Ohio Golf Journal March 2018

Hopefully our work resonates with many people, who have been stricken with a physical limitation. Adopting a victim’s mentality does not help one overcome diversity. Words are Important Personally, I dislike the term DISABILITY AS IT IMPLIES A ÚXED mindset and victimhood. From a growth mindset, the words injury, illnesses, or challenges give individuals HOPE! That’s a big difference, one gives hope, while the other does not . Adaptive golf is also a more positive reference, to the training programs created to use golf as therapy. Individuals work with caring instructors and therapists to learn skills to improve the quality of their lives. Once the participants, in our adaptive golf programs, are ready to leave the driving range and venture onto the course, they want to compete. They simply want a level PLAYING ÚELD 4HE 2ULES -ODIÚCATIONS FOR ‘Golfers With Disabilities’ published jointly by the USGA and The R&A provide accommodations to allow golfers with various “disabilities” the opportunity to compete head-to-head against other golfers. In the United States competitive opportunities for “disabled” golfers, however, are few and far between. “Disabled” golf organizations have run championship tournaments for decades, but to date they have not received support from the USGA or other major golf organizations. There are more opportunities in Europe, thanks to the groundbreaking work of Tony Bennett and the European Disabled Golf Association (EDGA). The Europeans have established the model for “disabled” golfers and physically challenged golfers now can regularly compete against other adaptive golfers. The EDGA model could be used to host similar events in this country, as well as, around the world. Tony Bennett and the Europeans are also leading the effort to have golf recognized as a Paralympic sport. An important step in this process was the R&A joining the effort. The EDGA represents 17 countries and several of them support this initiative. The USGA as the national governing body has not yet agreed to sponsor a team to the Paralympics, but does have until later this year to insure that adaptive golf can be added as a sport in the 2024 Paralympics. Adaptive golf is not only positioned to help physically challenged individuals with ‘GolfTherapy,’ but it could also become a growth segment for the game of golf. If you would like to know more about ‘Adaptive Golf’ programs, watch this video from CBS: https://youtu.be/ AUAq6fF-9LA , or contact me through Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ richobriengolf/ Ohio Golf Journal