Paragolf Pathways

With assistance from the Province of Ontario – Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility, and committed partners in Golf Canada, Golf Ontario, ParaSport Ontario and the PGA of Canada, ParaGolf Ontario (PGO) is paving those pathways with resources and education.

New opportunities are being welcomed by individuals, families and organizations that represent golfers and potential golfers across a wide array of disabilities once thought to be barriers to participation.

ParaGolf Ontario began as the Ontario Amputee Sport Association (OASA) in the early 1980s, a prominent member of Sport for Disabled – Ontario. Together with a network of other provincial disability sport organizations, OASA provided opportunities for amputee athletes, and athletes with limb difference, to compete throughout the province and earn their way onto provincial, national and Paralympic teams.

As many parasports grew in prestige and popularity, the early 2000s saw many of these sports integrated into “mainstream” provincial sport organization (PSO) competitions such as those hosted by Swim Ontario and Athletics Ontario.

In that same decade, Sport for Disabled – Ontario became Paralympics Ontario, and then renamed again to ParaSport® Ontario. Then Executive Director Cathy Vincelli envisioned and trademarked the name ParaSport which is now used internationally.

The concept of integration with Ontario’s PSOs was progressive, but in not all cases productive. The base of para-athlete participation began to decline. A number of PSOs struggled to provide the necessary resources and expertise to recruit and train amputee athletes, and those with other disabilities, in their respective sport.

It was in that era that, with sports for amputees like swimming and track and field and others moving to PSO governance, the volunteers at OASA moved to focus specifically on golf. With a new mandate, the association’s name was changed to ParaGolf Ontario to reflect the new direction and ensure that golfers with disabilities had events in which to compete and network with peers.

Historically, amateur golf has always had a “handicapping system” to allow golfers of varying abilities to compete equitably. Courses have several tee decks to accommodate power differential, and with friendly play there are numerous ways to ensure inclusion for all.

In practical terms however, inclusivity has not truly been embraced. Women, juniors and persons with disabilities too often have had limited access to tee times, and cost is certainly a significant impeding factor as well. But the golf world is changing, and quickly. New formats such as SIM golf and target games like TopGolf and PopStroke are growing rapidly in popularity. The “First Tee” program encourages early entry to the sport with a purpose-built program for children aged 4–12. Golf Canada has invested significant resources to support inclusivity as a pillar of its First Tee program.

ParaGolf Ontario is pleased to report that golf professionals, coaches, and program directors are on board. These golf leaders are welcoming of resources that expand their capacity to teach the game. Internationally, the European Disabled Golf Association is leading the way in getting golf included on the Paralympic Games program.

In Ontario, with an Enabling Change grant titled “Driving Toward Inclusion”, ParaGolf Ontario is confirming the belief that “everyone wins when everyBODY plays.”