by Joe Robinson, Golf WA A ground-breaking championship for golfers with a disability will be contested during this year’s Nexus Risk WA Open in Perth.

Playing on the same course, at the same time and under the same playing conditions as the professionals, Australia’s leading golfers with a disability will compete over 36 holes for the inaugural WA Open All Abilities Championship.

This event will be the first time that an Australian state championship has included an all-abilities category.

GolfWA chief executive Gary Thomas was thrilled that players with a disability would have the opportunity to share the fairways with some of Australia’s leading professional golfers.

“This is a fantastic opportunity for these all-abilities golfers, and it highlights the inclusive nature of our game,” Thomas said.

“Golf is a sport with the capacity to include people from a variety of different backgrounds; this tournament will inspire the public and hopefully encourage other people with disabilities to give golf a go.”

The WA Open All Abilities Championship will be a world ranking event that is expected to draw a strong field from around the country.

The Perth event will create further opportunities for participants to earn ranking points which lead to national and international competition, including the Australian All Abilities Championship, run in conjunction with the Australian Open.

Visit www.golf.org.au/inclusion for further information on rankings and classification information.

This year’s Nexus Risk WA Open will be played at Cottesloe Golf Club from 17-20 October.