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