The First Swing began in 1988 and was developed and perfected by a double below knee amputee, Bob Wilson, National Amputee Golf Association Executive Director. The program was designed to instruct therapists to teach and encourage the disabled to learn, or re-learn, the game of golf — not only because just about every
physically challenged individual, regardless of age, is able to play, but also because it contributes dramatically to the individual’s emotional and physical well-being, instilling self-confidence and pride in personal achievement.
The First Swing also enables the individual to enjoy the unique, friendly atmosphere found on the golf course.
Rehabilitation hospitals, parks, recreational departments and prosthetic and orthotic centers host the one or two-day program.
The first day of the program teaches the basics of the game to therapists and others interested in correctly teaching the disabled. The rules of golf and the singular differences presented by various types of disabled individuals are discussed. Participants are invited to swing a club standing on one leg, sitting in a wheel chair, using only one hand, etc., to better appreciate the demands that will be made on their educational training in teaching others. The second day is devoted to instructing the disabled participants attending the learn to golf clinic phase of the program under the supervision of NAGA instructors.
For a list of instructors in your area,Click here.
NAGA's
2008
First Swing Seminars
Learn
to Golf Clinics Schedule
Last
Updated
August 14 2008 13:00:43.
2008 NAGA "First Swing" Seminars and "Learn to Golf" Clinics for Persons with Disabilities
April 18th
Rockville, MD (Woodmont Country Club)
Disabled Sports USA
Julia Ray Phone: 301-217-9840
451 Hungerford Dr, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850
E-mail: jray@dsusa.org
April 24th
Lexington, KY (Kearny Hill Golf Links)
Lexington Parks and Rec./Cardinal Hill Rehab Hosp.
Mike Fields, PGA Phone: 859-266-2969
469 Parkway Dr., Lexington, KY 40504
E-Mail: mfields@lfucg.com
April 24th
Philadelphia, PA (Burholme Park Golf Center)
Moss Rehab Hospital
Kathy Elokdah, CTRS Phone: 215-663-6405
60 E Township Line Rd., Elkins Park, PA 19027
E-mail: kelokdah@einstein.edu
May 2nd
Center Valley, PA (Center Valley Club)
Good Shepard Rehab Hospital
Linda Bollinger, CTRS, Phone: 610-776-3588
Good Shepard Plaza, 850 S. 5th St., Allentown, PA 18103
E-mail: lbollinger@gsrh.org
May 5th
Piscataway, NJ (Fairway Golf Center)
JFK Rehab Institute P & O Clinic
Sue Callaghan, PT Phone: 732-321-7056
65 James St., Edison, NJ 08818
E-mail: suecpt@msn.com
May 7th
Saddlebrook, NJ (Willowbrook Golf Center)
Kessler Institute for Rehab
Ann Marie Chesterman Phone: 201-368-6012
300 Market St., Saddlebrook, NJ 07666
E-mail: achesterman@kessler-rehab.com
May 9 - 10
Chattanooga, TN (Moccasin Bend Golf Club)
Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation
Lisa Morgan, CTRS, Phone: 423-634-1674
One Siskin Plaza, Chattanooga, TN 37403
E-mail: lmorgan@siskinrehab.org
May 12th
Lyons, NJ (MAVERIC Driving Range & Learning Center)
VA Medical Center
Bob Valentino Phone: 908-647-0180 xt 6884
151 Knollcroft Rd., Building 57, Room 148, Lyons, NJ 07939
E-mail: rjvgolf@earthlink.net
May 22nd
Elmsford, NY (Fairview Golf Center)
Burke Rehab Hospital
Deirdre Otto, CTRS Phone: 914-597-2355
785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605
E-mail: dotto@burke.org
May 23rd
Waterville, ME (Waterville Country Club)
Waterville Area ASG & Hanger P&O
Yvonne Batson Phone: 207-453-6230
5 McKenzie Ave, Fairfield, ME 04937
E-mail: batson@gwi.net
May 30th
Schenectady, NY (Stadium Golf Course)
Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital
Connie Todt, CTRS Phone: 518-382-4576
1270 Belmont Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308
E-mail: todtc@nehealth.com
June 2nd
North Yarmouth, ME (Toddy Brook GC)
Maine Handicapped Skiing
Judy Sullivan, Program Director, Phone: 207-824-2440
8 Sundance Lane, Newry, ME 04261
E-mail: jsullivan@skimhs.org
June 4th
Fort Monmouth, NJ (Suneagles Golf Course)
Manfredi Orthotics & Prosthetics
Jean Manfredi Phone: 732-222-0366
289 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740
E-mail: jean.manfredi@verizon.net
June 6th - 7th
Eugene OR
(Riverridge GC)
Patty Prather Adaptive Recreation Programmer Phone: 541-682-6365
2580 Hilyard St., Eugene, OR 97405
E-mail: patty.l.prather@ci.eugene.or.us
June 8th
Braintree, MA (Braintree Municipal Golf Course)
Braintree Muncipal G C
Bob Beach, PGA Phone: 781-843-6513
101 Jefferson St., Braintree, MA 02184
E-mail: golfshop@braintreegolf.com
June 9-10
Bend, OR
(Lost Tracks Golf Club)
Amber Blanchard, CTRS Phone: 541-419-0314
Therapeutic Recreation Coordinator
The Bend Parks and Recreation District
E-mail: amber@bendparksandrec.org
June 15th
Addison, IL (Addison Links and Tees)
Orthotic & Prosthetic Assistance Fund (OPAF)
Robin Burton, Exec. Dir. (215-752-5756)
750 Bridgeview Rd., Langhorne, PA 19053
E-mail: rlb@opfund.org
June 17th
Hershey, PA (Hershey Country Club)
Hershey Medical Center
Jack Van Skike Phone:717-948-5101
383 Aspen St, Middletown, PA 17057
E-mail: vanskike7@aol.com
June 20th
Groton, CT (Schennecossett GC)
Goton Parks and Rec
Eileen Cicchese, CTRS Phone: 860-536-5691
27 Spicer Ave., Nowank, CT 06340
E-mail: ecicchese@town.groton.ct.us
June 27th
Scotch Plains, NJ (Ash Brook Golf Course)
Co. of Union, NJ Parks, Recreation & Facilities
Chris Monaco Phone: 908-527-4806
Union Co. Admin. Building, Elizabeth, NJ 07207
E-mail: cmonaco@ucnj.org
June 29th
Killington, VT
(Green Mountain National GC)
Pat Whitney Phone: 802-442-4653
Barrows-Towne Road, Route 100, Killington, VT 05751
E-mail: pwhitney@vermontel.net
July 18th & 19th
Chaska, MN
(Hazeltine National Golf Club)
Mark Josefson Phone: 952-201-1463
1900 Hazeltine Blvd., Chaska, MN 55318
E-mail: mjosefson@brimark.com
July 28th & 29th
Seattle, WA (American Lake GC)
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Kristie Goedhard, CTRS, Phone: 206-277-6683
1660 S. Columbian Way (S-117-RCS)
Seattle, WA 98108-1532
E-mail: Kristine.Goehard@va.gov
August 6th
Van Dyke Sport Center (Warren, MI)
St John North Shores Hospital (Harrison Township, MI)
Dawn Gerbasi Phone: 586-466-5234
26755 Ballard Rd
Harrison Twp, MI 48045
E-mail: Gerbasi@stjohn.org
August 7th
Middleburg, VA
Amputee Adventure Camp (Amputee Campers Only)
Mary Grant, CP Phone: 434-293-7830
2216 Ivy Rd., Ste. 204, Charlottsville, VA 22902
E-mail: MG4F@hscmail.mcc.virginia.edu
August 15th
Windham, NY (Christman’s Windham House GC)
Adaptive Sports Foundation
Pam Greene Phone: 518-734-5070 x 105)
P.O. Box 266, 100 Siverman Way, Windham, NY 12496
E-mail: pgreene@mhcable.com
September 7th
Hanover, PA (South Hill GC)
Highlander Special Needs Foundation
Tommy Wade Phone: 717-630-8326
340 Grant Dr., Hanover, PA 17331
E-mail: twade@snyders-han.com
September 17th
Phoenixville, PA (Rivercrest GC & Preserve)
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital
Josephine Carr Phone: 610-640-7880
414 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA 19355
E-mail: CarrJ@MLHS.ORG
September 22nd
West Chester, PA (Penn Oaks Golf Club)
ReMed Brain Injury Rehabilitation
Joanne Finegan, CTRS Phone: 484-595-9300
16 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 203, Paoli, PA 19301-1609
E-mail: jfinegan@remed.com
September TBA
Iowa City, IA (VA Medical Center)
National Blind Veterans
Kirt Sickels Phone: 319-339-7104
VA Medical Center, Iowa City, IA 52246
E-mail: Kirt.Sickels@med.va.gov
October 10th
Rockville, MD (Woodmont Country Club)
Disabled Sports USA
Julia Ray Phone: 301-217-9840
451 Hungerford Dr, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850
E-mail: jray@dsusa.org
October 10th
Durham, North Carolina (Hillandale Golf Club)
OPAF
Robin Burton, Executive Director Phone: 215-752-5756
E-mail: rlb@opfund.org
* “First Swing” Seminars for Recreation Therapists, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Park & Recreation Directors, PGA, LPGA, USGTA Professionals. Attendees may receive CEU credits/hours. All events are "Learn to Golf" clinics for Individuals with Disabilities.
physically challenged individual, regardless of age, is able to play, but also because it contributes dramatically to the individual’s emotional and physical well-being, instilling self-confidence and pride in personal achievement.