Dr. Haruhisa Handa, a fervent golf enthusiast, has once more shown his steadfast dedication to the sport. Renowned worldwide not only for his philanthropic efforts but also for his visionary outlook, Dr. Handa has spent a significant part of his life advocating for golf, especially among individuals with physical disabilities. In 2006, he established ISPS Handa, an acronym for the International Sports Promotion Society, an organization that has grown in prominence on the global sports stage, particularly in golf.
Dr. Handa's mission is to leverage the power of sport to foster social inclusion, increase awareness of various causes, and enhance lives globally. His commitment to philanthropy, the arts, and sports is well-known, and his vision for the organization is based on the belief that sport can break down barriers and unite people, irrespective of their background, ability, or circumstances. ISPS Handa is notably active in golf, sponsoring numerous tournaments worldwide, including events on the European Tour, the LPGA Tour, and the PGA Tour of Australasia. A significant focus of the organization's efforts is its support for blind and disabled golfers, underscoring the sport's inclusive nature.
The organization also sponsors other sports, such as rugby, and supports various charitable initiatives. Through its activities, ISPS Handa aims to use sport as a catalyst for positive change, promoting unity and creating opportunities for people of all abilities to engage in and benefit from physical activity. Dr. Handa remarked: “This is my life’s work, and this is why I am involved in so many tournaments. I will always help to promote disabled golfers and blind golfers. I am getting old, but, thanks to golf, I feel like I am getting younger.” He has earned the title of ‘Father of Blind Golf’ and has persistently advocated for blind and disabled golf to be recognized as an official Paralympic Sport.
Born in Japan in 1951, Dr. Handa pursued higher education, earning a Master's Degree in Creative Arts from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at Edith Cowan University, Western Australia, and a PhD in Literature from the Academy of Arts & Design at Tsinghua University, China. He is widely recognized for his longstanding commitment to public service and has received numerous honors, including the Medal with Dark Blue Ribbon of Japan, the Honorary Award of Contribution towards the Chinese Choral Enterprise, the Distinguished Service Medal of the State of Western Australia, and the keys to the City of Perth and the City of Swan, in recognition of his contributions to blind welfare.
Dr. Handa manages over a dozen companies and serves on the boards of numerous charitable foundations and associations in Japan, Australia, and the UK. ISPS Handa is dedicated to advancing the transformative power of sport worldwide and supporting charitable causes in the sporting world. The golf tournaments supported by ISPS Handa include this week’s ISPS Handa Ladies’ Scottish Open on the Ladies European Tour, many DP World Tour events since 2012, and initiatives in countries such as Australia, Austria, Cambodia, China, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, USA, and Wales. They are also significant supporters of the G4D Tour and EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association).
ISPS Handa boasts a notable roster of Global Ambassadors, including Sir Nick Faldo (Eng), Hannah Green (Aus), Rafa Cabrera Bello (Spain), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (RSA), Brendan Lawlor (Ire), Ernie Els (RSA), Dame Laura Davies (Eng), Colin Montgomerie (Scot), Charley Hull (Eng), Lydia Ko (NZ), Ryan Fox (NZ), Min Woo Lee and sister Minjee Lee (Aus), among others. In an era dominated by corporate money and territorial disputes in the golf world, let’s celebrate the Japanese philanthropist, Dr. Haruhisa Handa, and acknowledge our fortune in having him support the sport we all cherish.
