Yesterday I talked about an organization, Birdies for the Brave, which raises funds for veterans’ charities. Today I want to talk a little about an organization that teaches disabled individuals that much of life, and specifically golf, is still possible despite an injury.
First Swing is a golf clinic program started in 1988 by the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), in conjunction with Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust and the Professional Golf Association (PGA). Although they were started and are run by an amputee organization, the clinics are open to anyone with a disability, including those who may be wheelchair bound or those who may have lost the use of an arm due to a stroke or other condition. Clinics can be hosted by any clinic, golf course, hospital, rehabilitation facility, or other entity interested in hosting the program.
The clinics are generally two day programs (sometimes they can be combined into a one-day intensive session), with a different focus each day.
– Day one: is actually for physical therapists, golf professionals, and other clinicians involved in the clinic how to teach adaptive golf. Through classroom work and practical application, these professionals learn how to use adaptive equipment and how to compensate for various limitations. Day one usually has a small fee associated with the training, generally around $25, and attendees will receive continuing education and contact hours credit.
– Day two: is where the disabled participants arrive and are coached on how to grip the golf club, their stance, swinging, and safety issues. Adaptive golf equipment options may include clubs that allow you to golf without bending over, single-rider golf carts (for those who are normally wheelchair bound), and clubs with special grips for those using only one hand. Day two is free to all participants.
NAGA also sponsors follow-on golf clinics, sometimes called “Next Step” or “Learn to Golf” clinics, to allow for those individuals who have participated in a First Swing event to continue their skill development.
Most of this year’s clinics, with two main exceptions in Seattle and New Mexico, are being held in the northeast or along the eastern seaboard. Two events are being sponsored by the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and are specifically limited to amputee veterans only:
– April: Indian Spring Golf Club in Marlton, New Jersey
– Sep: Pittman Golf Course in Sewell, New Jersey
(Note: Dates on NAGA’s website for the VA events are listed as TBA, but this website has them as 24 Apr and 18 Sep. The Philadelphia VA Medical Center has yet to post the dates of the event to their FB page.)
Point of contact information for the VA sponsored clinics and a full schedule of events can be found here. You can find out more about Amputee Golf opportunities, such as regional competitions, on NAGA’s Facebook page.
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