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.”
