What is Adaptive Golf?

Wanted- Passion versus Bureaucratic Apathy

Foot soldiers for the disabled

* Golfers, therapists, Volunteers, Coaches,

Friends, Family, PGA professionals, Teachers,

Familiar faces and the unfamiliar gathering to help

others with different abilities practice, learn and

play golf.

*Adaptive Golf individualizes the sport to best suit

a person’s physical and cognitive status. Golf is

considered adaptive when the technique is

modified and/or when special adapted equipment

is utilized.

Golf is everywhere, the disabled are everywhere

• How can it be that despite the restorative power of golf

        that the disabled are not welcomed to the game?

• Millions of golfers.

• Millions of disabled that want access to the game.

• 29,000 members of the PGA need to be engaged, it is the

        job, yet undone of the PGA of America.

Golf and the disabled need each other.

• Europe has a bridge, the USA has a moat.

• The PGA of Europe and the Royal and Ancient work

        together

• To bring the disabled to the game, “Sergio Garcia” role

       model

• The PGA of America, many words, few deeds

Facts based data on the current situation.

• Only 2 million regular golfers carry a USGA -GHIN handicap the rest of

        regular golfers are RECREATION GOLFERS playing for fun and socialization.

• 18 million disabled golfers would like to try or regularly play the game if they

        are made to feel welcome at all golf facilities.

• Due to apathy and a lack of serious engagement of Golf's Governing Bodies

        less than 1% of the disabled get to taste golf and or become regular,

        recreation players.

Without the direct support of the PGA and USGA

where do the disabled feel welcome?

• Adaptive Golf grassroots clinics.

• If lucky a few public courses in their area.

• Par 3 courses.

• Driving Ranges-Indoor and outdoor.

• Disabled Veterans tournaments.

• Therapeutic settings.

For the “Good of the Game”

• A report on the status of golfers with disabilities in America

• Prepared by the National Center on Accessibility for the United States Golf

        Association Foundation in 2006

• 10 Conclusions and 6 Recommendations

• The solution, largely ignored by Golf's Governing Bodies

• The book describes their charter as an Industry Wide Initiative” to bring all

        people into the game of golf”.

• The book is an excellent resource and yet no ongoing support by the either

        the PGA or USGA doomed the promise to bring the disabled into the game.

• No central call center, and funding for only a few programs has led to

        discontinuity of intention, and national delivery.

Major Conclusions:

1.Information and Education of the Golf Industry about people with disabilities and

golfers with disabilities remains minimal on a national level.

No SINGLE POINT OF CONTACT to collect comprehensive and authoritative

information on this subject exists.

There are community resources across the country but they focus on their own

client group or for their own local area.

NOTE: The LPGA led an Education Initiative published a guide ,ACCESSIBLE

GOLF-MAKING IT A GAME FOR ALL in 2006

For the “Good of the Game”

2. On a National level, golf course owners/operators have not seen enough golfers

with disabilities, and especially those with mobility impairments to become

interested of concerned about them.

3.Golf course owners/operators are generally receptive to learning more about

how to effectively accommodate golfers with disabilities. They do not however, how

to do it, how golfers who use assistive devices play the game, and in some cases

question why golfers with disabilities want to play golf.

4. Many course owners/operators concerns are not based on fact, but on

conjecture since they have little experience with disabled golfers using mobility

devices, many misconceptions and stereotyping abound.

5..Golf course owners/operators opinions about the adverse impact of, assisted

device impact and pace of play, are not based on direct observation and

experience.

6..Golf course owners/operators need objective information on the characteristics

of golfers with mobility impairments, how they play the game, the types of devices

they use and how those devices affect play and the golf course.

7. Research is needed to provide authoritative and objective information to golf

courses on mobility device impact, pace of play, and single rider golf carts.

8.Marketing is needed to grow the game with the disabled Community. The

disabled, the golf industry, and to providers of services to the disabled, all need

information on technology, assisted devices and equipment that enhances the

ability for those with mobility impairments to effectively play

9.Comprehensive golf instructional information to support programs for golf

professionals, golf course staff, and for professionals providing therapeutic

services, and rehabilitative activities is critical for success.

For the “Good of the Game”

10. There is a stigma associated with the lack of a welcoming tone when new new

golfers feel less intimidated. In June 1999 Jim Ritts the then LPGA commissioner

said, “ there is a need to change the golf course culture. It is necessary to make it

more friendly and inviting...particularly for new players, ”new golfers don’t know

what to expect and that the golf course feels like a hostile environment…”If that is

true for golfers without disabilities, imagine how an individual with a disability must

feel when going to the course for the first time”.

For the “Good of the Game”

Major Recommendations

1.Golf organizations( PGA,USGA,NCF,CSGOAA,GCSAA) That provide education

of industry wide personnel should undertake a major initiative to include integral

components regarding golfers with disabilities in their educational programs.

2. Golf media, (print, digital media, and visual), should commit to consistent coverage

of issues and facts about golfers with disabilities.

3..Educational materials that focus on customer service related to golfers with

disabilities should be produced and made available to all golf facilities in the in the

USA. Focus should be specific ways to effectively accommodate golfers with

disabilities, such as how to set up the course for easier playability; how to

eliminate physical barriers on the course; Case studies on how other golf courses

have and are successfully including golfers with disabilities; and instructional tips

and information on how to locate resources such as single rider golf carts and

equipment.

4.Definitive research should be funded on pace of play, impact of wheeled and

other mobility devices on the course; single golf cars .To be effective this research

should should be conducted by an independent agency which is not a stakeholder

in the outcomes, but should be done so in consultation with entities that are not

stakeholders.

5.A site assessment tool should be developed that would provide golf course and

facility managers with the ability to conduct physical assessments of their

properties to insure compliance with accessibility legislation.

6.A major information and marketing campaign should be developed and focused

nationally on getting people with disabilities interested in golf.

England Golf Partnership-Whole Sport plan an

example for the USA

Vision-

• To allow England to become the leading golf nation in the world by

        providing more opportunities for people to start, stay and succeed in the game.

• Aspiration- Increase participation among, children, young people, Adults and

        people with disabilities. Offer an excellent experience to keep people playing.

• Priorities include - Encouraging people with disabilities.

Lessons

• Golf attracts many people with disabilities.

• A support workforce with specialist skills is essential

• Europe leads the way

• European Disabled Golf Association

Values

EDGA is dedicated to providing golfers with disability the opportunity to

integrate into the mainstream sport of golf.

EDGA actively encourages all organizations which represent golfers with

disability to work together with their respective federation to popularise the sport

of golf. We support initiatives which actively bring individuals together.

EDGA is an inclusive organization open to individuals with physical, intellectual

or sensory impairment, we promote the integration of all golfers and ground our

decisions in the belief that individuals wish to be considered for their abilities

rather than their impairment.

Europe leads the way

EDGA will further develop and encourage initiatives which raise the awareness

of golf as a viable sporting option by developing / supporting programs

targeted at providing individuals with impairment opportunities to experiment

with golf.

Vision

• The EDGA will strive to become the leading advisor on the provision of

        golf for the physically, intellectually and visually impaired.

• England Golf Partnership-Whole Sport plan.

• Retain the characteristics of the sport.

• Appoint a national Disability Golf Development Officer.

• Develop a disability action plan with the help of the English Federation of Disability

        Sport.

• The EFDS is an ACTIVITY ALLIANCE that brings together members, partners, and

        disabled people together to make active lives possible.

Disabled Access

• USA- Random, not supported by Golf's Governing Bodies

• England-A wide bridge for the disabled supported by the Governing Bodies

• Course accessibility information readily available

• Varies by course and help offered to help enhance access

• Open ears to what the disabled customers say

• Help to assure that all types of golfers make informed decisions

• “Disabled Go” is the tool for inquiries 200 partners UK and Ireland

• It is time for action, move from the shadows into the

        sunshine of swinging open the doors of golf to the

        disabled.

Helen Keller

“Alone we can do so little,

together we can do so much”