Local youth with disabilities or special needs who are interested in learning golf or improving their game can participate in a youth golf clinic during the United States Blind Golf Association’s 76th Annual National Tournament, this year to be held in Sacramento at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex from Oct. 24-26. The USBGA Junior Golf Program youth clinic will take place on Oct. 24. Participants can drop in anytime between 2:30-5:30pm at the Haggin Oaks Golf Academy located on the back side of the driving range. No RSVP needed. For more information, email Mike Firpo at mfirpo@tftgs.org.
“Our hope is that many of our junior golfers will be impacted enough to break down the barriers they may encounter because of their disability, achieve their goals and accomplish their dreams,” said Bob Banks, leadership committee member, United States Blind Golf Association.
The United States Blind Golf Association is an organization for individuals with visual impairments to learn, compete and challenge the game of golf. Through youth and adult clinics and championship tournaments, the association brings skills, values and opportunities that make a lifelong difference. For more information: USBlindGolf.com.
The youth golf clinic portion of the tournament also is supported by Society for the Blind, First Tee – Greater Sacramento and Youth on Course.
“This clinic is a fantastic opportunity for youth in our community who have disabilities including vision loss to perfect their golf game by learning from some of the nation’s best blind golfers,” said Shari Roeseler, executive director, Society for the Blind. “We are proud to support this event that is teaching kids with vision loss that they can live life to the fullest without sight.”
For 68 years, Society for the Blind has created innovative ways to empower individuals living with low vision or blindness to discover, develop and achieve their full potential. Society for the Blind has grown from a dedicated group of volunteers to a nationally recognized agency and the only comprehensive rehabilitative teaching center that provides services for a 27-county region of northern California. The nonprofit provides low-vision eye care, life and job skills training, mentorship, and access to tools to maintain independence for more than 5,000 youth, working-age adults and seniors experiencing vision loss each year. For more information or to make a donation: SocietyfortheBlind.org.
“We are excited to partner with other like-minded organizations to spread the word that truly Anyone Can Play this wonderful game,” said Michael Firpo, director of programs, First Tee – Greater Sacramento.
First Tee – Greater Sacramento has positively impacted young people in the community since 1983 with youth development programs running throughout the year, reaching more than 58,000 young people annually. First Tee – Greater Sacramento is one of First Tee’s largest chapters and serves as a leader in the field of programs for young people and people with disabilities. First Tee – Greater Sacramento serves youth ages 3-18 with a variety of programs including summer camps, after-school and Saturday programs, California Eagles (Special Olympics), adaptive physical education classes, competitive junior golf tour, Swing Club for the Blind, First Tee School Program and more. First Tee – Greater Sacramento has nine program locations in the greater Sacramento area. For more information: FirstTeeSacramento.org.
Youth on Course helps young people grow and succeed on and off the course by providing opportunities to play, learn, grow and build relationships through affordable, inclusive access to play. More than 130,000 members have access to play nearly 2,000 golf courses for $5 or less, benefit from career opportunities through the caddie and internship program and receive college scholarships. Since 2006, more than two million subsidized rounds have been played by Youth on Course members and more than $2 million have been awarded in college scholarships. Headquartered in Monterey, Youth on Course serves the United States and parts of Canada. For more information: YouthOnCourse.org.