Opening Up the Green for Inclusion
From Special Olympics Zimbabwe all the way to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Pro Am!
Munyaradzi ‘Munya’ Musariri has come far with Special Olympics Zimbabwe. A committed competitor, he’s spent years practicing and taking part in local and global tournaments from Japan to Los Angeles.
But he knew an invitation to participate in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Pro Am on 17 January 2018 was the kind of opportunity that came “once in a lifetime”.
Reflecting back on the experience, Munya shared “I was nervous to play with a top golfer in Abu Dhabi. But Pablo [Larazzabal] was very good and he was showing me how to hit difficult shots, especially coming out of the rough, as well as helping me with finding my line on the putting green. It was awesome!”
Pablo Larrazabal is Spain’s 2014 European Tour Champion, and Munya’s mother Viola was amazed to see her son amidst the exquisitely manicured course surrounded by media spotlight and press crews.
“All this attention threatened to swallow all the confidence in Munya, but he managed to raise to the occasion and thoroughly enjoyed the game!” she said.
“A splendid course in pristine conditions, friendships were forged along the 18 holes, and with 3 holes to go, Pablo turned to me and shook my hand. He said, ‘Are you his mum? He is such a wonderful young man and he is playing very well. You must be very proud of him’.”
Munya loved meeting Peter Wheeler, CEO of the Abu Dhabi 2019 World Games, who introduced him to a number of top executives and more of the golf pros who were teeing off the next day. Pablo took personal charge of ensuring Munya received a special keepsake: an autographed World Games T-shirt signed by Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Dustin Johnson, Tommy Fleetwood, Henrik Stenson, Pablo Larrazabal, Thomas Bjorn and Martin Kaymer which hangs in pride of place on Munya’s bedroom wall, where visitors of the house can also come and view it.
After the Pro-Am, it was awareness, fun and games as Munya had an opportunity to visit a center for children with intellectual disabilities and take took them through the basic golf strokes.
Munya’s journey in golf first started in 2012 with Special Olympics Zimbabwe. Since then, his skill and experience has grown. Munya has practiced tirelessly over the years to lower his handicap, and currently plays off a 10 Handicap. After winning a gold medal at the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles, Munya and two fellow athletes were recognized with a free membership at the Royal Harare Golf Club.
A three-time participant of the Asia Pacific Golf Masters and Special Olympics South Africa Golf Tournament, Munya won Zimbabwe’s 2016 Sportsman of the Year with a Disability, and was nominated further to the 2016 AUSC Region 5 Regional Annual Sports Awards. He owes so much to his coach Mike Baylis, a former club Pro himself, but it is Munya’s perseverance, drive ad passion that has seen him take strides in golf and in opening the hearts of Unified partners for inclusion.
