FREEDOM GOLF PARTICIPANTS “HIT THE SWEET” SPOT AT TWO BMW CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), dedicated to bringing a sense of freedom and joy to individuals with special needs through their inclusion in the world of golf, provided two special events at the BMW Championship at Conway Farms Golf Club. FGA hosted Wounded Warrior Project Alumni on September 10th and on the following day offered children with special needs a championship-level pro tour golf experience.

On September 10, Freedom Golf hosted four Wounded Warrior Project alumni from the Chicago chapter, along with four of their guests and four Wounded Warrior Project staff members. Freedom Golf hosted the attendees at the United Airlines Fairway Club and accompanied them to various points out on the course, watching practice round play and receiving autographs from PGA Tour Pros. The event served as an introduction of FGA to the Wounded Warrior Project alumni and launched Freedom Golf’s Wounded Warrior Project Fall Program.

Freedom Golf’s Wounded Warrior Fall Program begins September 28 with a two-hour adaptive golf clinic designed exclusively for Wounded Warrior Project alumni. The program continues with two “Get Out & Play” dates, October 19 and November 2, where Wounded Warrior Project alumni can play eighteen holes of golf with a FGA Adaptive Golf Coach and continue to receive on-the-course instruction.

Also at the BMW Championship, on September 11 Freedom Golf, with the support of the BMW Championship, its staff and the Lake County Community Foundation, brought youth participants from Western DuPage Special Recreation Association and Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association to the BMW Championship Junior Clinic. Vince Pellegrino, Vice President of Tournaments for the Western Golf Association, worked with FGA providing admission to the Freedom Golf group. FGA’s participants watched Pro Am play and received autographs from PGA Tour pros such as Rickie Fowler, Lee Westwood, Nick Watney, Kevin Stadler and more.

The BMW Championship Junior Clinic was led by PGA Tour professionals David Hearn and Jason Kokrak and was held on the tournament’s driving range. The clinic ran about 60 minutes, and included discussion on golf fundamentals as well as hitting demonstrations.

 

 

 

FREEDOM GOLF SPONSORS ADAPTIVE GOLF CLINIC FOR LINCOLNWAY SPECIAL RECREATION ASSOCIATION

Freedom Golf Association (FGA) provided golf instruction to nine children with physical disabilities from Lincolnway Special Recreation Association (LWSRA) on July 29 at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club.

Freedom Golf, dedicated to bringing a sense of freedom and joy to individuals with special needs through their inclusion in the world of golf, sponsored the adaptive golf clinic and conducted the program during LWSRA’s six-week long Adaptive Adventure Camp. Freedom Golf Adaptive Golf coaches and LWSRA participants worked together on fundamentals such as balance, posture, setup and swing path using golf clubs and SNAG Golf equipment. The clinic took place at the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club practice facility.

The LWSRA Clinic was led by FGA Adaptive Golf Coach Pat Tantillo along with PGA Professionals Bill Berger and Don Parker. The clinic ran two hours, and all participants received hands-on instruction and worked hard to “Hit the Sweet Spot”^TM. Peter Manglesdorf, Recreation Specialist for Adapted Sports with Lincolnway Special Recreation Association, saw the opportunity to include adaptive golf in the Adaptive Adventure Camp and developed the partnership with Freedom Golf.

“Because LWSRA Adaptive Sports was able to team up with Freedom Golf for this clinic, we were able to give our kids a unique opportunity to be part of an ageless sport that teaches qualities like honesty, integrity and hard work,” said Peter Manglesdorf, Recreation Specialist for Adapted Sports with Lincolnway Special Recreation Association. “Those are lessons that will stay with our kids and become a part of their everyday life.”

FREEDOM GOLF PARTICIPANTS “HIT THE SWEET” SPOT AT THE ENCOMPASS CHAMPIONSHIP JUNIOR CLINIC

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), dedicated to bringing a sense of freedom and joy to individuals with special needs through their inclusion in the world of golf, participated in the Encompass Championship Junior Clinic on June 19 at the North Shore Country Club.

Freedom Golf, with the support of the Encompass Championship and its staff, brought four youth participants from Western DuPage Special Recreation Association to the Junior Clinic. Mike Galeski, Tournament Director for the Encompass Championship, worked with FGA providing admission to the Freedom Golf group, including VIP Parking and accessible shuttles. FGA’s participants watched Pro Am play from the 10^th tee box, and received autographs from Champions Tour pros such as Hale Irwin, Rocco Mediate, Hal Sutton, Craig Stadler and more.

The Encompass Championship Junior Clinic was led by Champions Tour professional Brian Henninger and was held on the tournament’s driving range. The clinic ran 45 minutes, and all participants had an opportunity to take some swings and “Hit the Sweet Spot”^TM with Henninger. Henninger discussed golf fundamentals with the children, covering posture, grip, power and aim.

 

 

 

“To see our children with special needs getting up close to the game, taking swings out on the range, and meeting the pros was truly rewarding. The Encompass Championship and its staff are first class all the way,” said Edmund Q. Sylvester, Chairman and Founder of the Freedom Golf Association. “The children were smiling ear-to-ear and couldn’t wait to share their day of golf with their friends and families. You can’t put a price on that sense of joy, and it’s what Freedom Golf is all about”

 

 

FREEDOM GOLF CERTIFIES TWELVE NEW ADAPTIVE GOLF TEACHING PROFESSIONALS

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), dedicated to bringing a sense of freedom and joy to individuals with special needs through their inclusion in the world of golf, sponsored an Adaptive Golf Training Course on May 10 – 11 at the Midwest Golf House and Cog Hill Golf & Country Club. Twelve professionals received training as Adaptive Golf Coaches after completing the course focused on how to teach Adaptive Golf as therapy for individuals with physical challenges.

The Adaptive Golf Training Course featured two-days of instruction both in the classroom and on the driving range. The first day of instruction covered processes to effectively teach adaptive golf, demonstrations of adaptive golf equipment and strategies behind adaptive golf practice drills. Day two of the course took place at the Cog Hill Golf & Country Club practice facility and included hands-on golf instruction for golfers with physical special needs. Attendees and golfers worked together for three hours on fundamentals such as posture, grip, balance and aim.

“These two days were an outstanding eye opener to the wonderfully inclusive, therapeutic, social and life changing effects Adaptive Golf has to offer,” said Penny Marrone. Marrone, a Physiotherapist, drove from St. Catharines, Canada for the training course. Her husband John, who sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury in 1989 resulting in physical limitations in balance and strength, participated as a golfer in the second day’s hands-on clinic. John received adaptive golf instruction by the trained coaches and the opportunity to work with adapted golf equipment. “I was truly amazed at the passionate work of all involved to bring this type of workshop and clinic to the fore front of both the golf and rehab industries. After hitting that first ball, he didn’t want to stop. I haven't seen that competitive sport attitude in John since before his accident - 24 years ago!! What was thought impossible, FGA and the Adaptive Golf Association made possible. To actually realize the potential to ‘PLAY’ a sport again and come off the sidelines…WOW!”

The training course was delivered by the Adaptive Golf Association (AGA) led by certified Adaptive Golf Coach David Windsor, a PGA Teaching Professional with over 20 years of experience. Windsor specializes in helping organizations and individuals across the country develop and operate adaptive golf programs to enhance lives in their community. His Adaptive Golf Training Workshop is an approved continuing education course for physical-occupational therapists and golf professionals.

Windsor, together with Adaptive Golf Association President, Mark Timson, trained attendees on adaptive golf equipment, including power gloves, formed grips, custom formed shafts and adjusted-lie club heads. Single-rider golf carts were on-site for use by golfers with special needs, provided by Patrick Byrne from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), and SNAG^© Golf equipment was provided by Rachel Verive, Foundation Manager, Kids Golf Foundation (KGF).

“FGA’s mission is simply to bring the joy of golf to the disabled, and the Adaptive Golf Training Course accomplished that by training twelve new professionals ready to teach adaptive golf,” said Edmund Q. Sylvester, Chairman and Founder of the Freedom Golf Association. “Seeing first-hand the impact this great game can have on an individual was the most amazing part of the course. To see the smiles, the tears, the pride when one of our golfers hit the sweet spot…that’s the sense of freedom we know golf can bring to the special needs community.”

 

FREEDOM GOLF ASSOCIATION SPONSORS ADAPTIVE GOLF TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS

Freedom Golf Association (FGA) will sponsor an Adaptive Golf Training Course on May 10 – 11 for golf professionals and instructors, therapists of multi-disciplinary processes, medical and health professionals. The event, which will be held at the Midwest Golf House and Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, will instruct attendees how to teach “Adaptive Golf” as therapy for individuals with physical challenges.

The training course is being delivered by the Adaptive Golf Association (AGA). Leading the course will be David Windsor, PGA Teaching Professional with over 20 years of experience. Windsor specializes in helping organizations across the country develop and operate adaptive golf programs to enhance lives in their community. His Adaptive Golf Training Workshop is an approved continuing education course for physical-occupational therapists and golf professionals.

During the two-day course, attendees will acquire skills to effectively teach adaptive golf using safe, proven approaches including orientation of adaptive golf equipment and how to use it safely. The workshop will consist of classroom demonstration of golf swing fundamentals and hands-on training experience working directly with challenged participants. In addition, attendees will earn certification as an Adaptive Golf Coach and 10 CE or MSR Credit Hours.

“The opportunity to sponsor this training course through the Adaptive Golf Association is a great honor for FGA,” said Edmund Q. Sylvester, Chairman and Founder of the Freedom Golf Association. “FGA’s mission is simply to bring the joy of golf to the disabled, and the Adaptive Golf Training Course will accomplish that by increasing the number of skilled professionals qualified to teach adaptive golf.”

To register for this event, contact Kathy Farrell at KFarrell@fgagolf.org. For more information about Freedom Golf Association, visit www.fgagolf.org.

Freedom Golf Association (FGA) Videos from Maryville

FGA is pleased to share 3 videos from our 

Freedom Golf Invitational at Maryville Academy in Des Plaines, IL on March 2nd.

Freedom Golf Invitational Brings Golf to Children with Special Needs

Freedom Golf Association (FGA), dedicated to helping the special needs community enjoy the game of golf, brought 18 children with special needs together for an afternoon of golf, fun, and trophies at its first Freedom Golf Invitational on March 2^nd at the Maryville Academy in Des Plaines.

The Freedom Golf Invitational featured a day of special youth player development supported by 20 PGA professionals who volunteered their time and were assisted by trained caregivers from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) and young tournament golfers from the Illinois Junior Golf Association (IJGA). The day included ten stations that covered nutritional and life-skills clinics, physical fitness by Paul Callaway, golf instruction through competitive games that delivered smiles to all participants. Participation certificates and trophies were awarded to all.

From left to right: Hans Larson, Michael Wenzel, Emil Esposito, Don Pieper, Mike Carbray, Dino Lucchessi, Juan Espejo, Don Larson, E.Q. Sylvester, Dan Behr, Chuck Lynch, Bill Berger, Lloyd McWilliams, Ed Stevenson, Chad Van Den Top, and Jiro Nakazaki. (Not pictured: Trey Van Dyke, Nick Papadakas, Marty Schiene). Photo courtesy of Riesen Photography

“This was a great day for the game,” said Edmund Q. Sylvester, Chairman and Founder of the Freedom Golf Association. “We brought the joy of golf to a wonderful group of children and we were blessed to partner and collaborate with top-notch Chicago organizations. The Freedom Golf Invitational was but one step in our mission to bring joy and a sense of freedom to those special needs individuals through their inclusion in the game of golf.”

The PGA professionals from 10 Chicago area golf courses, who delivered instruction, represented Butterfield Country Club, The Glen Club, Maple Meadows, Merit Club, Oak Brook Golf Club, Oak Meadows Golf Course, Old Elm Club, Rockford Park District courses, Rolling Green Country Club, and Sportsman's Country Club.

PGA professional and Director of the Maryville Golf Academy Juan E. Espejo II developed the clinic programming, while Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the IJGA, oversaw the event’s operations. The Freedom Golf Invitational, led by FGA, united multiple Chicago-based organizations. The Maryville Academy’s Sylvia & Ben Stein Center acted as the event’s home course, with custom ramps for clinic stations built by Patrick Byrne and Derrick Daniels from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. The youth participants came from Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA), RIC, Maryville Academy and the IJGA. Additional key contributions to the day were made by Rachel Verive, Foundation Manager, and her staff from Kids Golf Foundation, Alyce Andres Frantz, Market News International, the Illinois PGA, Paul Callaway, Director of Therapy of the Cantigny Golf Academy, Don and Donna Zommer of Midwest Amputee Golf Association.

“FGA felt fortunate to include on this day many from the special needs community, and we were pleased to see our ‘inclusion’ model successfully in action,” said Sylvester. “The excitement and celebration when special needs golfers ‘hit the sweet spot’ shows the impact of our vision and the joy it brings!”

 

Mark Carbray, 2012 Illinois PGA Junior Golf Leader, teaching the game. Photo courtesy of Riesen Photography