| Eagle Mount (Billings, MT) was founded in 1984 by retired United States Air Force General Robert Mathis and his wife, Greta, in Bozemon, Montana as an organization to benefit the population of individuals with disabilities in Montana. The mission of Eagle Mount is to provide opportunities in recreation to enhance the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Since the inception of the golf program in 1992, many participants have progressed past the instructional level of the program and have returned as volunteer instructors.
Below is an interview with an Eagle Mount disabled golf program instructor, Sam Crawford.
Interview Questions for Instructors
1. How long have you been involved in adaptive golf or in instructing people with disabilities?
I have worked with individuals with disabilities most of my life. I started instructing with the Eagle Mount disabled golf program in 2001.
2. How did you get involved?
I had been a volunteer ski instructor with Eagle Mount for 15 years and was finally able to work with the golf program in 2001.
3. With which disabilities are you most familiar?
Since I come from a medical social workers background I am familiar with a wide variety of physical, cognitive, mental, and emotional conditions.
4. Do you have a secret instruction method for adaptive golf?
Try anything, as long as the student has a great time, never give up.
5. What is your favorite instructor story about working with and individual with a disability?
I was photographing a fifty year old male with Down syndrome who putting when for no reason he started dancing with his putter. I had a difficult time taking his picture as I was laughing so hard.
6. What is your advice for instructors who have not worked with individuals with disabilities in the past?
For most of us we enjoy having fun and receiving the intrinsic internal rewards of helping someone who never dreamed that they would be able to enjoy the game of golf.
7. How do you recommend that they get certified and involved?
Positive encouragement. I also highly recommend that the volunteer instructors attend the PGA instructors training work shops in our area. Several local PGA professionals host these clinics throughout the year and they are always so kind to welcome our volunteer instructors who attend. |
