Golfing Can Be For Everyone

By Stephen McDonald

In the fall of 2003 I suffered severe injuries in a motor vehicle accident resulting in permanent disability. As with many things in my life, I thought that I would never golf again.

A few years ago I decided to relearn the game and now I am golfing again.

It's not easy, in many ways, but it is possible. Golfing was and is a wonderful component of my rehabilitation and for my future years as a disabled person.

In my case, it was following the golf style of the late Moe Norman. Minimized lower-body movement and a faster than normal ball address seem to be working.

Once golfing again, I noticed that there is a significant awareness gap between the needs of disabled golfers and general golfers, from accessing a course to knowing the new rules established by the USGA for disabled golfers.

The Victoria Region has a high proportion of population that have disabilities, not to mention an aging population that are becoming, to some degree, disabled through medical conditions such as arthritis requiring joint replacements. A large number of people may believe they are not capable of playing golf, or have put away their golf clubs to gather dust, thinking their playing days were over.

I thought, what if we could get as many of these people golfing as possible? It would be a win-win: for the person, and for golf.

That is how the Victoria Disabled Golfers Association (VDGA) was born. A non-profit, volunteer association of disabled persons who want to get people into golfing and want to help existing disabled golfers improve their game.

The goals for the VDGA are to:

• Integrate and develop opportunities for persons with disabilities to play golf.

• Promote and develop awareness within the golfing world of the needs of disabled golfers

• Support the aims of the "USGA Rules for Disabled Golfers" in order to integrate disabled golfers into the game.

• Work hand-in-hand with the golfing industry to develop methods and techniques that enable as many persons with disabilities as possible to play golf.

The VDGA believes in 'Golf Ability'- that golf can be adapted to persons with disabilities. Disabilities do not always limit people - we sometimes limit ourselves.

If you are a disabled person and interested in getting into golf, back to golfing or improving your game, we encourage you to join the Victoria Disabled Golfers Association.

Contact: Stephen McDonald (250)294-0135 or email: sfmcdonald76@hotmail.com