Strong partnerships develop a quality special needs golf program

BY ANN ROYTEK, CREP and LONNA CONVERSO, PPRP

Medinah Country Club members team up with NEDSRA's Golf Team during the finale of spring practice.

Through ever evolving relationships, the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association's (NEDSRA) golf program is one of the largest in the state and one of the only year-round golf programs for individuals with special needs. NEDSRA began offering golf for all abilities, ages eight and older, in 1991, with the six-week "learn to golf" summer program. The program strictly focused on the skills of the game, with the hope that the golfers would return the following year, retaining what they had learned. This would be a difficult task for any golfer at any skill level.

Consistency Season after Season

In 1998, Ann Roytek, NEDSRA's recreation manager and new golf coach, felt it important for consistency that the program be held year-round. Teaching any golfer the skills, rules and etiquette of the game is difficult. Including a disability can add to the challenge. No matter what the skill level, golfers can become frustrated. So increased practices and consistency are vital for the golfer with special needs. Performing the same task over and over again is significant in learning and forming patterns for NEDSRA's golfers. That's why the program moved to four seasons a year, each running six to seven weeks.

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The consistency of the instructors, equipment, facilities and program routine help NHDSRA's golfers learn and understand the sport. The golfers know that the team never begins playing without stretching first and reviewing the rules of the game. Ray remembers last week when Coach worked on his grip. Jacob remembers to keep his eyes on the ball instead of looking around at other people. Mike remembers that it is the lowest score in golf that wins, not the highest. Ted remembers that it is not polite to step in someone else's putting line on the green. Chris remembers that Coach always tells the players to have a target to aim for before they address the ball. It is this consistency that helps the golfers learn their lessons. And, as with many excellent golfers, it is consistency — not occasional long drives, low scores or pretty swings - that yields the most favorable long-term results.

Evolving Relationships

The consistency in NEDSRA's golf program would not be possible without the support of organizations, friends and partners committed to equal access to recreation and good golf. In fact, partners who stepped in to address the changing needs of the expanding golf program added to its success and quality.

The Addison Park District

In order for NEDSRA to offer a year-round golf program, year-round facilities were necessary. Since Addison Park District is a NEDSRA member partner with a golf course and indoor dome, there was a natural fit for a partnership. Without hesitation, Addison gave NEDSRA the use of (at that time) a par 3, three-hole course; a driving range; and a beautiful, new indoor two-tiered dome.

The golfers were spoiled from the beginning. Every Monday evening, Addison staff showcased their customer service by opening several bays at the range and having golf balls ready for play. The staff even sectioned off an area to keep the golfers safe. "We were delighted to be able to open our facilities to the NEDSRA golfers. Our staff is happy to help them and enjoy their spirited personalities," said Michael Walaszek, Addison Park District superintendent of recreation.

During the warm months, the Addison Park District golf course layout and size allowed the staff to easily observe how participants managed the course, practiced their etiquette and safety skills and improved as athletes.

Once winter came, the golfers were excited to continue play in the dome. Built in 1998, this two-tiered facility was overwhelming for most of the golfers, as most had never been in a golf dome. The facility includes a putting green, chipping area, sand trap and driving range. The coach's two biggest challenges were trying to explain why class could not be held "upstairs" on the second floor, and how it wasn't nice to aim for the ball picker driving around in the caged car. However, one golfer did mention that was his target for the night!

The Chicago District Golf Association

The spring of 2002 proved to be an exciting year for NEDSRA's golf program. The Chicago District Golf Association partnered with NEDSRA to support the program with the Sunshine Through Golf Foundation. This partnership provided the program with PGA teaching professionals. Most of the golfers had never experienced teaching lessons from a professional. The expertise, dedication and caring touch these professionals showed the golfers went beyond all expectations. "I enjoyed teaching the NEDSRA golfers. They were a pleasure to be with each week," says Jim David, PGA teaching professional and executive director of The First Tee Aurora.

Every spring, the Chicago District Golf Association provides the PGA teaching professionals, logo T-shirts, balls and tickets to the Western Open for each golfer. The partnership is like no other because it offers NEDSRA golfers expanded recreational opportunities that go beyond a regular eight-week program. The Chicago District Golf Association's partnership with NEDSRA's golf team continues to expand each year with special, invitation-only opportunities afforded to the athletes. NEDSRA golfers were honored at the grand opening of the Midwest Golf House in Lemont and are members of the private, 3-hole Sunshine Course that is only open to golfers with special needs and junior status. One of NEDSRA's star golfers, Ted Callahan shot the first birdie on the course. The Chicago District Golf Association invited the NEDSRA golfers to a special clinic at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, where legendary PGA touring professional Ben Crenshaw performed a private putting clinic for Special Olympics golfers along with ABC News commentator Ron Magers, The association also invited the golfers to be its guests at the 2003 U.S. Open at the Olympia Fields County Club, the first time many team members attended a professional tournament.

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Eaglewood Resort and Spa

In 2001, Illinois Special Olympics announced that in order to compete all golfers would need to train at a "regulation course." NEDSRA would need to leave Addison Park District's golf facility and find a course with some par fours and fives. The parent of one of the golfers knew the general manager of the Doral Eaglewood Conference Resort and Spa in Itasca, and a new partnership was formed.

Doral is a regulation course right down the street from NEDSRA. The resort staff was ecstatic that NEDSRA's golfers were going to use Doral's golf facilities. The first and tenth tees were opened for the NEDSRA golf team every Monday evening during the summer and fall. Doral provided push carts for the golfers, since Special Olympics does not allow the use of carts. The NEDSRA golf program also benefited from the consistency of Doral staff, who were ready to greet the golfers with a smile, friendly hug or high five. Today, after a corporate reorganization and name change, Eaglewood Resort and Spa still remains NEDSRA's home course.

The Medinah Country Club

Even though the home course at Eaglewood is perfect, a driving range is needed for spring season practices and skill building. Again, the power of networking came through. A parent of one of the golfers knew the past president of the Medinah Country Club Board of Directors Calvin Koeppel. Koeppel had seen the NRDSRA team practice at the Addison Park District dome the winter before and was impressed by the golfers' skills. He asked if the NEDSRA team would have any interest in training and playing at Medinah Country Club. The coach was proud that the dedication and hard work of the golfers were recognized, and the spring golf program moved to Medinah Country Club, a Chicago District Golf Association member and a very prestigious private club right in NEDSRA's backyard.

Thus, another important partnership was formed. The Chicago District Golf Association worked out all the specific details with the Medinah Country Club board members and secured the PGA teaching professionals at the Club, led by Mike Scully, head professional. The last class of the season was truly special for the golfers, as Koeppel arranged for Medinah Country Club members to partner with the golfers and play the number two course. "It was very easy to secure members to play with the NEDSRA golfers. Once you meet the athletes, you can't help but get involved with the program. They have a contagious personality," said Koeppel. After play, the entire group enjoyed a barbeque banquet buffet and evening of awards. NEDSRA is very thankful to Koeppel, Medinah Country Club and the Chicago District Golf Association. The golfers are still talking and bragging about playing on the course where the 2006 PGA Championship Tournament will be held.

Advancing the Ball - Golf Goes Official

In 1995, Special Olympics made golf an official sport, and three years later NEDSRA began competing as a team. Special Olympics has five levels of play:

1. Individual skills competition
2. Alternate shot team play competition

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3. Unified sports team play
4. Individual stroke play - nine holes
5. Individual stroke play - 18 holes

NEDSRA's golf team plays at level 2 - alternate shot team play competition. The Special Olympics golfer is paired with another golfer who does not have a disability. The golf partner can be a family member, friend or peer. In unified golf play, the two partners use the same ball and hit alternate shots. The athlete tees off on the odd holes, and the partner tees off on the even. The unified team completes alternate shot play into the cup. If, after 10 strokes, the ball has not been holed, the team picks up the ball and scores a 10x for the hole. Special Olympics follows the USGA Official Rules of Golf at all times. Unified play is a wonderful concept for the golfers, since it gives the participants a private coach/mentor throughout the game. The partner is always working on proper etiquette and rules, referring to NEDSRA's rulebook and reminding the athlete about his or her particular stroke. Unified play develops close friendships that can last for years.

NEDSRA's golf team has competed in the Area Special Olympics Tournament at Bartlett Hills Golf Course since 1998. Athletes from Area 2 Northeastern Illinois compete in a division with athletes similar to their skill levels and entry scores. A division is made up of four unified teams. Those teams who win gold or first in their division qualify to compete at the state level. The State Special Olympics are typically scheduled in early fall. Athletes from all over Illinois compete against one another in the same format as the area tournament.

NEDSRA has had a strong presence at the area tournament for the last seven years, sporting the largest area team with 26 players in 2005. NEDSRA sent athletes to the state tournament five out of the last seven years, and the golfers have also been one of the few teams in Illinois to have been chosen to compete in the last five out of six Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournaments. NEDSRA golfers have traveled to Florida, California and Iowa to compete against the best golfers in the United States In these three-day, nine-hole competitions. Each year, Eaglewood Resort and Spa makes a significant contribution toward the team, underwriting the expense for NEDSRA to travel to the national tournament site. Without this sponsorship, NEDSRA patticipants would not have this recreational experience.

Parents and Friends Follow Through

Throughout the development of the golf program, NEDSRA's golf parents have played a key role in its success. The parents make up 95 percent of the unified partners for the NEDSRA Special Olympics Golf Team and spend countless hours at practices and tournaments encouraging the athletes.

Several special friends have assisted with adaptive golf equipment. Mike Fugiel, a NEDSRA board member and director of the Lombard Park District, has been more than willing to help bend

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a hosel or design a new putter head. Kristy Vik, Buffalo Grove Park District's LPGA teaching professional, has fit some of the golf team members with their own personal sets of clubs. Without the Addison Park District, the Eaglewood Resort and Spa, the Medinah Country Club, the Chicago District Golf Association, park district supporters, friends and dedicated golf parents, NEDSRA would not have the outstanding golf program it does today. Golf is truly a sport that everyone, regardless of ability, can enjoy. This year-round golf program is an illustration of ever-evolving relationships. A cooperative spirit and many strong partnerships have provided NEDSRA's golfers with expanded recreational experiences and opportunities.

J. Ann Roytek, CPRP has had a love and passion for the game of golf since she was six. It just made sense that, when she got into the field of therapeutic recreation 25 years ago, golf was going to play a major role in her career. To learn more about starting a year-round golf program at your agency, call Ann at 630-620-4500, ext. 133.

Lonna Converso, PPRP is the director of public information at NEDSRA, a position she has held for more than 10 years. Her career in parks and recreation began in 1990, and one of her most memorable experiences during her tenure has been volunteering as a peer partner golfer in the Unified Golf Program at NEDSRA.

Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) NEDSRA improves the quality of life for thousands of people with disabilities by offering recreational and social programs designed to meet each individual's unique needs. These programs are offered in partnership with 11 park districts and village recreation departments in northeast DuPage and west Cook Counties. NEDSRA, located in Centennial Park, Addison, assists residents in Addison, Bensenville, Butterfield, Glendale Heights, Itasca, Lombard, Medinah, Oakbrook Terrace, Schiller Park, Villa Park, and Wood Dale.

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