Illinois’ growing momentum in advancing the adaptive golf movement,
which makes playing golf a reality for persons with special needs,
will be on center stage Friday, June 9 at the FREEDOM GOLF ASSOCIATION
ANNUAL GOLF OUTING AT COG HILL GOLF & Country Club in LEMONT,
Illinois. The ANNUAL GOLF OUTING TEAMS UP SPECIAL NEEDS GOLFERS WITH
ABLE-bodied golfers and serves as an inspiring showcase for the great
strides that have been made in the adaptive golf movement.An estimated
200 people—50 foursomes—are expected to participate in this annual
tournament, described as a “fun gathering of FGA friends” that is
organized by the Freedom Golf Association. Able-bodied and special
needs golfers from the Chicagoland area, age 10 and above, are
encouraged to take part in this tournament, organized as a shotgun,
best ball tournament played on Cog Hill’s #2 course (Ravines).
The tournament registration and warmup period runs from 6:30 a.m. to
7:30 a.m. After announcements at 7:45 a.m., the shotgun tournament
begins at 8 a.m. Following the tournament, a cocktail reception,
awards ceremony and luncheon begin at approximately 2 p.m. If the
weather is inclement and the tournament is cancelled, rain checks for
play at Cog Hill will be distributed, or a new date will be announced
at the event.
Individuals can join a foursome (four able-bodied golfers plus a
special needs golfer) for $200; full foursome packages are available
for $700. The reception, awards ceremony and luncheon is included in
the price. Those who would like to cheer on the golfers from the
gallery and attend the reception and lunch can reserve their seat for
$50. There will be raffle awards, event awards, plus a live and silent
auction.
Golf OUTING RESERVATIONS CAN BE MADE AT
https://campscui.active.com/orgs/FreedomGolfAssociation/selectSessions/1844101
[https://campscui.active.com/orgs/FreedomGolfAssociation#/selectSessions/1844101].
Volunteers are welcome! Anyone who wishes to help run the tournament
June 9 should call FGA at 630-455-6018.
UNDERSTANDING ADAPTIVE GOLF
Adaptive golf is the term that encompasses a growing number of local,
state and national initiatives to make golf available to persons who
have physical, intellectual, or sensory challenged individuals.
Included among these are “wounded veterans,” many of whom suffer
from PTSD.
To make it possible for people with disabilities to play golf, a
variety of adaptive strategies have been adopted. Among them are
Single Rider carts for the non-ambulatory, adaptive golf clubs, golf
courses that have been made more accessible, changes in rules as
written by the USGA. Golf swings, grips, and prosthetics may be also
needed to allow the disabled to play the game.
On a national level, the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA)
was formed in 2014. Presently there are 17 chapters across United
States, speaking with one voice, and bringing adaptive golf to over
10,000 disabled individuals annually, of which approximately 23% are
wounded veterans.
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SPONSORSHIP
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are 57 million disabled
persons in the country. 18 million of them want to play golf,
according to the PGA Foundation. This makes supporting organizations
such as Freedom Golf Association very attractive and rewarding for
organizations, as there is a large number of potential golfers among
those with special needs. The growth of the adaptive golf movement
underscores the need for more funds to support these types of
programs.
FGA receives support from thousands of donors. Major golf and
sports-related companies and organizations who have supported FGA
include FootJoy, Titleist, Bridgestone, Ahead, Under Armour, BMW
Championship, Encompass Champions Tour, and the Tiger Woods
Foundation. Corporate sponsors and partners include Hinsdale Bank &
Trust, Molex, Comcast, AlphaGraphics, Rytech, Buddig, RIC, GE Capital
and, ATI. Foundations that support FGA include Amvets, the First
Non-profit Foundation, the National Alliance for Accessible Golf,
Wadsworth Golf Charities Foundation, Kids Golf Foundation, and The
First Tee of Greater Chicago. Golf facilities that partner with FGA
include Cog Hill Golf & Country Club, Downers Grove Golf Club,
Naperbrook Golf Course, Meadowlark Forest Preserve Golf, Rich Harvest
Farms, White Pines Golf Dome, MQ’s Golf Dome, Buffalo Grove Golf &
Sports Center, and River Bend Golf Club.
FGA works with corporations and organizations to tailor their support.
FGA acknowledges sponsors through website exposure, media, newsletter
and more. For more information about sponsorship opportunities, please
contact Sally Ruecking, Director of Development and Personnel, by
email or by telephone at 630-455-6018.
ABOUT FREEDOM GOLF ASSOCIATION
Freedom Golf Association (FGA), a 501(C)3 non-profit organization, is
the leading adaptive golf organization in Illinois and is a charter
member of the United States Adaptive Golf Alliance. FGA was founded in
July 2012 by Edmund (E.Q.) Sylvester. E.Q. is a director of the
Western Golf Association (WGA), member of the United States Senior
Golf Association (USSGA), and a triple amputee. FGA is dedicated to
bringing joy and a sense of freedom to the special needs community
through their inclusion in the game of golf.
FGA believes that all special needs individuals deserve a chance to
accomplish the same things as any others do and work towards bringing
a positive transformation to their lives. FGA contributes to the
positive development of those with special needs through the magic of
golf.
FGA works to assist individuals with disabilities in many ways:
• Provides professionally run instructional clinics and golf events
• Engages children, adults and veterans with special needs in FREE
golf instruction with other classmates
• Conducts adaptive golf training workshops to increase the number
of qualified golf coaches to instruct individuals with special needs
• Provides leadership and collaboration with nationally recognized
organizations on how to expand/grow adaptive golf programs
Based on its growing understanding of the needs of disabled golfers,
the FGA has developed a ground-breaking Adaptive Golf Enhancement
Program™ that increases the golfing ability of special needs
golfers. FGA’s golf coaches learn this six-step process, which helps
them to better understand and enhance the capabilities of special
needs golfers.
To assist coaches and special needs golfers in determining what
adaptive measures would be most beneficial, FGA recently invested in
what they call a “personal swing sensors and computerized program”
to 1) measure the disabled golfer’s initial swing path and
limitations; 2) develop an appropriate exercise program to improve
flexibility and range of motion; and 3) to chart the golfer’s
progress, using the initial swing measurements as a baseline.
In 2016, FGA provided more than 1,300 adaptive golf lessons. In the
same year, 110 special needs golfers went out and played on the
course. Ten individuals became trained FGA Adaptive Golf Coaches,
growing the total number to 42.
79 cents out of every dollar received goes to FGA’s special needs
golf programs and events. FGA has helped 40 Chicagoland courses become
accessible to the disabled community.
For more information about the FREEDOM GOLF ASSOCIATION, please visit
the official website at www.fgagolf.org [http://www.fgagolf.org/].
Contact FGA by phone at 855-342-4465 or 630-455-6018, or by email at
playgolf@fgagolf.org. Donations to FREEDOM GOLF ASSOCIATION CAN BE
MADE AT www.fgagolf.org/donate.html
[http://www.fgagolf.org/donate.html].
Follow FGA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf
[https://www.facebook.com/FGA4Golf]. Follow FGA on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/FGA4Golf [https://twitter.com/FGA4Golf].
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10/06/2017 Last update