The International Golf Federation has become an IPC member ©IGF

The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) has accepted the International Golf Federation (IGF) as its newest member - increasing the possibility of the sport one day being added to the Games' programme.

As a result of the agreement, the IPC has pledged to extend its support for Para-golf and to help develop the sport over the coming years.

Golf will return to the Olympic programme at Rio 2016 for the first time since the 1904 Games in St Louis and there is a desire for the Para version to also be recognised.

It was among seven sports to apply for Rio inclusion but canoeing and triathlon were eventually selected.

The European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA) signed up former number one player Lee Westwood as an ambassador in July to help with efforts to promote the game.

"I am looking forward to helping EDGA achieve their objectives of encouraging more people with disability to play golf and ultimately to help golf become a Paralympic sport," said Westwood.

Lee Westwood has backed golf's bid for Paralympics inclusion
Lee Westwood has backed golf's bid for Paralympics inclusion ©Getty Images

The IGF is based in Lausanne in Switzerland and is the governing body for golf, with the responsibility to organise international competitions.

It has 143 member Federations from 138 countries, and has agreed to adhere to the IPC Medical Code, Classification Code and Anti-Doping code.

In addition, the IGF will look to update and improve its classification system to make competition as fair as possible.