Australia to host world-first event under new IPC Classification code as IGF introduces new rules
Media Release:
Golf Australia and the International Golf Federation (IGF) have announced the Australian All Abilities Open (AAAO), a landmark new international championship that will become the first elite level golf event for athletes with a disability to be played under the new IGF classification rules developed under the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) 2025 Classification Code.
The 54-hole championship will be held at Sandhurst Club in Melbourne's southeast from November 11–13, 2026, with a field of 64 players, a significant expansion from the former 12-player Australian All-Abilities Championship (AAAC) format, competing across all eight IGF sport classes for Men's and Women's Open titles and combined sport class honours.
The AAAO is the first of what will be a growing number of IGF covered events, which will look to expand across Oceania, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Asia, creating international-level classification opportunities for elite athletes with disability and building a global athlete pool required for Paralympic inclusion.
Golf Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said the championship represents a defining moment in golf's Paralympic journey.
“This is one of the most significant milestones in the history of all abilities golf globally and Australia is proud to be leading the way,” Sutherland said.
“The Australian All Abilities Open will not only showcase some of the best athletes in the sport but demonstrate golf’s potential to advance the Paralympic movement.”
“Importantly, this championship sits alongside our expanded domestic all abilities tour, creating more opportunities for all players while building the elite pathway that could take eligible athletes to a potential home Paralympic Games.”
“As the most frequently played organised sport for people with a disability, golf is already supporting equality and connection in communities across the country, and events like these provide the inspiration to welcome more people to the sport and show they belong.”
The event will utilise Sandhurst's North Course, which features four tee complexes per hole, enabling full sport class setup across the tournament's four combined competition classes, open to athletes with eligible impairments from seated athletes, standing athletes, vision impaired athletes and Intellectual Impairment.
Antony Scanlon, Executive Director – International Golf Federation , said the championship is a critical step in operationalising golf's Paralympic ambitions.
“The Australian All Abilities Open is the first event globally to be played under our new IGF Classification Rules, which have been developed in close consultation with the IPC and validated through extensive scientific and academic research,” Scanlon said.
“This event creates classification opportunities for athletes across the Oceania region and demonstrates governance changes the IGF have made to have stronger alignment with the IPC.
“By 2030, if golf is to be successful in joining the Paralympic programme these regional events could form part of a qualifying series for the Paralympic Games.”
The IGF Classification Rules are independent of the existing World Ranking for Golfers with a Disability (WR4GD). As with all IPC-governed sports, eligibility is determined through a rigorous, evidence-based classification process aligned with the IPC Classification Code. Athletes will be required to undergo IGF Classification before the AAAO to ensure they meet eligibility criteria.
Dean Jamieson, Chief Executive Officer of Sandhurst Club, said: “Sandhurst Club is proud to play a role in this historic moment for all abilities golf. Our North Course is ideally suited to championship competition across all sport classes, and we look forward to welcoming the world's best all-abilities athletes to Melbourne this November.”
Australian athlete Mike Rolls said: “To have a world-first event like this on home soil is incredible. For athletes who dream of competing for their country at a Paralympic Games, this is the pathway we've been waiting for.”
The championship has attracted strong international support, with leading global athletes with a disability endorsing the event and golf's Paralympic ambitions.
Current U.S. Adaptive Open Champion, Kim Moore, said: “That would be a dream come true. I know that we've been trying to get adaptive golf in the Paralympics. It's been a long time coming and that would be so great to see. It would be an honor to be able to play.”
Canadian athlete, Kiefer Jones, who competes under sight category B3 for vision impairment said: “It would mean everything. It’s something that has been talked about for the last few years, but I never really thought it would be possible. It would be incredibly special to have the opportunity to represent Canada at the Paralympic Games.”
The AAAO is open to eligible athletes from all nations. Entries are now open via GOLF.COM.AU.
The IGF Classification Rules group athletes into sport classes based on activity limitation, ensuring fair competition across eight eligible sport classes:
- Seated 1 — Wheelchair or seated athletes with severe reduction in club head speed (CHS) and increased club face variability (CFV) that cannot be partially remedied via adaptive equipment.
- Seated 2 — Wheelchair or seated athletes with moderate reduction in CHS and/or increased CFV that cannot be partially remedied via adaptive equipment.
- Standing 1 — Standing athletes with consistent severe reduction in CHS and/or increased CFV that cannot be partially remedied via adaptive equipment.
- Standing 2 — Standing athletes with consistent and severe reduction in CHS and/or increased CFV that can be partially remedied via adaptive equipment.
- Standing 3 — Standing athletes with consistent and moderate reduction in CHS and/or increased CFV that can be partially remedied via adaptive equipment.
- Vision 1 — Players who have no light perception, or some light perception and the ability perceive movement, but inability to recognise shapes
- Vision 2 — Players who have significantly limited vision (visual acuity)
- Intellectual 1 — Players who hold confirmed II1 international eligibility with Virtus and meet IGF eligibility through a Sport Cognition Test Battery.
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