As he polishes his golf clubs for the new season, Dustin Boydell isn’t focused on taking home first place in the 2025 Vancouver Golf Tour (VGT) just for himself. He competes as an adaptive golfer. His dream: to elevate the sport to a wider audience and ensure that players with disabilities have more opportunities to play and compete without barriers.

Dustin completed an electrical certificate in 2010 and during that time took many theatre courses at UFV as well.  He was working as an electrician in 2018 when he suffered a spinal injury that confined him to a wheelchair. He was told he’d never walk again; however, with hard work and determination, he managed to get himself back on his own two feet.

The situation isn’t perfect.  Dustin has had to adjust his entire life to the limitations he suffers as a result. “You know, some people who are embarrassed or don’t want to talk about it because it’s not fun. But, you know, for me, it’s just part of my life. And it is the cards that I’ve been dealt, and I make the most of it every day,” says Dustin.

That said, there are days where even playing casually can be a challenge. And when it comes to competition, Dustin has to ensure that he is careful with how he treats his body the day before a match.

“Sometimes when I’m on the golf course, my pain is affecting my game. I’ve gotten used to working through some of it, but sometimes the intense stuff, I have to just leave and go home,” he says. “Unless it’s an important match. Then I’ll just fight through it.  I know it’s temporary.”

Despite his challenges, Dustin counts himself as lucky.  And that belief drives him to make space for other adaptive golfers to play the sport he loves so much.

“We need more golf courses to start developing their own adaptive golf policies and just be aware that we’re out there and that there are high-level adaptive golfers around the Fraser Valley,” says Dustin.

He cites many barriers for adaptive golfers, including cost and access to transportation on the course. He hopes to see more golf courses be proactive about their adaptive golf policies.

“It’s more comfortable for everyone involved to have proactive conversations and make these changes before issues happen,” says Dustin. “They’re never comfortable topics to talk about.”

Overall, Dustin has had nothing but positive experiences in the game of golf. He has had the opportunity to mentor a number of adaptive golfers in Chilliwack and has also become a recognizable face at the Chilliwack Golf Club.

“You have to surround yourself in an environment to succeed,” says Dustin. “So it’s great being so accepted by the Chilliwack Golf Club. Everyone says hi and asks me how I’m doing. They ask what tournaments are coming up. And there’s tons of positive support and lots of lifetime friendships that I’ve made.”

And with the VGT coming up, Dustin hopes to take that first-place trophy. For him, it’s a way to prove not only to himself, but to the world, that adaptive golfers are fully capable of playing.

“I’m hoping to be able to use my story to inspire more people to work hard and push for something they may not think is possible for themselves.”