Creating Pathways to Golf

Creating Pathways to Golf

Creating Pathways to Golf was launched at Perth’s Point Walter Golf Course to connect people with a disability to golf in 2016. Programs at Melbourne’s Keilor Public Golf Course and Yarrambat Park Golf Course in 2016 and 2017 connected over 200 teens to golf.

Funded by a grant from the WA Golf Foundation, the new program is unique in that it will give over one million people first-time access to a world-class disability program dedicated to golf, including a current PGA golf professional. 

Creating Pathways to Golf is a collaboration between Golf WA, PGA WA, Golf Australia, Special Olympics, Sporting Schools Program and Starting New at Golf (SNAG). 

National Disability and Diversity Manager, Associate Professor Jeff Walkley, says research tells us that people with an intellectual disability engage less often in sport and social interactions and have a higher occurrence of conditions such as hypertension and obesity than people without a disability. 

“We are taking a multifaceted approach with the Creating Pathways to Golf program by working alongside schools, organisations and communities to help them feel supported and connected to golf as a sport,” Jeff says.

Alongside Jeff, Clarke Osborne, Centre Manager at Point Walter Golf Course, has been pivotal in bringing Creating Pathways to Golf to life. 

“In the years I have been teaching golf and other sports to people living with disabilities, I have seen first-hand the positive impact it has on not only the individual, but the volunteers too – it’s extremely rewarding. 

Creating Pathways to Golf is offered at Belgravia Leisure golf courses in Perth, and in Melbourne at Yarrambat Park Golf Course and Keilor Park Public Golf Course.

Read more about Creating Pathways to Golf in Golf Victoria.