2011 Adapted Golf Workshops & Outings Scheduled

Helen Hayes Hospital in West Haverstraw has announced the schedule for the upcoming season of its GolfAbility program. GolfAbility is an adaptive golf instruction program to teach the basics of golf to individuals with disabilities.

GolfAbility workshops and outings have been schedule to run from May through September. The workshops will take place at the GolfAbility center, which is located on the campus of the physical rehabilitation hospital. The center consists of a 1300 square foot synthetic putting green with six cups and three accessible netted tee areas. Participants will learn how to use appropriate adaptive golf equipment, including single-rider carts. A single-rider cart is a specially equipped golf cart that allows a disabled golfer to play seated or standing, directly from the cart, and can be driven right on to the green. The two outings will take place at a local golf course.

Joyce Fried, LPGA golf pro, conducts lessons and outing are conducted by recreational therapists. Sessions will start with a group lesson, with participants then breaking into small groups to practice concepts learned during the lesson, as well as building on skills learned in previous sessions. There is a sliding scale fee. The GolfAbility programs will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. and each workshop will be limited to 16 participants. GolfAbility outings will take place at the Rockland Lake Executive Course with a tee time of 3:00 pm. Players will pay their own course fees. Dates are as follows.

Workshops:

May 2 Putting (modeling the hold, alignment stroke)
May 9 Chipping (modeling the hold, alignment stroke)
May 16 Iron off tees (model the hold, alignment, follow-through)
May 23 Iron off tees (target, hold set-up & follow-through)

June 6 Fairway metals & sand bunker
June 13 Short game competitions/review & questions

June 20 Driving woods (swinging the club)
July 11 Specialty shots (hooking, fading, high, low, bunker shots)

July 18 Review of swing fundamentals

Outings: June 27 and September 12 *

* Must attend at least one workshop to qualify for outing registration

GolfAbility is open to individuals who may have played prior to acquiring a disability and individuals who are new to the sport. The program seeks to prevent golfers from giving up the game due to injuries, orthopedic, impairments, cardiopulmonary disease, stroke, arthritis and other age related conditions. It also seeks to encourage people of all abilities to take up the sport, including individuals with spinal cord injury or amputation.

Pre-registration for workshops is required. Participants may register for as many workshops as they wish, but priority will be given to new participants. Registered participants will be called one week prior to each workshop to confirm acceptance status. For additional information or a registration form, contact Matthew Castelluccio at 845-786-4950, or castellucciom@helenhayeshosp.org.