Blog
2023 USAGA Recap
As 2023 comes to a close, we want to take a second to thank all of our participants, coaches and donors for a great year of adaptive golf.
Congratulations to our Participant of the Year - Issac Berger, and our Coaches of the Year - Keith Brown, Dale Fester, and Jeff Powers!
‘Golf For All’ Chairman Bob Beach Honored by Special Olympics of Massachusetts
BOSTON - December 14, 2023 – Bob Beach, Co-Founder, Chairman and Director of Golf For All (Northeast Accessible Golf Association), is recognized by Special Olympics Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Golf Association and the New England PGA for his life of service enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through the game of golf.
USAGA Receives Dupage Foundation Grant
The USAGA is proud to have received a grant through DuPage Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Program (CNGP) to help support adaptive golf in Dupage County. DuPage Foundation awarded more than $600,000 to 46 DuPage County not-for-profit organizations. Thanks to additional donations from DuPage Foundation’s donors and donor-advisors, the Foundation was able to grant $230,000 above its regular Community Needs grant budget.
Issac Ziebell Received Bronze At the 2023 Special Olympics Illinois
One of USAGA’s longstanding participant, Issac Ziebel received a bronze medal at the 2023 Illinois Special Olympics! Below are some photos from the event and below is an except from Seaspar Special Recreation Associaiton about Issac’s performance.
2023 Palmetto State Adaptive Championship Photos
We received some amazing photos from the 2nd Annual Palmetto State Adaptive Championship! The photos were taken by Leda Holliday’s parent, Marrin Holliday.
USAGA welcomes the Japan Disabled Golf Association
The USAGA is proud to welcome our newest international member, the Japan Disabled Golf Association! They just completed the 28th Japan Open Golf Championship for People with Disabilities. This 36-hole stroke play even started in 1996 and includes around 80 players. Congradulations to Masato Koyamada for winning the championship this year, his 3rd victory! This is the first year the tournament is being included in the USAGA’s adaptive golf tournament rankings.
USAGA Receives 2023 Best of Burr Ridge Award
BURR RIDGE September 11, 2023 -- United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) has been selected for the 2023 Best of Burr Ridge Award in the Golf club category by the Burr Ridge Award Program.
USAGA Receives Gatorade Equity in Sports Community
The Gatorade Equity in Sports Community Grant Program was launched in
Spring 2022 as part of Gatorade’s Equity in Sports Initiative. Gatorade is
committed to helping remove barriers to allow all athletes the opportunity to
play by focusing on three areas:
2023 Alley Challenge Clinic
Great media coverage from the Alley Challenge adaptive golf clinic
1 – Michigan man with Multiple Sclerosis hits first golf shot in 20 years (featuring McLaren Health Care), mLive, Augus 21, 2023
2 – Adaptive golf takes center stage at The Ally Challenge (featuring McLaren Health Care), mLive, August 21, 2023
3 – The Ally Challenge hold second Adaptive Golf Clinic, WNEM, August 21, 2013
4 – NBC coverage of the Clinic
5 - Lasco Press coverage of the Clinic
Support the USAGA for #NationalGolfMonth
In honor of #nationalgolfmonth The U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance invites you to contribute to help support the physical and cognitive needs of veterans, first responders, children with special needs, and individuals with disabilities through their inclusion in adaptive golf. In 2022, USAGA provided over 6,200 adaptive golf lessons. We also entered 29 competitive events provided by our member organizations into our USAGA Rankings. We are on pace to exceed last year’s impact in 2023, but need your support to achieve our goals.
With your donation, we can offer programs, clinics, special equipment, and tournaments that provide adaptive golfers the tools to empower themselves: https://www.usaga.org/donate-to-usaga
2023 Ohio Adaptive Open Photo Gallery
The Inaugural Ohio Adaptive Open took place this month with a talented field of adaptive golfers. See a few photos from Arm Impairment - Men’s winner (and USAGA Executive Director) Jonathan Snyder. For a few list of winners, head over to the Northern Ohio Golf Association website: WINNERS.
National Alliance for Accessible Golf Launches GAIN!
GAIN is the pathway to Golf Inclusion Monthly™, resources, program listings, and a network of golfers, adaptive golf experts, industry leaders and more working to increase the participation of individuals with disabilities in the game of golf!
Our Community is Your Community. GAIN is a free communications forum provided to foster the growth of a stronger national network of information, education and resources to serve the community of golfers with disabilities and those that lead and support these efforts.
2023 NubAbility Athletics Sports Camp
A great 4 day NubAbility Athletics sports camp, NubAbility staff are champions. Hats off to our U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance coaches for bringing the freedom and joy that comes with the game of golf to these wonderful campers. It's an honor to be a part of this phenomenal event.
10th Annual USAGA Golf Outing
Thank you to everyone who came to our 10th Annual Golf Outing, at Cog Hill Golf and Country Club on June 9th, 2023. The outing was so popular this year we had to shut down reservations early. We appreciate all who came and supported adaptive golf on this beautiful day on the course. Below are just some of the great pictures from the event and we look forward to you joining us next year!
USAGA & C.A.F. teach adaptive golf at The Olympic Club
The U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance partnered with Challenged Athletes Foundation and were hosted by The Olympic Club in Northern California to provide adaptive athletes with the opportunity to enjoy the game of golf in May 2023. This 2nd annual event was a resounding success, bringing together adaptive golf instructors from USAGA with CAF staff and volunteers to share the joys of golf with the local community. A huge thank you to Challenged Athletes Foundation and The Olympic club in their efforts to grow adaptive golf.
USAGA Receives Grassroots Grant from Make Golf Your Think
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (May 16, 2023) – 82 grassroots golf organizations, charitable organizations or programs dedicated to increasing golf participation among those who are underrepresented in the sport, will receive a total of $750,000 in funding to further their efforts. These groups (*full list below) are being awarded grants through Make Golf Your Thing, the industry’s commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion to help make the sport more welcoming for all.
Testimonial - Susan Ainley
“Freedom Golf and the USAGA have been a much-needed blessing in my life. They have given me a change of focus from the chronic pain and PTSD I deal with daily. They gave me a compelling reason to venture out of the house and interact with other people when PTSD made me want to “bunker-in.” This allowed me to connect with other vets (I served in the Army 7 years) and the special needs kids with whom I volunteer.
Testimonial - Gina Meyer
“My name is Gina Meyer and I am an Adapted Physical Education Teacher with a cooperative in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago. This was my first time using USAGA’s SNAG Clinic as it was recommended to me by a Coworker. Everyone at USAGA was so patient and easy to work with. We have very little kiddos, with a wide range of abilities, making each class a challenge and something new. During the golf clinics, I noticed students have extreme concentration and excitement to do something that they've never done before. The highlight of the 6 week clinic for me as a teacher, was watching a student with Cerebral Palsy and severe cognitive limitations, hold a golf club with one hand and swing it on her own. We were in absolute shock and filled with excitement to see her being able to do this. And the joy and excitement that was visible on her face was priceless!”
Adaptive Golf Coach in PGA Fashion Show
At this year’s PGA Show, USAGA trained adaptive golf coach Deborah Smith became the first person with a disability to ever model in the PGA Fashion Show!! View the video below to see fashion show.