Growing the Game Through Accessible & “Inclusive” Golf Programs

Power of Play ConferenceInclusion Project

April 10, 2014Raleigh, NC

Growing the Game Through Accessible & “Inclusive” Golf

Programs

SPEAKER

Steve Jubb, PGA Class A MemberDirector, PGA Charities & Military LiaisonPGA Foundation

Incoming President,National Alliance for Accessible Golf

THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR ACCESSIBLE GOLF

501c-3 non-profit national organization established in 2001


Mission: To promote and facilitate the

inclusion of people with disabilities into the game of golf

POTENTIAL REACH TODAY 29 Million!


http://www.accessgolf.org/about/board.cfm

An advocacy board with industry-wide representation managed by the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee

WHAT DO WE DO?

Blend our expertise and resources (organizations and individual) to help bring people with disabilities into the game or back into the game

HOW?

• Awareness• Education and Training• Funding player development

programs that promote inclusive learning and play

environments

SUCCESS…SO FAR!

USGA Alliance Grants Program Since 2010: • $500,000+ in program funding • 68 Programs• 8,000+ Individuals• 27 States

THE PGA FOUNDATION

THE PGA FOUNDATION

Improving Lives Through Golf

The PGA Foundation is the charitable arm of The Professional Golfers Association of America and was founded in 1978.

THE PGA FOUNDATION

Our MissionTo positively impact the lives of youth, military veterans, and diverse populations through the creation and utilization of golf programming that supports education, health and wellness, and youth development.

THE PGA FOUNDATION

The PGA Foundation accomplishes the youth portion of the mission by working with other youth focused organizations such as The First Tee, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, golf in schools program and clinics with groups such as Els for Autism, with a goal of inclusion in each.

•

THE PGA FOUNDATION

We achieve the military portion of the mission through our Down Range Clinics and PGA HOPE programs, both of which use golf to enhance the rehabilitation of our country’s wounded warriors and disabled veterans.

•

THE PGA FOUNDATION

We achieve diverse populations portion of the mission through diversity scholarships and accessible golf programming in collaboration with groups like the National Alliance for Accessible Golf and the Special Olympics.

GOLF PROGRAMS & INCLUSION

What does this mean?

INCLUSION MEANS

Continuum of Inclusive ProgramsContinuum of Inclusive Programs

Inclusion based

golfprograms

Inclusion based

golfprograms

Awareness Programs

Awareness Programs

One DayTournaments

One DayTournaments

One DayAwareness

Clinics

One DayAwareness

Clinics

Independent Living Centers

Independent Living Centers

Specific Disability

competitions

Specific Disability

competitions

Practice facilities Practice facilities

Golf as Rehab Tool; Program for Transition

Golf as Rehab Tool; Program for Transition

Hospitals &Rehabilitation

Hospitals &Rehabilitation

Specialized ProgramsSpecialized Programs

InclusionCentered

InclusionCentered

Community Based GolfCommunity Based Golf

Specialized &Segregated

programs

Specialized &Segregated

programs

Par 3 & Executivecourses

Par 3 & Executivecourses

9 & 18 hole golf

facilities

9 & 18 hole golf

facilities

WHAT CAN WE DO?DO THE MATH!

There are 57 million Americans with some form of disability or impairment…

Individuals with Disabilities have $215 million in disposable income and $1 trillion in aggregate income


National Center on Accessibility study:• 10 percent of persons with some

disability now play golf, or• 5.7 million are already in the “game” at

some level


• 22 percent of those with disabilities played golf before incurring their disability or injury, but are not playing now, or

• 11.3 million lapsed golfers


• 35 percent of individuals with disabilities are currently not playing golf, but are interested in learning, or

• 18 million interested golfers


29 Million Potential Golfers!

GOLF IS FORE ALLYOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

INCLUSION PROGRAMS&

GROWTH OF THE GAME

Inclusion &Growth of the Game

• ACCESSIBLE & INCLUSIVE PROGRAMS– Dispelling fears and

Opening “the Game fore ALL”– Programmatic & Physical Access to the Game– Offering Inclusive Learning and Play Programs

Growing the GAME FORE ALL!

• How can you get involved and expand your learning and play programs to be more inclusive?

Suggested Training & ResourcesOutreach in your CommunitySuggested Best Practices

Facility and Industry-wide Programs & Inclusion

Education, Training & Resources

Alliance Resources

• Toolkits for Golfers & Facility Operators• 1 & 2 Day Training Programs• Industry Presentations & Webinars

Resourceshttp://www.accessgolf.org/resources/index.cfm• Opportunities in Your Area• Toolkit for Golfers• Toolkit for Golf Course Owners• Handicapping for Golfers with Disabilities• Modification To The Rules Of Golf For Golfers

With Disabilities• Links

MORE INFORMATION

National Alliance for Accessible Golf

http://www.accessgolf.org

PGA Foundationhttp://www.pgafoundation.org

Getting Started

Outreach Strategies Best Practices-Program Examples

Simple ideas to start an inclusive golf program for people with

disabilities

1– Be committed to reaching out

2- People with disabilities have varied abilities just like anyone else– that thought is important


disabilities3-Leave any stereotypes or perceptions that you may have behind… You will

be surprised at how a different thought process might help


disabilities

CREATE A WELCOMING ATTITUDE FORE ALL

Some other thoughts

Just as any other individuals have different goals, so do those with disabilities

The potential and possibilities for ANYONE to participate are unlimited in golf

Some other thoughts

Golf can be experienced in many ways today beyond a 9 or 18 hole round…

People may find “their golf” through a practice range, putting green or playing a 1 , 2, or 3 hole experience only…that may be all that the individual is seeking or capable of…

GETTING STARTEDOUTREACH

FIND out if any rehab center or other agency in your area has any form of a golf program.

Contact your local PGA Section Office.

CONNECT with them and Partner Up!

GETTING STARTEDOUTREACH

REACH out to other agencies and rehab centers that provide services for individuals with disabilities. They may have never thought of golf as an alternative activity

GO to them… learn about them and the people in their programs and show them how golf can enhance their lives

Best Practices-Program Examples

• A program for kids with hemophilia started a golf program because kids with bleeding disorders can’t play contact sports.

• After a couple of years some of the participants were able to get involved in a local First Tee program that included them right in the program with other kids.


• A renowned program for children in the North East, made their entire short course physically accessible for people with mobility impairments

• People with disabilities from the community were invited and encouraged to join existing golf and instructional programs already in existence


• A golf program was created in Ohio for people with disabilities, then joined with the existing junior golf program to insure that they would be able to be included in ongoing programs for people without disabilities


• A private rehabilitation center in the Midwest partnered with one of the local parks and recreation departments to provide adaptive equipment and merge parts of their programs to provide full inclusive golf for participants ready to take the next step in their golf life.


• A very successful program located at a rehabilitation center in the Midwest, reached out to the local golf community to have participants in community based golf programs, use the rehab center’s short course and engage with participants with disabilities in an inclusive golf league


• A Special Olympics golf program teamed up with local high schools to conduct interscholastic golf programs for Special Olympic Athletes along side the high school golf team!

GROWING THE GAME FORE ALL…

Documents

Growing the Game Through Accessible & “Inclusive” Golf Programs