Golf is a game that can be for everyone. That’s the message of the second adaptive golf clinic hosted at the Regions Tradition.
“Adaptive golf is a way to level the playing field,” explains adaptive golf professional Chris Osborne. “I, for instance, am an amputee, so I don’t need a lot of adjustments or specialized equipment, but some people do, and whatever that adaptive part is that allows them to enjoy or play this game, that’s the adaptive golf part of it.”
Osborne, who is the golf coach at Parker High School, once again served as a coach for this year’s adaptive golf clinic for more than a dozen participants from United Ability.
“I think that Regions does a tremendous job of not just putting this clinic on but making it center stage,” Osborne said. “Everybody who is standing around can see what the adaptive golfers are doing and what they’re teaching and the possibilities that abound from kids hitting the ball for the first time.”
David Barry, director of Marketing and Communications for United Ability, said the visibility into the game of golf is so important to the participants.
We’re super excited this is our second year because golf is such an amazing sport and it offers so many life lessons. Kathy Lovell, Regions Disability Services and Outreach Manager
“It’s such an important thing because they get to be out in the community, they get to experience a large event, but then also their participation in golf along with other adaptive activities gives them just so much confidence and brings them a lot of joy,” Barry said.
The adaptive golf clinic at the Regions Tradition is the brainchild of Regions Experiential and Sponsorship Marketing Specialist Mark Senter and Regions Disability Services and Outreach Manager Kathy Lovell.
“We’re super excited this is our second year because golf is such an amazing sport and it offers so many life lessons,” Lovell said. “We want to give back to the community, we want to be inclusive, so to be on the practice range with professionals that this is their livelihood and then to have professional golfers work with the consumers, it’s just a win-win.”
“The only expectation that I have is smiles. Let’s see some smiles, let’s hit some balls and do something we don’t get to do every day,” Osborne said. “If I see smiles, our job is accomplished.”