Category: General

As he plays through his misfortune, Randy Rogers proves an inspiration.

What if by some horrible misfortune, golf as you knew it were to be taken from you – for example, one of your limbs were to no longer work and you struggled with your balance. What would you do? Could you dig deep enough for the strength, the passion, and the commitment to play on?

Would you have it in you?

Lord willing, you will never have to find out. But in a world filled with people with disabilities who do play, this is a story about a man of enormous fortitude. A man named Randy Rogers who faced a reality that can only be described by Mike Gibson as “getting hit in the head with a shovel” and persevered.

Gibson is part of Rogers’ story, and so are Bob Beach and Phil Psaros. Small parts, they tell you. Huge parts, Rogers insists. Humility, you see, is at play in this story, but the theme is clear: Randy Rogers is an inspiration.

His stroke took place nearly 16 years ago and there probably isn’t a minute that goes by when Rogers, now 64, doesn’t give thanks to still be sharing life with his wife, Anne Marie, his two daughters, and three grand-daughters. “A lot of people think I’m lucky to be alive,” said the retired CPA.

A lot of people who know him also know how golf factors into his post-stroke life. “I would say golf saved me. If I didn’t have golf, I’d be sitting around (feeling sorry) for myself,” he said.

It is not golf as he once knew it, those days when he was a 4-handicap, a strong man with a polished enough game to be club champion at Brae Burn CC in 2004, to be a qualifier for the State Mid-Am, to be a fixture in the Thursday night Met League.

But in some ways, Rogers presently represents the essence of golf. That’s because while he can only use his right arm and a solid shot won’t travel where it once did, when Rogers is on the golf course he savors the smell the grass, the camaraderie of friends, and a perspective that is allowed some leeway for his competitive spirit.

True, he accepts that he can’t return to the days of championship tees and rounds in the 70s. But that isn’t to say that he wasn’t determined to do something about the 36-handicap he got assigned on his return to the game.

“It took me about three years to get the courage to play and my wife was a huge part of that. She’s a speech therapist, but she’s my sports psychologist, too,” laughed Rogers. “I’ve worked hard. I’m now a 26.4, but I think I can be decent again.”

His fan club is convinced that Rogers already has achieved success and they’re not surprised. Beach, for instance. He met Rogers within two months of the stroke back in 2006, connected by a posting on the wall at the Braintree Rehabilitation Hospital.

“All I could think about (in those days after the stroke) was the first tee,” said Rogers. “I saw the flyer with Bob Beach’s name, I went to see him because I wanted to know, ‘Can I play again?’ ”

A prince of a PGA Professional who devotes his expertise to helping golfers within every adaptive category, Beach needed just one lesson with Rogers to proclaim success.

“He figured it out,” praised Beach. “He gets it.”

Rogers’ next stop was Harmon Golf & Fitness Center in Rockland, where he knew he’d find a soul mate in Mike Gibson, a terrific teacher and even better human being.

“How do I do this?” Rogers asked, indicating that he wanted to somehow get his left arm to help hold the club.

Gibson, who lost his left arm in a boating accident as a kid, shook his head. Then he moved Rogers’ left arm out of the way.

“You’re going to swing one-handed,” said Gibson, who proceeded to paint a baseball picture that Rogers comprehended.

“He told me to aim to right field and to hit to second base,” Rogers said, repeating a mantra that has stuck with him for more than 15 years.

“You’re going to be OK,” Gibson told Rogers and 16 years later it is impossible to overstate just how much comfort and confidence those five little words provided.

Now with the Titleist Performance Institute in Carlsbad, Calif., where he is a Preferred Player Promotions Manager, Gibson connects occasionally through Facebook with Rogers and relishes the bond.

“He stood out,” said Gibson. “People like Randy have a voice. People look up to him. He’s very genuine.”

Buoyed by the golf wisdom Beach and Gibson had provided, and by the emotional support of Anne Marie and his daughters, Rogers said that when he finally returned to Brae Burn he discovered a bonus. Psaros, the head professional, was cut in the same mold as Beach, for whom he had worked years earlier.

“He was an inspiration to everybody. It was phenomenal to see him out here,” said Psaros.

“A couple of years ago, Randy and his team won their flight in the Men’s Invitational. We all root for him, but he’s not looking for any charity cases. He’s still Randy. He’s a competitor.”

That competitive side was ignited when Rogers heard that the U.S. Golf Association this summer will put on the first-ever U.S. Adaptive Open at Pinehurst, N.C. Competition will be held in eight categories – arm impairment; leg impairment; multiple limb amputee; vision impairment; intellectual impairment; neurological impairment; seated players; short stature.

Having gathered the necessary papers to prove his medical condition and golf index, Rogers officially entered the qualifying process. The field will be chosen by a selection committee and announced May 18.

He’d love to be part of this historic championship, most definitely, but Randy Rogers won’t be defined by whether or not his entry makes the field. Fact is, golf has helped him move mountains, ignite inspiration and remind us that this greatest of all games belongs to all.

Championship qualities if you ask me.

Reposted from the Power Fades newsletter.

The first suggestion we have to reaching the goal of becoming more welcoming to people with autism is to create a social story at your golf course. A social story is a preview of what is going to happen through a sequenced set of illustrations or photos. This can help prepare the person with autism on what to expect while at the golf course.

We also suggest having well-placed visual aids that let the person with autism know that they can take a break at any time. The student can pick up one of these break cards at our registration table.

We recommend establishing sensory neutral areas in your facilities, both in the clubhouse and on the golf course. These are private areas with soft lighting and comfortable temperatures. Your golf course can feature a place where the students can continue working on their golf skills in a quieter, less crowded setting. We have found that having these two sensory neutral areas pre-established is extremely helpful to both the person with autism along with their caregiver.

The Business Impact of making your golf course more welcoming to people with autism

Exposing a lifelong, wonderful sport to a group of people, who may not otherwise have the chance to learn, is a guaranteed way to grow our sport. One of our favorite things to do is to help people who never thought they could play the game of golf become golfers. We have found that these golfers often help lapsed golfers get back in the game. The lapsed golfer seems to develop a better attitude about the game and have more fun out on the golf course.

Golf For All’s accessible golf programs operated through the pandemic and are poised to continue our rapid growth. Our Putting for Autism program, which will take place every Monday evening this summer at Braintree Municipal, typically has more than 100 participants. We see many of the golfers from our program out on the golf course, and in most cases, accompanied by a caregiver who is also playing. Our goal is to get as many golfers from our special clinics out and enjoying golf as a valued part of their lives.

The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced plans to launch the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open, a national championship that will showcase the world’s best golfers with disabilities taking place July 18-20 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

“It’s great that the governing bodies are finally recognizing the vast number of special golfers who can add so much to the game,” Golf For All Executive Director Fred Corcoran said. “Golf is too great a game to not be inclusive.”

The championship will be contested over 54-holes of stroke play on Pinehurst No. 6. It is open to males and females, professionals and amateurs, with either physical impairment, sensory impairment (vision), or intellectual impairment, who have a WR4GD Pass as well as a Handicap Index®. The field will consist of 96 players. Further eligibility requirements, field composition and other competitive format details of the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship will be announced at a later date.

To read the article on MassGolf.org, click here.

Dear Friend,

Golf For All successfully conducted over 70 clinics for veterans and special needs golfers in Greater Boston in 2021. During the most challenging times, the world wants golf more than ever. Golf plays a vital role in the lives of many people from all backgrounds and walks of life.

“People call PTSD a hidden wound, but with my Afghanistan veteran husband, his issues were clearly visible. He was unable to sit still. His concentration was minimal  and he was impatient. Golf has provided him a vehicle to resolve some of these things. He is enjoying the game. I’m enjoying having him returned to me.” ~ Spouse of veteran

“These clinics are my most prized possession.” ~ Participant golfer

“This is my best fun all week.” ~ Participant golfer

We rely on people like you to help support our efforts to bring accessible golf to veterans and their families and children and adults with special needs.  Thank you for considering an end-of-year tax-deductible donation to Golf For All.

Have a joyful holiday season and best wishes for health and peace in 2022.

Fred Corcoran,

Golf For All

 

Executive Director Fred Corcoran is pleased to announce Bob Beach has been named the Director of Golf for Golf for All. For Bob, life will always be about giving back. His charitable, lifelong work and free clinics with veterans and special needs golfers is legendary. “The benefit to me has been it has made me a much better teacher. It allows you to take a complex game and make it very simple. Every day at GFA is a great day of golf and fun for us and those with special needs. I consider myself lucky to be involved with the great team at GFA and Fred. Our hope is to reach as many new golfers as possible.”

Bob’s career is legendary. He is a Francis Ouimet Scholarship winner. Beach received the New England Section of PGA’s Junior Golf Leader Award. He was recognized as the NEPGA Teacher of the Year in 2005. Bob was named the top golf instructor in Massachusetts by Golf Digest for 2011-2012. He is also the inaugural recipient of the NEPGA Patriot Award, which is presented to a PGA professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America. In 2014, Bob was inducted into the New England PGA Hall of Fame.

 

Longtime friend and inspiration of Golf for All, Dennis Walters, was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in Pebble Beach, CA. Executive Director Fred Corcoran took in the ceremonies as a personal guest of Dennis and ambassador of GFA.

Dennis Walters is an elite golfer who was paralyzed from the waist-down at the age of 24 following a golf cart accident. He has since dedicated his career to sharing life lessons and inspiring fans and disabled golfers of all ages through golf clinics and special performances at more than 3,000 worldwide appearances. Former spokesperson and national ambassador for The First Tee, his message is to always continue hoping and dreaming. He is one of only 11 honorary lifetime members of the PGA of America. Walters was also honored with the 1978 Ben Hogan Award and was a 2018 recipient of the USGA’s Bob Jones Award.

Fred said the experience was a dream come true. “My late uncle and namesake, Fred Corcoran, was one of the first inductees into the World Golf Hall of Fame. This year, my dear friend Dennis Walters, was inducted into this elite pantheon of greats. I have known Dennis for almost 20 years and have been privileged to host his amazing show several times.The induction ceremony took place a few days before the start of this year’s U.S. Open. Dennis’s sponsor was the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus. Jack sponsored and introduced Dennis at the ceremony. It was beyond a thrill to spend time with Jack and his wife, Barbara.”

Fred spent the evening following the reception visiting and discussing GFA with some of golf’s greatest players of all time and some of this year’s inductees including Jack Nicklaus, Nancy Lopez, Gary Player, Billy Payne (Augusta Nationnal), Jan Stephenson, Lee Trevino, Annika Sörenstam, Nick Price, Pat Bradley, and others. “What struck me was how available and gracious these superstars were in this relaxed atmosphere. I’m forever indebted to Dennis for remembering me and sharing his moment.”