The All Abilities Challenge Returns To Sherwood Park With Some Changes In Store
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2026-04-23
By Gord Montgomery, Senior Writer, Inside Golf
To paraphrase a catchphrase for golf in the recent past, it’s been stated that it is “a game for everyone, for life.” That statement is becoming truer every day as courses and competitions are being designed not only for mobile athletes but for those with physical and/or cognitive disabilities.
That’s what Alberta Golf set out to do four years ago with their All Abilities Championship, and it’s become a yearly event on the competitive schedule. This year, the two-day, 36-hole tourney will take place at the Broadmoor Golf Course in Sherwood Park, which also hosted the event two years ago.
John McGladdery, the general manager of the host site, said they were pleased to be able to again welcome players back for the tournament. Since the last time they hosted, they had made some changes to make accessibility easier for players. The thing is, the changes they’ve made at the Broadmoor go further than just this stream of players.
“A lot of those types of things, they’re universal. While they support adaptive golf they are things that support our senior golf, our junior golf. It makes the facility more accessible to everyone.”
Those changes, which included a change to a teeing area that was difficult to access for those with mobility challenges, mean everyday players also benefit in the long run.
Hole No. 11 From Behind The Green (Photo Courtesy Of Broadmoor Golf Course)
“There was one hole, [No.] 11, [where] we had to change the setup because some of the athletes wouldn’t have been able to get up to our existing tee boxes [with the mobility devices they use]. But again, that highlights the physical barrier there that may not be just limited to the athletes using power-assisted units. Our seniors struggle with some of those stairs, too. It’s helped us take a look at the course and go, ‘Well, now we have to make some changes.’”
He continued, “I think this is a good showcase for adaptive golf and the sport of golf. We don’t have a way to measure how it changes the perceptions for the public (of disabled golfers), but I think the nice thing for us is it shows where we can improve on things and make things more universally accessible.”
If you question how good those participating in the All Abilities Championship are, you don’t have to go too far to find out. The last time the tournament was held at the Sherwood Park track, the winning score was posted by Bob McDermott, who finished the 36-hole trek with a score of +8.
Asked about that final number and how good these players are, McGladdery commented, “I think in general the quality of the play is something that would beat me for sure!”
As for the tournament itself, the dates are August 21-22, 2026, but the changes made and being made will run for the entire golf season this year and for years beyond.