Encouraging
Golfers with
a Disability
Ideas to make your course
more accessible
The Invictus Games, held in Toronto in September
2017, included a golf event hosted by
St. George’s Golf Club where spectators were
treated to outstanding performances by the athletes.
Those of us fortunate enough to attend the event could
not help but imagine the opportunities of engaging
more people with disabilities in golf.
“This was the most memorable and inspirational
event we have been a part of !” said Jason Clarke, CCM,
the general manager at St. George’s.
“St. George’s has a long history of recognizing the
contributions made by Canadian service men and
women, so hosting the Invictus Games was a natural
fit for us,” said Clarke. “This was the first time that golf
was included as an official sport of the Invictus Games
and the first time they were hosted in Canada. We
were determined to make Canada proud and give the
athletes the ‘St. George’s experience.’ It was inspiring
to see so many of our members volunteering for the
games, including most of the caddies.
“We had the honour of hosting two Invictus athletes
who utilized the Paramobile adaptive golf cart;
it is a game changer! These three-wheeled vehicles
can enter and exit a sand bunker, drive on a green and
even navigate over a 10-inch curb. The Paramobile
cart assists the athlete to standing position. This is a
sensation that these golfers never thought they would
experience again. It is difficult not to get emotional
witnessing this achievement.”
Making your club more welcoming
and accessible
Jan Bel Jan, of Jan Bel Jan Golf Course Design, is president
of the American Society of Golf Course Architects
and an advocate for golfers with a disability.
“People with disabilities are people first. Each
of us knows someone who has difficulty with access,
due to a congenital condition or because they have
lost some ability because of illness, injury or age,” said
Bel Jan. “The opportunity to enjoy golf provides wonderful
social, recreational and healthful experiences
for everyone. A welcoming and accessible golf facility
can benefit economically through increased food and
beverage, pro-shop sales and fees, as well as from the
satisfaction of providing a valuable service.”
Obstacles can present barriers to people with
disabilities in many aspects of their lives. Bel Jan
believes the biggest obstacle may be that we are not
comfortable in knowing how to treat people with
disabilities. It is essential that everyone at a golf facility
be trained to be aware of a person with a disability
and to feel comfortable assisting them. When in
doubt, Bel Jan encourages using common customer
courtesy. Because degrees of impairments vary, she
suggests asking people with a disability if they need
help before attempting to assist them, and then asking
how you may assist. For formal training, Bel Jan
has found that coaching done by people who have
disabilities can be helpful.
By Leslie Dunning
22 § The Canadian Society of Club Managers § www.cscm.org
/www.cscm.org
