Ohio Golf Journal August 2019

Many of the competitors at the USAGA events are military veterans, who have lost a limb in service of the country, but still want to remain active. They have the fire to win, but these USAGA events are more about re-connecting with friends, playing a few holes together and spending time swapping lies in the 19th hole. The USAGA was founded in 2014 and makes playing golf a reality for the 18 million physically disabled golfers. It includes 31member organizations across the United States and provides adaptive golf to over 13,000 individuals, of which 26% are wounded veterans. E.Q. Sylvester, CEO of the USAGA, is working diligently to have golf included in the para-Olympics. Last year, the USGA sent a representative to Frankenmuth to study the success of the USAGA in preparation of hosting their own USGA sanctioned event for physically limited golfers. Golf also has become a type of therapy for the physically disabled. It gives them a reason to aspire to improve on the course, as well as, in life in general. Losing a limb or the use of a portion of your body does not mean you have to give up the things you love. Adaptive golfers worldwide continue to prove that fact every day. To learn more visit: https://www.usaga.org/