‘Golf Til My Arm Falls Off’
Randall Mackus (L) Proudly Wears A T-Shirt With His Own Motto On It
With the inaugural All Abilities Golf Championship for British Columbia coming up shortly, BC Golf CEO Kris Jonasson took some time to express just how important and impactful just such an event is for all golfers in our province - ed
By Kris Jonasson, CEO/British Columbia Golf
Full disclosure, I am not very good. That’s not to say I am horrible, just an honest assessment of my golfing ability. My handicap index is 14.5 which means on most days I can break 90, if only by a stroke or two. The average male handicap index reputably is between 14 and 17; women range between 25 and 28.
Recognizing most golfers do not maintain a handicap, and therefore do not track scores, it is likely the average male golfer struggles to break 100. Women would be higher. I guess ‘good’ is a relative concept.
In early June, British Columbia Golf will conduct the inaugural All Abilities Championship and by any measure, the men and women who play will be good.
Golfers competing in the championship may be missing a limb, have vision impairments or other physical limitations that set them apart from able-bodied competitors. What they all share, is a passion for the game, and an interest in being the best they can be.
The championship takes place June 12th & 13th at McCleery Golf Club. Golfers can earn points towards the World Ranking for Golfers with a Disability (WR4GD). Later this summer Golf Canada will conduct the Canadian All Abilities Championship at Kamloops Golf and Country Club.
Competition will be fiercest in the championship category as several competitors are single-digit handicap golfers. All registered golfers maintain a handicap and will compete in the net competition. British Columbia has two golfers currently ranked in the WR4GD top 200 as well as a one-armed golfer highly ranked in the WR4GD net Stableford division.
Randall Mackus, from Prince George, is the one-arm player and can often be seen wearing a tee shirt that reads “GOLF TIL MY ARM FALLS OFF”. I enjoy his humour.
Randall is passionate about golf and anxious to see an adaptive version grow and thrive. Events, like this championship, will help fuel growth as golf moves toward ‘Para’ status. We look forward to golf being in the Para Olympics as early as Los Angeles 2028.
(Photos courtesy Randall Mackus)
Mackus Is A Member Of The NAOAGA, the North American One-Armed Golfer Association, Whose Motto Is “Never Quit”
There are barriers to growing adaptive golf and they may not be what you think. Almost any impairment can be adapted to allow golf to be enjoyed so physical impairment is not an issue. Economic issues are a far greater barrier.
In general, adaptive golfers face challenges in obtaining well-paying employment while being required to utilize expensive power carts by necessity and not preference. As a sport, we need to recognize and remove these barriers.
As a legacy of the event, British Columbia Golf will be donating three single-rider golf scooters to Vancouver Parks. McCleery, Fraserview and Langara golf courses will each receive a scooter. In return, Vancouver Parks will provide stats allowing us to share data on rates of return for allowing these carts.
Hopefully, they can then be used by adaptive golfers at reduced rates - dare I say ‘complimentary’ rates - for adaptive golfers.
In addition to the championship, British Columbia Golf will be utilizing the teaching academy and introducing the sport to a whole new group of not-yet-golfers who might never have had an opportunity to give it a try.
And our goal is to give them the opportunity.