Dixon Schoemaker finishes sixth out of 59 athletes at All Abilities Golf Tournament

Schoemaker finished sixth out of over 50 golfers at the All Abilities Golf Tournament in Ottawa.

By: Kathleen Smith

Local golfer Dixon Schoemaker recently travelled to Ottawa to compete in the All Abilities Golf Tournament.

The 20-year-old golfer was born with cerebral palsy, but Dixon didn’t let that hinder his love for the sport, nor his competitive spirit.

“I love sport and competition, and golf is the game that I excel in, so having Cerebral Palsy never stopped me from playing,” Dixon admitted.

Finishing sixth out of 59 golfers at the tournament, this result has opened the door for future competitions including the Para Olympics and Special Olympics, as well as other all abilities golf tournaments.

Battling his nerves and the heat for his first time at the tournament, Dixon had such an amazing time meeting other people and competing at the All Abilities Golf Tournament.

“I feel proud that I finished, but I know I could have done better if I didn’t have a few double bogeys and missed a few birdie putts,” Dixon said.

“I was very nervous on the first day.”

Now, Dixon is involved in the special Olympics and the Para Olympics and already has a couple of tournaments to prepare for, coming up in September.

Dixon and his family would like to thank the whole community for their generosity. Whether it was people golfing with Dixon and encouraging or helping with his swing, or helping him train for the event in Ottawa.

On September 16, Dixon will compete at Special Olympics in London at Maple Ridge Golf Course.

September 27 he will compete again in the Para Olympics in Niagara Falls at the Legends Golf Club.

Dixon suspects he will compete in the All Abilities tournament again next year.

First launched in 2019, this tournament was an important step toward making golf more accessible and giving athletes with disabilities a platform to compete at a high level.

The event is open to golfers with a range of physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities.

The tournament is designed for people with limitations, whether physical or psychological. The Canadian All Abilities Championship is a new but significant addition to Golf Canada’s portfolio. It was introduced to promote inclusivity and showcase the talents of golfers with disabilities.