July 9, 2008

By Amanda Wilson, USGA

Sitting on opposite sides of a bus returning to their hotel rooms, Patrick Byrne and Juan Espejo silently reminisced. Both were attendants of the PEAK, the Place to Exchange and Acquire Knowledge, a best practices conference conducted by the United States Golf Association for organizations that had received a "For the Good of the Game" grant. The January 2006 conference, held in Colorado Springs, was designed to provide an opportunity for local champions from across the United States to come together, share ideas, work through challenges, and learn best practices.

Although neither of the men knew it, both were avid golfers from Chicago who operated golf programs for juniors and adults with disabilities. Espejo noticed that Byrne was a lower-limb amputee, and he offered to help him off the bus. This small gesture was the start of a friendship that would soon affect the lives of hundreds in the Chicago area.

Overcoming Challenge

Before a construction accident in 1992, which resulted in the amputation of his left leg, Byrne had no interest in golf; in fact, he thought it was boring. But when Byrne's father, who traveled from Ireland to help with his recovery, suggested that he take up the game to improve his balance, his attitude changed.

"Once I hit the ball the first time, I couldn't believe that a person with one leg could hit a golf ball. It totally changed my life around," Byrne said.

After that first swing, Byrne realized there was an outlet through which he could remain active despite his new challenges.

Byrne carried out his therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). "When I told them that I could play golf, they asked me if I would be interested in starting a golf program," said Byrne.

Through the program, he was able to give back to other amputees who were going through similar experiences.

"I realized that I didn't have to be so mad, and that I could turn this into a positive instead of a negative. You go through the grief, and then you have to learn to accept it, because it is something that is going to be with you forever."

In addition to working with amputees, the program included stroke survivors and participants with spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy and visual impairments. Although each individual was dealing with different challenges, they came together with the common goal of learning the game.

Just Across Town

Meanwhile, Espejo, a PGA professional, was busy developing a golf program for participants at Maryville Academy, an organization that provides care, healing, treatment, and education for abused, neglected, or abandoned children. While the Maryville program offered instruction and playing opportunities to many participants who otherwise would not be introduced to the game, Espejo wanted to give kids a full picture of various aspects within the industry. He introduced club-making, caddieing, and pro shop management through the program.

Outside of his involvement at Maryville, Espejo was knowledgeable of various occupational programs taking place at RIC; his wife assisted clients with spinal cord injuries in a vocational counseling role. As a representative for the Illinois PGA Foundation, Espejo would conduct mock interviews with RIC clients, give a free lesson to each participant who obtained a job, and allow clients to assist him with transportation at Maryville.

Espejo was inspired to teach the game to individuals with disabilities by two of his mentors: Bill Strausbaugh and DeeDee Owens. They helped Espejo create innovative ways of teaching by simulating various disabilities themselves.

"We would tie up one leg, we blind- folded ourselves, we would recreate what it's like to play without a limb, and we would train ourselves to teach doing that," Espejo said.

A Shared Passion

By the time Byrne and Espejo reached the PEAK, they both were ready to advance their programs to a higher level. After their brief encounter on the bus, they had the opportunity to sit down and talk "swing theory" later that evening. Espejo was shocked to find out that Byrne had played 36 holes at the Broadmoor Golf Club that day, even with a light dusting of snow on the ground.

"You could just feel his enthusiasm and love for the game," Espejo said.

The initial passion that was shared between the two inspired each of them and contributed to the development of their friendship.

After the PEAK, the two promised to stay in touch, and later that spring Espejo developed his first of many programs for RIC. The "Report to Spring Training" was an exercise program designed to train participants' muscles for the upcoming golf season. With this small jump-start, their partnership would soon prove to be an impact on many individuals' lives.

During its first season in 1998, the RIC golf program served 18 participants and provided instruction along with minimal course access at a local par-3 golf course. In the last decade, RIC has grown by more than 350 percent in its participant reach, and now provides opportunities for instruction, practice on the driving range, and course access at various local regulation and par-3 golf courses. RIC also recently introduced a golf program for its younger patients in the Caring for Kids program. Throughout this growth, the USGA supported the program by awarding a total of five grants in the amount of $68,316 to help fund instruction, access, adaptive equipment and transportation.