A Buderim father who was left paralysed from the neck down after a cycling accident is now chasing a Brisbane 2032 Paralympic dream after winning his first adaptive golf tournament.
Less than two years after suffering a spinal cord injury, Chris Perry claimed victory in the Men’s Inclusive Stableford division at the Queensland Inclusive Championship at Pacific Harbour Golf Club on Bribie Island in May.
The win marked Mr Perry’s first official outdoor golf competition since joining Golf Australia’s national adaptive golf pathway earlier this year – a milestone few could have imagined during the early stages of his recovery.
Reflecting on how far he had come, Mr Perry said golf had become a key part of his recovery journey. What began with indoor sessions at his local X-Golf progressed to competition with friends through X-League and coaching with former X-Golf team member and PGA professional Wade Hooper.
“It’s where rebuilding my confidence really began,” he said.
“The combination of community and routine helps my rehabilitation both physically and mentally. It’s giving me something to work towards.”
Mr Perry is now competing in WR4GD world ranking events for those with disabilities and will travel to South Australia on Tuesday, June 9, as part of Golf Australia’s growing inclusive golf circuit.
Mr Hooper said the progress Mr Perry had made in such a short time had been remarkable.
“I’ve been coaching Chris since he started getting back into golf after his accident and with the way he’s improving, Brisbane 2032 is becoming a very real goal for him,” he said.
“He never wastes a session: he just keeps showing up and getting better.
“That determination is engrained in him so, in next few years, there’s no reason he can’t be right in the mix for 2032.”
While golf has not yet been confirmed for the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic program, the International Golf Federation and Golf Australia are building a strong case for its inclusion.
As a result, it has opened the door to a long-term ambition Mr Perry never expected to have.
“When I saw the push for Paralympic golf, it gave me a huge goal to work towards,” he said.
“To go from being paralysed to competing at this level already, it’s a huge milestone for me. I’m really keen to see how far I can take it.”
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With Men’s Health Week beginning on June 15, Mr Perry’s message of resilience carries particular weight for others facing adversity, recovery and mental health challenges.
“You just need to keep showing up, keep trying to improve and keep moving forward,” he said.
“The most important thing is community. You can achieve a lot with the right people by your side.”
Along with an upcoming tournament in the Barossa Valley this month, Mr Perry will also compete at the New South Wales Inclusive Championship in Coffs Harbour in July.
When he is off the course, he continues refining his game at X-Golf Maroochydore as he works towards his biggest goal yet.
