There is no better example of golf being a game for everyone than South Africa's best-ever Special Olympics player 

BY GARY LEMKE​​​​​​​ 

Now 35, Lugg continues to work hard at his game, as he does in life. Diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome (a high functioning form of autism) and severe learning difficulties, he began playing golf at age 11 and lowered his handicap to scratch, with his current mark at 3.0.

Those two Special Olympics gold medals could have been three, had it not been for an in-competition setback at the 2025 LA Games.

'I was was joint leader after two rounds in LA. In the third round I collapsed through dehydration and was taken by ambulance across Los Angeles with an escort and they did six hours of tests. I had had no helper and no-one notified my parents. Since then my parents have not allowed me to travel unless I am supervised 24/7.'

His list of international wins is not isolated to the Special Olympics. He says that he's been overseas and has won in Taipei ('I shot a hole in one at the 11th hole after being short by 2cm in the practice round'); and in Macau where he has won three times.

'Macau international Golf is my favourite course, it's a great place in China to spend a week. Highlights there were the top of the tower where people jump from (recreationally) and I walked round the path at the very top of the tower, plus attended the show, House Of The Dancing Water, which I have seen many times. I am also so lucky to have travelled several times to the Far East, Abu Dhabi, Denmark, USA and Canada where I played with my Uncle Rick.'

Lugg lives around 500m from Krugersdorp Golf Club, with the family having moved there from Pretoria where he had been a long-time presence at Zwartkop. 'I have Dale Hayes to thank for using Zwartkop and also Dave Usendorff at The Els Club, Copperleaf. Thanks also go to Bryan Roelofsz, who taught me the basics, and Stephen Saayman who taught me how to win. Sadly both are now deceased.

Thanks to Gary Player for some advice that I still use when just off the green and finally the members of Krugersdorp who have adopted me and let me build "my world" where I am safe and secure and mentored by many, especially Eugene and Louis Louw.'

Danny Baleson from the Gary Player Golf Experience at the World of Golf previously spoke of Lugg's time at the centre. 'His handicap dropped from three to scratch. Tommy has a great short game and is very accurate into the green, but he didn't have much length. He worked tirelessly with our head-coach, Adriaan van Pletzen, on moving through the swing and his swing and distance has improved.'

Baleson explained Lugg's coaching programme was structured around his autistic tendencies. 'Tommy thrives in a repetitive structure, so we work on one thing at a time which helps him to properly assimilate the information,' he said.' Tom was taught to play fairway, green, two putt golf, so we are working on bringing more depth into his game.'

In updating us, Lugg felt he had made great progress. 'My biggest improvement is hitting greens in regulation, although it is also work in progress.' His dad, Mike, adds that 'Tom regularly hits greens with 3-wood, hybrid and 7-wood'. My short game is well above average using my favourite and magical sand wedge. I need more accuracy and distance off the tee,' he accepts.

Like with most things he has been faced with, he will get there in his own time.