The National Alliance for Accessible Golf is an advocacy organization that educates, promotes and provides support to grassroots programs serving individuals with disabilities through the game of golf to ensure the game is inclusive and open to everyone.

1. Growing the Game Through
Accessible & “Inclusive” Golf
Programs

2. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR
ACCESSIBLE GOLF
501c-3 non-profit national organization
established in 2001

3. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR
ACCESSIBLE GOLF
Mission:
To promote and facilitate the
inclusion of people with disabilities into
the game of golf
POTENTIAL REACH TODAY
29 Million!

4. THE NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR
ACCESSIBLE GOLF
http://www.accessgolf.org/about/board.cfm
An advocacy board with industry-wide
representation managed by the Board
of Directors, its Executive Committee, an
Executive Director and a Grant Consultant

5. 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

6. HOW?
• Awareness
• Education and Training
• Funding player development
programs that promote inclusive
learning and play environments

7. SUCCESS…SO FAR!
USGA Alliance Grants Program
Since 2010:
• $500,000+ in program funding
• 68 Programs
• 8,000+ Individuals
• 27 States

9. GOLF PROGRAMS & INCLUSION
What does this mean?

10. INCLUSION MEANS

12. Continuum of Inclusive Programs
Inclusion
based
golf
programs
Inclusion
based
golf
programs
Awareness
Programs
Awareness
Programs
One Day
Tournaments
One Day
Tournaments
One Day
Awareness
Clinics
One Day
Awareness
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
Programs
Specialized
Programs
Inclusion
Centered
Inclusion
Centered
Community
Based Golf
Community
Based Golf
Specialized &
Segregated
programs
Specialized &
Segregated
programs
Par 3 &
Executive
courses
Par 3 &
Executive
courses
9 & 18 hole
golf
facilities
9 & 18 hole
golf
facilities

13. 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

14. WHAT CAN WE DO?
DO THE MATH!
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

15. WHAT CAN WE DO?
DO THE MATH!
• 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

16. WHAT CAN WE DO?
DO THE MATH!
• 35 percent of individuals with disabilities
are currently not playing golf, but are
interested in learning, or
• 18 million interested golfers

17. WHAT CAN WE DO?
DO THE MATH!
29 Million Potential Golfers!
GOLF IS FORE ALL
YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

19. INCLUSION PROGRAMS
&
GROWTH OF THE GAME

20. 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

21. Growing the GAME FORE ALL!
• How can you get involved and expand your
learning and play programs to be more
inclusive?
Suggested Training & Resources
Outreach in your Community
Suggested Best Practices
Facility and Industry-wide Programs
& Inclusion

22. Education, Training & Resources
Alliance Resources
• Toolkits for Golfers & Facility Operators
• 1 & 2 Day Training Programs
• Industry Presentations & Webinars

23. Resources
http://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

24. MORE INFORMATION
National Alliance for
Accessible Golf
http://www.accessgolf.org
info@accessgolf.org

25. Getting Started
Outreach Strategies
Best Practices-Program Examples

26. 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

27. Simple ideas to start an inclusive
golf program for people with
disabilities
3-Leave any stereotypes or perceptions
that you may have behind… You will be
surprised at how a different thought
process might help

28. Simple ideas to start an inclusive
golf program for people with
disabilities
CREATE A WELCOMING ATTITUDE FORE ALL

29. 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

30. 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…

32. GETTING STARTED
OUTREACH
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 or
LPGA Chapter.
CONNECT with them and Partner Up!

33. GETTING STARTED
OUTREACH
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

35. 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.

36. Best Practices-Program Examples
• 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

37. Best Practices-Program Examples
• 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

38. Best Practices-Program Examples
• 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.

40. Best Practices-Program Examples
• 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

41. Best Practices-Program Examples
• 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!

42. GROWING THE GAME
FORE ALL…