Moore's Monthly: Adaptive Golf
A monthly column from the NYSGA’s Executive Director, Bill Moore
A couple of weeks ago I was invited to Pinehurst Resort for the 2nd U.S. Adaptive Open Championship. For those of you who may not know what this Championship is all about, the event features competitors with one of eight different impairment categories, and there are modifications to the Rules of Golf to allow these players to compete fairly with anyone else. I spent a day in a boardroom learning about what it takes to run a competition like this, and another day on the golf course spectating. If you have the opportunity, check out some of the videos and interviews here: https://championships.usga.org/usadaptiveopen.html. I know you will be as inspired as I was to see these golfers in person.
What I enjoyed just as much as the golf itself was the camaraderie between the players. They were excited to be there competing, yes…but they were also just so happy to see each other and share in the experience of competing in a national championship. That isn’t something that you see at a regional competition, let alone at a USGA event. But it showed that there is so much more to love about this game other than just to get the ball in the hole.
I saw some amazing athletes with a ton of talent who can play this game at a very high level, and it is my hope that in the near future we will be able to lend a hand in assisting impaired golfers at a clinic or perhaps even our own competition here in upstate New York. If you would be interested in helping with that endeavor, send me an email. I’d love to hear from you.
Read last month's article: NYS Championships
