Golf Programs Australia Incorporated (GPAI) became a Special Olympics Australia Affiliate in 2015 and has offered Sunshine Coast Special Olympics Athletes a weekly golf program every Tuesday afternoon at a private golf course facility.
In early 2023 the GPAI SOA Affiliate Golf Program became a Golf Australia ‘Get Into Golf – All Abilities pathway with all GPAI Coaches completing the Golf Australia Community Instructor Courses as well as the SOA Online Coaching Modules.
As a long standing SOA Affiliate GPAI has grown its weekly golf program membership to over 40 participants and delivers on average to between 20 to 30 athletes every Tuesday afternoon.
Additionally, the GPAI athletes attend SOA golf events around South East Queensland and have had its athletes compete at SOA State, National and International events.
Recently, GPAI hosted its first SOA Golf Event at the prestigious Palmer Coolum Golf Course and Resort on the Sunshine Coast and received a record number of SOA athlete entries and the day was an enormous success.
Negotiations are currently underway between GPAI and the Palmer Coolum Facility to secure additional SOA Golf Events into the future and this may include two events per year.
Special Olympics Australia completed a case study of GPAI as an endorsed SOA affiliate organisation in 2021.
To read more please click on the link below…
Affliate – GPAI Case Study (PDF)
GPAI is a Queensland Charity organisation registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC) and its Mission is to: Drive Inclusion and Break Isolation using the activity of golf.
The GPAI Vision is to establish a Purpose Built Golf Facility (PBGF)
The GPAI Vision and Mission are intrinsically linked and provide the driving force to establish the World’s First PBGF which will be the platform to offer individuals living with an intellectual disability meaningful training and work placement opportunities.
The charity has been diligently working towards achieving its Vision since 2015 and has secured support for the PBGF from Australia’s Golf Industry’s key stakeholders including the Professional Golfers Association of Australia (PGA) and Golf Australia (GA).
GPAI has opened a retail charity store and Charity Pro-shop in Nambour and athletes enrolled in its golf program are provided opportunities to engage in a real life retail store setting.
GPAI has employed its first athlete from the golf program on a part time basis in 2023 and will continue to work towards building opportunities for its program participants into the future.
PGA Australia Article: Golf at heart of world-first facility for intellectually disabled golfers
