A MOTHER has launched a campaign to ensure her son has the chance to pursue the career of his dreams.

Dawn Osborn is pleading with golf industry bosses to change their rules to allow disabled son Warren Clark to get the qualifications to become a fully fledged coach.

And she is being backed by well-known figures in sport and politics.

Dawn, from North Baddesley, handed over her appeal along with 35 letters of support from disability sport organisations to the UK Professional Golfers' Association.

Dawn's 15-year-old son Warren has learning difficulties, short term memory, global delay, autism, dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Budding golfers need four GCSEs A to C grade and a golf handicap maximum of four to get onto the PGA's three-year foundation degree course accredited by the University of Birmingham.

This qualifies you to work as a professional coach.

Mother-of-two Dawn wants the PGA to change the requirements or create a qualification and coaching programme specifically for people with disabilities.

Warren, a junior ambassador for the Disabled Golfers' Association, has volunteered at Paulton's Golf Centre, in Ower, coaching children unaided for the last three-and-a-half years.

Now he has a part-time job working under a professional coach from early next year, who is prepared to put him on the course, which works like an apprenticeship.

However, Dawn is concerned that Warren, who attends Great Oaks School in Southampton, with his disabilities will struggle to make either the academic grades or the handicap.

"If he's worthy of volunteering and being left unaided why shouldn't he have the chance with a few adjustments to coach if he wants to," said 42-year-old Dawn, of Crescent Road.

She has support from organisations, including Sporting Equals, the English Federation of Disability Sport, Mencap and the Els for Autism - a school and golf academy run by South African golfing star Ernie Els.

Former Saints boss Lawrie McMenemy and Romsey and Southampton North MP Caroline Nokes are also backing Dawn.

"I'm doing this for my son and for future generations of golfers with disabilities," Dawn added.

"If there were more disabled golf pros it might be more accessible for more disabled people to try golf."

Andy Wright, PGA lead compliance and safeguarding officer, said the foundation course, which can only be taken at 18, had taken golfers with autism and dyslexia before and that there was nothing to stop Warren getting on the course if he could get the qualifications.

He said he understood there were other acceptable alternative qualifications that could equate to the GCSEs needed.

Mr Wright added that there were other stand-alone courses other than through the PGA that would give Warren coaching qualifications.

But if Warren performed to his potential - academically and regards to his volunteering - it was possible it could lead to adjustments in his handicap.

• To get involved email dawnosborndisabledgolf@gmail.com.

ALONGSIDE her campaign Dawn is also looking for a sponsor who might be able to help fund a special piece of training equipment designed to get youngsters with disabilities into golf.

Warren is on the Youth Trust Sport Panel and is an ambassador for Starting New At Golf (SNAG) which means he helps promote the sport to young people with disabilities.

Dawn is hoping a sponsor will come forward as she is looking to raise £15,000 for a SNAG inflatable castle, which allows people to practise golf with plastic clubs and Velcro so they get a feel for the game.

This would go all around the country with Warren when he goes to events in his ambassador role.