"GolfabiliTEE"
Accessible golf instruction for people with disabilities
(subsidiary of Body Awareness Golf)
by Lynn Bernadett, LPGA Golf Professional, Tucson, AZ

Accessible Golf is golf instruction is based on what an individual "can do" by means of recreational therapy with an every-day-living improvement plan. I am one of the few LPGA golf professionals in the nation that has obtained a specialized teaching certification geared to teach people with disabilities by attending the LPGA Teacher Education Program for Accessible Golf.

To fill you in on what the LPGA Accessible Golf Program is all about … It is a focus on applying the principals and theory of the golf swing with clinical and adaptive concepts, and practical "hands on" educational experiences that would reach the needs of people with disabilities. Inclusive conditions that we covered in our studies: Brain injuries, stroke & heart recovery patients, MS (multiple sclerosis), CP (cerebral palsy), spinal cord injury (hemiplegia, paraplegia, quadriplegia), arthritis, orthopedic conditions, pain, blind and deaf patients - to name a few. The LPGA in conjunction with the Marianjoy RehabLink-Therapeutic Golf Program (based out of Wheaton, Illinois) invited specialists with backgrounds in the following fields: Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Recreational therapy, Neurology, Orthopedics, adaptive golf equipment for people with disabilities, USGA grant funding, national Accessible Golf program founders and directors, and more. This instructional program was both qualitative and quantitative, and through their guidance we all shared in unifying a process of teaching golf to people with disabilities.

I have always promoted that the game of golf is non-discriminatory and that each person's instructional needs will always be unique. Whatever a person's physical capabilities, my students have always received a personal progression plan and are always valued with safety and respect. Through participation in golf, people with disabilities can improve their quality of life. Golf is fun and self-rewarding. It is an activity that aids in the development of motor skills, dexterity, balance, flexibility, self-esteem, confidence, focus and independence. For some, life is golf, for others golf is life!

Disabilities come in all shapes and sizes and are not always as visible as using prosthetics or wheelchairs. Some are "hidden" or "invisible" like the conditions of ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorders) or panic/anxiety disorders. Everyone is unique and should be analyzed and cared for on an individual basis. No two people or swings will ever be alike!

I am the founder of the sole accessible golf program in Tucson called, "GolabiliTEE" - Accessible golf instruction for people with disabilities (subsidiary of Body Awareness Golf). Not only do I offer collaboration with your medical team, but I also supply adaptive golf equipment for people with special needs. For some, life is golf, for others golf is life!

Lynn Bernadett is an LPGA Golf Professional at The Pines Golf Club at Marana and a Saddlebrooke resident. For lesson information, call 520-991-4952, in Tucson, AZ.