Golf showed that it belonged in the Olympics. In fact, fans are now demanding match-play to spice things up in Los Angeles. But it’s struggling hard to prove the same to the IPC. If you noticed there is no golf in the ongoing Paralympics. It’s not that the authorities didn’t try. They did, but IPC didn’t agree. 

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in every four Americans suffers from some form of disability. And the PGA Tour estimated that in 2023, roughly one in seven Americans will play golf. Is it too hyperbolic to assume that there is some overlap between the two? 

Chris Biggins, one of the country’s best in adaptive golf, has cerebral palsy as a lifelong companion. Then there is Chad Pfeifer. The U.S. Army veteran lost a leg in Iraq and has taken to golf, where he is a leading name in adaptive golf. Multiple organizations are working tirelessly to represent the number of adaptive golfers. So, why the rejection?

Apparently, the IOC felt that adaptive golf didn’t meet the necessary criteria. Brendan Lawlor, who rose to the No. 1 rank in golfers with a disability, believes the IOC got it wrong. They considered that if there are different types of disabilities, they have to dish out different prizes for each category. 

But that’s not how adaptive golf functions. Lawlor explained to the BBC that they play against everyone with different disabilities. “We are all in one bunch, and it doesn’t matter what your disability is; we can all play together.” Lawlor’s vision is a border one: he wants a Ryder Cup-style event and at least a 12-tournament schedule. He was hopeful about the 2024 Paralympics. However, with that dream gone, the only remaining hope is 2028.

Will golf debut in the 2028 Paralympics?

The process to determine golf’s eligibility for the Los Angeles Olympics will start at the end of the year. Before that, the adaptive golf organizers need to figure out a simple and more streamlined scoring process. Currently, there are too many variables—for different types of disabilities—that needlessly complicate things more than they already are. 

Having said that, the Paralympics also didn’t specify the reason for rejecting Golf’s plea. So, there appears to be no clear guideline on what the International Golf Federation and various other boards associated with para golf need to do right for a Los Angeles spot. Surely including adaptive golf in the Paralympics will catapult its popularity and drive its value among those who watch the spots and among amateur golfers.