.
Guy’s journey from a childhood filled with medical challenges to competing internationally on the golf course is a testament to perseverance. His story can shine a light ahead not just for athletes with a disability, but anyone grappling with adversity.
Keith sums it up: “He’s inspired so many people.”
Through it all, Guy’s love for golf and refusal to let his disability define him serve as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved.
As Guy looks to the future, his message is clear: golf is a sport for everyone.
“Golf is a viable option for people with disabilities,” he insists, hoping his story will encourage others to pick up a club and start their own journey in golf.
