Ben Tullipan: A Story of Courage, Recovery, and Changing Lives Through Golf
Ben was the worst injured survivor of the 2002 Bali Bombings. At the time of the bombings, Ben was a successful furniture importer from the Gold Coast, on a buying trip to Indonesia.
Standing just 5 metres from the car bomb when it was detonated, the blast resulted in the loss of both his legs, most of his stomach muscles, and his hearing in one ear. He suffered 63% full thickness burns to his body. His injuries were so severe that he was initially thought to be dead. Assessed as the most critically injured with only a 5% chance of survival, he was not placed on the first Hercules evacuation flight to Australia, as survival was deemed unlikely. Once stabilised, he was transported on the second Hercules flight home.
Not only did he fight on and survive his horrific injuries, but he walks again thanks to his two prosthetic legs and his ‘never say die’ attitude.
Ben’s determination and strength of character to triumph over personal adversity earned him the 2006 Pride of Australia Medal for Courage, 2008 Gold Coast Citizen of the Year, 2016 Queensland Father of the Year, 2016 Finalist in the United Nations Volunteer Award and a 2018 Service to Sport Award.
Ben took up golf in 2007 as a form of recreation and rehabilitation. He has played in many amputee, all abilities and PGA pro-am events and taught hundreds with a disability.
After running a series of disability golf clinics in Queensland from 2008 to 2014 for amputee golfers, in July 2014 Ben met James from Empower Golf, they realised that they shared a common journey and common goals. Since then, Ben has been leading Empower Golf’s operations in Queensland. In recent years, he has expanded his role nationally—supporting clinics, working alongside PGA Professionals, and helping grow the game of golf for thousands of participants with disabilities across Australia.
Ben’s home course is the stunning Glades Golf Club on the Gold Coast. He currently runs clinics at Topgolf, Meadowbrook Golf Club, and Oxley Golf Club in Queensland. Not only an All Abilities coach Ben is also one of very few trained technicians available to work on the Paramotion/Paramotion All Terrain wheelchairs.