BOSTON – December 14, 2023 – Bob Beach, Co-Founder, Chairman and Director of Golf For All (Northeast Accessible Golf Association), is recognized by Special Olympics Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Golf Association and the New England PGA for his life of service enhancing the lives of people with disabilities through the game of golf.
Bob is the inaugural recipient of the Bob Beach Award, which will be given each year to someone in the golf world who embodies the values Bob has demonstrated throughout his career.
Bob was honored at Special Olympics Massachusetts’ Celebration of Inclusion on December 4th at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Library, which welcomed Special Olympics Massachusetts community members from across the state to reflect on the year’s accomplishments and recognize those who have been instrumental in propelling the mission forward.
“Special Olympics Massachusetts is honored to be associated with Bob and collaborate with Massachusetts Golf Association and New England PGA to create the Bob Beach Award,” said Matt Ruxton, Vice President of Sports and Operations, Special Olympics Massachusetts. “ Bob has made a life of giving back to the community with a focus of serving people with intellectual disabilities. Recognizing Bob’s life work and values through this award will help to expand access to the sport of golf for all individuals with disabilities. We look forward to celebrating Bob each year when we get to name the recipient of the Bob Beach Award.”
For Bob, a Class A member of the PGA since 1985, life will always be about giving back. Bob began volunteering for Special Olympics Massachusetts in 1990 and started his own golf program for people with special needs at the Braintree Municipal Golf Course in 1996. He has taught children and adults with autism, Down syndrome and vision impairment, children from underprivileged communities, disabled veterans, and many others.
His charitable, lifelong work and free clinics with special needs golfers and veterans is legendary.
“I feel that people with special needs deserve top instruction and that is what I try to provide with every lesson,” said Bob. “Teaching Special Olympians has made me a better teacher, and more important, a better person. I am tremendously grateful for the Special Olympics.”
In 2013, Bob was the recipient of the PGA National Patriot Award, presented to a PGA professional who personifies patriotism through the game of golf and demonstrates commitment and dedication to those who have served in the US military. He was a recipient of the PGA National Conrad Rehling Award in 2014 for his work with the Special Olympics, and was named to the New England PGA Hall of Fame in 2014. Golf Digest selected Bob as top golf instructor in Massachusetts for 2011, 2012, 2017 and 2018. He retired in 2018 after working at Braintree Municipal Golf Club for 31 years, including 28 years as the head professional.
Golf For All Co-Founder and Executive Director Fred Corcoran said Golf For All would not exist without Bob’s relentless dedication to helping others.
“Over the years, Bob Beach has improved the lives of thousands of people, one golfer at a time, demonstrating on a daily basis his compassion, his will to make golf more inclusive, and his love for the game.”
About Golf For All (Northeast Accessible Golf Association): Founded in 2011, Golf For All (Northeast Accessible Golf Association) is a registered 501(c) (3) non-profit dedicated to transforming the lives of all people with disabilities or who are experiencing hardships by providing free accessibility to the game of golf. We provide and host outdoor and indoor free clinics run by PGA professionals in New England throughout the year.
Media Contact:
Tim Allik
tim@golfforall.org
508-310-3876