| Judie Thompson is an Occupational Therapist and Program Director for FORE Everyone Adaptive Golf Clinics operated by the Walton Foundation for Independence in Augusta, GA. The clinics were established in 2002 and have since reached close to 1,000 individuals with disabilities through the game of golf. The organization received a USGA grant of $9,660 in January 2007.
1. How long have you been involved in adaptive golf or in instructing people with disabilities?
I started in 2001. Actually it was on 9/11 that I started.
2. How did you get into it?
Really it was because I live in Augusta. I started looking for sports that weren't offered for individuals with disabilities. I found out that golf wasn't offered and since Augusta is the golf capital of Goergia, I figured it would be a great sport to offer. Plus, golf is a sport that can be played by all.
3. With which disabilities are you most familiar?
I work with all sorts of disabilities; brain injuries, spinal injuries, strokes, amputees. I work with them all.
4. Do you have a secret instruction method for adaptive golf?
I do. Find volunteers that know how to [play] golf. My background is in occupationally therapy, not golf. So I went out and found volunteers that could golf. (Editor's note: many of the volunteers are individuals with disabilities that also play golf)
5. What is your favorite instructor story about working with and individual with a disability?
I have two. One is Donald (editor's note: Donald Shapiro is an adaptive golfer who is paralyzed from the waist down. He volunteers at the program.) Donald hadn't played golf in 30 years, even after many people had nagged him to play. He wouldn't come out because he was a great athlete before his accident and he didn't want to come out and struggle. But then we got an adaptive golf cart and he tried it and hasn't stopped since.
The other is a girl from a clinic in Tampa Bay. She was an amputee who didn't want to play golf because she liked contact sports. After she hit one golf ball, she stayed on the range hitting balls for three hours.
6. What is your advice for instructors who have not worked with individuals with disabilities in the past?
I think you have to ask the people that you are working with how much help they need. You have to learn what level of golfer they are and what level of ability they have. You really don't want to provide more help than they really need. |
