NAGA in conjunction with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Charitable Trust and the Professional Golf Association (PGA) sponsors nationwide "First Swing" seminars and "Learn to Golf" clinics annually. The one-or-two day clinics bring golf professionals, physical and recreational therapists, and the physically challenged together to teach, learn, and enjoy golf.
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.
2005 NAGA "First Swing" Seminars and "Learn to Golf" Clinics for Persons with Disabilities
March 16th
Brooklyn, NY (NYPS 205 Gymnasium)
Adaptive Physical Education, NY Dept of Education Dee Lewis (212-374-2315) NY DOE, 52 Chambers St, Room 218, New York, NY 10007 e-mail: dlewis6@nycboe.net
April 13th
Richmond, VA (Windy Hill Golf Club)
Sheltering Arms Rehab Hospital Alison Clarke, CTRS (804-804-7230x272) 8254 Atlee Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116-1844 e-mail: aclarke@shelteringarms.com
April 25th & 26th
Baton Rouge, LA (First Tee)
BREC Jack Terry, PGA (225-775-9008) P.O. Box 15887, Baton Rouge, LA e-mail: thefirstteeebrp@msn.com
April 25th Piscataway, NJ (Fairway Golf Center)
JFK Rehab Institute P & O Clinic Sue Callaghan, PT (732-321-7056) 65 James St., Edison, NJ 08818 e-mail: probrace@msn.com
April 28th
Mt. Holly, NJ (Springfield Golf Course)
Moss Rehab Hospital Kristen Gebhardt, CTRS (215-456-9684) 1200 West Tabor Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19141 e-mail: kgebhardt@einstein.edu
April 30th - May 1st Round Rock, TX (Teravista G.C.)
Sorrel Richman (512-651-9851) 4533 Teravista Club Dr., Round Rock, TX 78664 e-mail: srichman@troongolf.com
May 2nd & 3rd
Chaska, MN (Hazeltine National Golf Club)
Mark Josephson HNGC1900 Hazeltine Blvd., Chaska, MN 55318 e-mail: mjosefson@velotel.com
May 5th
Lyons, NJ (MAVERIC Driving Range & Learning Center)
VA Medical Center Bob Valentino (908-647-0180x6884) 151 Knollcroft Rd., Building 57, Room 148, Lyons, NJ 07939-5000 e-mail: robert.valentino@med.va.gov
May 6th
Center Valley, PA (Center Valley Club)
Good Shepherd Rehab Hospital Linda Bollinger, CTRS (610-776-3588) 501 St. John St., Allentown, PA 18103-3296 e-mail: lbollinger@gsrh.org
May 11th
Saddlebrook, NJ (Willowbrook Golf Center)
Kessler Institute for Rehab Ann Marie Chesterman (201-368-6012) 300 Market St, Saddlebrook, NJ 07666 e-mail: achesterman@kessler-rehab.com
May 13th
Elmsford, NY (Fairview Golf Center)
Burke Rehab Hospital Deirdre Otto, CTRS (914-597-2355) 785 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains, NY 10605 e-mail: dotto@burke.org
May 13th-14th
Indianapolis, IN Hook Rehab Rehabilitation Center Academy
Beth Edwards, CTRS (317-355-5095) 1500 N. Ritter Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46219 e-mail: BEdwards@ecommunity.com
May 13th-14th Stowe, MA (Stowe Acres CC)
Center for Living and Working Mike Ritz, Director (508-363-1226 x104) 67 Millbrook St., 1st Floor Worcester, MA 01606 email: mritz@centerlw.org
June 1st Fredericksburg, VA (Cannon Ridge Golf Club)
US Orthotics & Prosthetics Greg Wright, CP (800-333-4102) 30 Town & Country Dr., Suite 103, Fredericksburg, VA 22405 e-mail: gwright011@aol.com
June 3rd Schenectady, NY (Stadium Golf Course)
Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Connie Todt, CTRS (518-382-4576) 1270 Belmont Ave., Schenectady, NY 12308 e-mail: CTodt@sunnyview.org
June 4th
Braintree, MA (Braintree Municipal Golf Course)
Bob Beach, PGA (781-843-6513) 101 Jefferson St, Braintree, MA 02184 e-mail: golfshop@braintreegolf.com
June 15th
Fort Monmouth, NJ (Suneagles Golf Course)
Manfredi Orthotics & Prosthetics Jean Manfredi (732-222-0366) 289 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740 e-mail: jean.manfredi@verizon.net
June 17th
Scotch Plains, NJ (Ash Brook Golf Course)
Co. of Union, NJ Parks & Recreation Ellen Chase (908-527-4096) Union Co. Admin. Building, Elizabeth, NJ 07207 e-mail: echase@ucnj.org
June 24th & 25th
Providence, RI (Button Hole Golf Facility)
Nunnery O&P Technologies Becky Blaine (401-294-4210) 7408 Post Rd., North Kingstown, RI 02852 e-mail: blbnun@aol.com
June 25th
Farmingdale, NY (Heartland Golf Center)
Brunswick Hospital Center Carol Chamoff, PT (631-789-7333) 366 Broadway, Amityville, NY 11701 e-mail: pepsi4651@aol.com
TBA
Syracuse, NY
VA Medical Center Josh Mullen, CPO (315-374-2315) 61 Second St, Camden, NY 13316 e-mail: jdmullen1@netzero.net
July 26th
College Park, MD (University of Maryland Golf Course)
NASCOTT Rehabilitation Services Jason Bulger (800-535-6556x2159) 2301-C Broadbirch Dr., Silver Springs, MD 20904 e-mail: jason.bulger@medstar.net
July 27th
Berlin, MD (The Beach Club Golf Links)
Health South Chesapeake Rehab Tanya Vilov, CTRS (410-546-4600) 220 Tilghman Rd., Salisbury, MD 21801 e-mail: tanya.vilov@healthsouth.com
July 29th -30th
Tacoma, WA
VA Medical Center Kristi Goodhard, CTRS (206-277-6683) VAPCHS 1600 S. Columbian Way (S-117-RCS) Seattle, WA 90858 e-mail: Kristine.Kvitle@med.va.gov
July 30th
Glen Cove, NY (Transitions of Long Island)
Glengariff Health Care Center Tricia Kearney, OT (516-676-1100x2311) 141 Dosoris Lane, Glen Cove, NY 11542 e-mail: triciakearney@hotmail.com
August 4th
New Hartford, NY (Stonebridge Golf & Country Club)
Sitrin Medical Rehab Center Marc DePerno, PT (315-797-3114x459) 2050 Tilden Ave., New Hartford, NY 13413 e-mail: madyankee3@adelphia.net
August 16th
Exeter, PA (Fox Hill Country Club)
Allied Services Rehab Hospital Patty Dewey, CTRS (570-341-4312) 475 Morgan Hwy, P.O. Box 1103, Scranton, PA 18501 e-mail: pdewey@allied-services.org
September 7th
Oaks, PA (Rivercrest Golf Club & Preserve)
Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital Krista Eckard Beach, CTRS (610-640-7880) 414 Paoli Pike, Malvern, PA 19355 e-mail: eckardk@mlhs.org
September 9th
Mays Landing, NJ (Mays Landing Golf Club)
Bacharach Institute for Rehabilitation Gloria Gugliotta (609-748-5323) 61 W. Jim Leeds Rd, Pomona, NJ 08240 e-mail: gloriag@bacharach.org
October 21st & 22nd Los Angeles, CA
Centinela Freedom Regional Medical Center Memorial Campus Licet Camilo e-mail: licet.camilo@centinelafreedom.com
* “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.