Charity golf day drives inclusion beyond the fairway

Darrell Dalton with one of the GPAI Athletes, Bailey Smaldon at last year’s charity golf day.

Businesses, golfers and community members are being urged to get behind a Sunshine Coast charity golf event that helps people of all abilities build confidence, friendships and employment pathways.

Team registrations and sponsorship opportunities are now open for the 2026 Holey Moley Charity Pro-Am Tour Scramble, to be held at Glenview Par 3 Golf Course on Thursday, October 22.

The event is run by Golf Programs Australia Incorporated, a Nambour-based not-for-profit that delivers all-abilities golf programs, mentoring, training and social enterprise opportunities.

Unlike a traditional charity golf day, the Holey Moley Charity Pro-Am is designed to create genuine pathways for people who face barriers to inclusion.

All-abilities golfers will again play a key role in managing the event from start to finish. The tournament builds on last year’s “world first” partnership with the Australian PGA and will feature 30 PGA members competing in a Tour Scramble format.

Three amateur players will team up with a PGA professional to play 18 holes on the Glenview Par 3 layout. Funds raised will support GPAI’s ongoing all-abilities golf programs, mentoring initiatives and social enterprise pathways, helping participants develop practical skills and experience a stronger sense of belonging.

GPAI co-founder, president and PGA professional Darrell Dalton said the event was about much more than raising money.

“Every team that registers, every business that sponsors the event and every raffle ticket purchased helps support people of all abilities to feel included, connected and valued,” he said.

“Golf has an incredible ability to bring people together. Through GPAI we’ve seen first-hand how the game builds confidence, develops friendships and opens doors that many people may never have thought possible.

“This event gives the community the chance to be part of that journey.”

Since 2015, GPAI has grown from a weekly golf program into one of Australia’s leading all-abilities golf organisations, operating from its Nambour retail charity golf pro-shop and curio-gift store.

Sponsor team registrations close on September 22, while non-sponsor team registrations close on October 8.

For sponsorship enquiries or media interviews, contact Darrell Dalton on 0407 472 526 or president@gpai.org.au.

• For general enquiries, phone 5476 0365, email info@gpai.org.au or visit gpai.org.au.