Golf Opportunities

For US Athletes with Intellectual Impairment

In 2019 Virtus: World Intellectual Impairment Sport established a partnership with EDGA, a European-based international organization that promotes golf for players with disabilities through their “WR4GD” and “Access” Pass initiative. While players with physical impairment apply directly to EDGA for a pass, athletes with intellectual impairment apply for Virtus Eligibility through their Virtus Member Country organization — here in the US that’s us! Athletes Without Limits. Here in the US we are working closely with the United States Golf Association (USGA)  to help guide U.S. players with intellectual impairment through the eligibility pathway and advise on new competitive opportunities in golf open to players who obtain Virtus International eligibility and their WR4GD World Ranking Pass.

Three Steps to Become Eligible to Complete as
WR4GD World Ranked Player with Intellectual Impairment:

  1. Apply to Athletes Without Limits for Virtus Eligibility:
    The first step toward competing in the USGA, USDGA and EDGA opportunities listed below is to apply to Athletes Without Limits for Virtus International Eligibility(which is required to get your W4RGD World Ranking Pass).
    There is a base fee of $175 to apply with an additional charge of $ if the application needs to be confirmed within 5 weeks otherwise it can take 6-12 weeks.
    To see the current list of US Eligible Players with Intellectual Impairment visit our Golf Eligibility List.
    Apply for Virtus Eligibility
  2. APPLY for EDGA WR4GD PASS:
    Once the Virtus Eligibility Committee confirms your International eligibility athletes will be posted to the Virtus International Master List and assigned a unique Virtus Athlete Number. Athletes Without Limits will email this to you and our colleagues at EDGA so that you can then register with EDGA for a WR4GD pass on their website below.
    Apply for WR4GD Pass
  3. Obtain a World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index®:
    Some events have require athletes to have a certain Handicap Index or lower. (As of 2024 players need a valid Handicap Index® of 36.4 or less to enter both the U.S. Adaptive Open and the USDGA Championships listed below.) While you work on your Eligibility application above, you can simultaneously be working on the steps to obtain a Handicap Index listed on the USGA event page:
    Apply for USGA Handicap Index

Note that there may be additional qualifying requirements for the events below in order to be selected which can change from year to year.

US Competitive Golf Events

Note the events listed below are high level events that require a WR4GD Pass and Virtus International Eligibility (as well as other possible qualifications like minimum WHS Handicap and/or qualifying events.) There may be other events throughout the US open to players with intellectual impairment that do have any of these requirements such as Special Olympics or other local events. USGA and USDGA events open to athletes with intellectual disability are posted to our Athletes Without Limits calendar where you will find detailed information on how to enter that year’s event.

United States Golf Association (USGA)

The USGA events below follow Paralympic Classification so are open to athletes in Virtus II1 Group for Intellectual Disability (IQ 75 or lower), including players with Autism, Down syndrome or other intellectual impairments who have an IQ of 75 or lower and significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior. As of 2024 players need a valid Handicap Index® of 36.4 or less to enter a qualifying event.

US Disabled Golf Association (USDGA)

USDGA LogoThe USDGA events below follow Paralympic Classification so are open to athletes in Virtus II1 Group for Intellectual Disability (IQ 75 or lower), including players with Autism, Down syndrome or other intellectual impairments who have an IQ of 75 or lower and significant limitations in Adaptive Behavior. As of 2024 players need a valid Handicap Index® of 36.4 or less to enter.

International Competitive Golf Events

EDGA International Events:

Unlike the US events above which have followed the Paralympic model so are only open to athletes in the Virtus II1 Group for Intellectual Disability (IQ 75 or lower), EDGA events may be open to athletes in three Virtus Eligibility Groups depending on event:

II-1 Intellectual Disability (IQ 75 or lower)
II-2 ID w/Additional Impairment/Down Syndrome
II-3-High Functioning Autism (IQ of 76 or higher)

For a list of upcoming events world wide view the EDGA International Event Calendar
Note that athletes can apply directly to EDGA for an Access pass for some EDGA-badged events, but EDGA requires Virtus International Eligibility is confirmed before giving athletes their World Ranking WR4GD Pass.

Additional questions?

We’d love to hear from you!
Click below to contact Athletes Without Limits, USA Member of Virtus
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As the US Member of Virtus Athletes Without Limits oversees eligibility for US athletes with intellectual impairments competing in: Virtus and Paralympic Competition.

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