BEYOND THE TEE - NAVIGATING THE COURSE:
The player journey for golfers with a disability, lessons learned, and changes made.

Abstract

Although there is a plethora of research on disability and sport, there are several gaps related to golf and disability. This thesis aims to reduce the gaps, discover more about what we don’t know about golf for the disabled [G4D], examine the factors that limit or inhibit the playing of golf by individuals with disabilities [IwD], and offer recommendations for how the game can be improved to enable more IwD to sample, participate and compete in golf. The study is timely as all sports must adhere to growing legislation around accessibility, equity, and inclusion, along with greater public scrutiny of how establishments interact with society. The overall purpose of this research is to understand how IwD can better enjoy full, active, and inclusive participation in the game of golf.

Desk research that included a scoping review was conducted to gain an understanding of the barriers and facilitators to playing golf for IwD and contextualise the work. Qualitative methods were also utilised to acquire knowledge of the subjective lived experiences of 77 golfers with a disability [GwD]. Data collection comprised of interviews and observation. A reflective thematic analysis was used to analyse the qualitative data.

Chapter four presents the results of the scoping study. It was found that it is necessary to increase the knowledge of golf as a viable sporting option for IwD with disabilities, promote the availability of inexpensive golf and remove barriers such as lack of services, transport, support, equipment and ableist attitudes and practices. Based on the analysis of empirical data collected over a five-year period, the results first present the participants’ journeys into and through golf. Chapter five highlights the perceived barriers, benefits, and facilitators the participants expressed and I observed. Grounded in the experiences of the participants, chapter six provides recommendations for how golf can adjust. Chapter seven then focuses on how the conceptual framework known as Integrated Knowledge Translation [iKT] was utilised to support moving knowledge into action before providing case studies of two assets developed and deployed, from conception to construction and subsequent dissemination. Chapter eight turns to the impact of this research and how the research that underpins impact will take time to be visible. Preliminary impacts that are beginning to filter through are highlighted. The thesis concludes with empirical and practical recommendations and reflections on opportunities for future research.