Golf will see an immediate influx of participants with a disability or impairment the moment it is added to the Paralympic program.
That’s the opinion of dual Paralympian and inclusion advocate, Hannah Macdougall, and comes just days after it was announced that the 2026 Australian All Abilities Championship will become the first IGF counting event played under the IGF’s new Classification Rules and Sport Classes.
That represents a pivotal step forward in golf’s submission for inclusion on the Paralympic program for the 2032 Brisbane Games, an addition that Dr Macdougall says will create greater pathways for athletes with an interest in golf.
A Paralympic representative for Australia in swimming at both the Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Games, Dr Macdougall recently attended a women-only All Abilities Amputee beginner golf clinic at Metropolitan Golf Club.
While not yet ready to give up her competitive career as a triathlete to conquer golf, Dr Macdougall is adamant that golf’s potential Paralympic inclusion would change the way golf is viewed within the disability community.
“If you had it announced tomorrow that golf was part of Brisbane 2032, you would see the numbers come in,” said Dr Macdougall, who has a PhD in Well-Being and is a highly sought-after keynote speaker.
“We saw that with triathlon. As soon as it becomes a part of the Games, you see a huge exponential increase in the amount of people interested in participating in that sport.
“The sooner that announcement, the better position you would then be in to have not only athletes, but athletes who are competitive and going to bring home a gold medal.”
The next AAAC, scheduled for late 2026, will be the first event globally to offer athletes and National Federations an opportunity to be classified under the new system aligned with the 2025 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Classification Code.
“Designating the Australian All Abilities Championship as the first IGF Counting Event is a landmark moment for our sport,” said Guy Kinnings, chair of the International Golf Federation.
“Golf Australia have been outstanding partners in helping us take this important step towards our Paralympic ambition, and we hope many more national federations will join us as we build the international pathway required for Brisbane 2032.”
Dr Macdougall’s initial exposure to golf came through accomplished amputee golfer Mike Rolls. The pair would attend leg appointments at similar times and while golf was never a topic a conversation, it gave Dr Macdougall an insight into those who played.
Her experience at Metropolitan Golf Club further emphasised golf’s ability to be truly inclusive and follows on from golf’s return to the Olympic Games in Rio 2016 after a 112-year absence.
“There was the respect there. There was a huge respect piece that shone through,” Dr Macdougall said.
“It’s always super-powerful when you connect with a) either other amputees, or b) other female amputees. The stories and the learnings that build connection help you solve different life issues, so that day went beyond just the golf course.”
A recent ambassador for the Crown Australian Open, Dr Macdougall also highlighted the transformative influence that 2024 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott can have on golf.
“I always go back to Dylan Alcott as an example in terms of when you start seeing things, then that opens doors in terms of possibilities and belief,” she added.
“From a golf club perspective, basic things like having pictures of the diversity of the community that you’re looking to have come along to your club on websites and social media is really, really powerful.
“Even the super simple statement of, ‘We are accessible.’ Don’t underestimate how much of an impact those simple steps can have.”
