Sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust and the PGA of America Foundation.

Instructional manuals provided by the Professional Golfers of America Junior Golf Foundation.

******Program Objectives******

1.  To provide therapists (PT’s, OT’s, & RT’s), Recreational instructors, golf coaches and golf professionals with a very basic working knowledge of the golf swing so that they will be able to utilize this understanding to demonstrate the use of the golf club as a “tool” for recreational rehabilitation.

2.  To provide clinical therapists and golf professionals with information about available adaptive golf equipment and how existing equipment can be modified for use by the disabled community.

3.  To demonstrate how this program can be utilized at various facilities both indoors and outdoors.

4.  To provide golf instruction and information to disabled individuals and their families

This program is for anyone, young or old, male or female, in your community, clinic or hospital that is facing or has experienced a Disability.

If you are interested in hosting this program, please contact:

National Amputee Golf Association  (NAGA)
11 Walnut Hill Rd
Amherst, NH  03031
Phone: 800-633-6242 // FAX 603-672-2987
Email: (b1naga@aol.com)
Bob Wilson – Executive Director 
“First Swing” National Program Coordinator/Instructor 

This program has been presented at over 400 sites throughout the United Sates and Canada, providing instructional insight to more than 2,000 therapists & golf professionals and 9,000 disabled individuals.

    HOW TO ESTABLISH A FIRST SWING SEMINAR & CLINIC

1.   The First Swing is a two-day program, dealing with Seminar Instruction, Practical Applications, and a “Learn To Golf” Clinic. It can be scheduled for a One or One and a Half day event.

2. Any facility or organization, Hospital, Rehabilitation Center, Prosthetic Firm, Fraternal Organization, Park Authority or Golf Course can be the host for the program.  With the attached sheets that outline the basics of the program, you can contact organizations in your area to ascertain their interest in the program.  We do not provide the program as an “exclusive” for any one facility.

As the host organization, basic requirements are:

      1.    Establish the dates for the program.  Allow for flexibility with regard to       
             scheduling of instructors on NAGA’s part.
      2.    Create a Flyer/Mailer (we can provide examples) that will be sent out at the 
             host’s expense to other organizations and disabled individuals in roughly 
             a  100 mile radius.
      3.    Secure a location for the classroom portion of the program and a golf driving  
             range (with grass available) for the actual swing phase of the clinic.  If
             inclement weather is anticipated, an indoor or covered outdoor facility can be 
             used.
      4.    Contact local PGA/LPGA Golf Professionals.  Those who attend the clinic will 
             receive CEU’s for their educational needs.  CEU’s for Therapists are the 
             responsibility of the host organization representative.   ATRA CEU’s will be 
             handled by the NAGA.

3.  With the exception of administrative overhead, printing and mailing costs associated with the flyer, our experience has been that organizations have been able to have associated cost items donated (food - range balls - caps - shirts - etc.)

NOTE: The cost of bringing the First Swing Clinic to a host site is ZERO.  Travel, lodging, and meals for the instructors are funded through the NAGA “First Swing” budget.  Organizations may charge professionals a nominal fee to cover costs of lunch plus the CEU certification fee.   We ask that the Disabled Community NOT be charged so as to encourage their participation.

4.  The NAGA Program Coordinator should be kept informed as to the possibility of a “First Swing” program being established for scheduling purposes.  It is requested that if you are going to solicit a “First Swing” program for the first time, that you plan the event for the following year.  The schedule for your event is normally set by November 1 ^st for the following year so that required funding can be obtained.  We ask also that you schedule your event during the time of year in your region that assures outdoor activity at the Driving Range in reasonably warm weather (65+ degrees).  With current staffing we may not be able to accommodate unscheduled programs on short notice. 

5.  Bob Wilson, National Program Coordinator will assist any organization with program planning and any special needs.  He can be reached through the National Amputee Golf Association at their toll free number 800-633-6242; FAX-603-672-2987; Email – b1naga@aol.com.

The “First Swing” Seminar & Clinic Program can be scheduled for one full day, a day and a half or two days.  Many sites are finding that it is difficult to obtain golf professionals and/or therapists to commit to two full days.  The day and a half program works equally as well as the two-day program.  It simply is a more intensive use of time, and must be scheduled earlier in the day and continue through a full day's time, usually from 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM.  Many of the professionals find it easier to get away from their busy work schedules for one day than for two days.  We ask that one and a half day or two day clinics be conducted Friday AND Saturday.  This allows the instructional staff the opportunity to make necessary travel arrangements.

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