Adaptive Golf Opens Doors and Playing Opportunities
By Tom Lang
The glitz and excitement of the PGA Tour Champions’ Ally Challenge presented by McLaren played in August is over, but one of its biggest contributions took place on Monday of that week without a single golf fan on site.
McLaren hosted an Adaptive Golf Clinic on the range and practice putting area for people challenged with a wide variety of physical challenges, such as cerebral palsy, amputations, and Multiple Sclerosis.
“McLaren and the Ally Challenge really stepped it up this year and really helped to grow the program for the future in our area,” said Tracy Ramin, National Amputee Golf Association executive director, and Captain of the U.S. ParaGolf team. “We expanded to 30 participants this year, up from 18 last year.
“You can see it looking up and down the range here everyone is excited to strike the golf ball. Some players haven’t done that in 30 years because they didn’t have the devices or the proper training to get back out there on the course. I always say golf is a great way to get outside.”
One of those was Jim Delair of Grand Blanc. He said he played golf most of his life, but contracted primary progressive MS four years ago. Delair’s main goal at the clinic was to try out one of the specialized carts that holds the body in place and allows people to stand more upright. He said some Flint area courses offer them.
A teenager from Clarkston, Allison Thurman, had watched her dad and sister play golf before, but her true interest was heightened when she watched the first USGA Adaptive Open from Pinehurst in 2022.
Her father, Mike, said that peaked her interest even more.
“I think the biggest emotion is pride,” he said about his response to his daughter’s efforts in all areas. “Everything she does is a challenge. But she competes on her high school track team with a race wheelchair, she plays Mirical League Baseball; so with Allison, she never gives up. She’s always trying hard to succeed at everything she does. She said, ‘dad, I want to go play golf.’”
Allison was born with cerebral palsy that affects her lower extremities and weakens her core strength. She’s unable to stand on her own. She can use a walker or crutches but needs some form of assistance. Seeing the adaptive golf carts at the Ally Challenge event cemented in her that this sport was a possible option.
Ramin, of Montrose, became an adaptive golfer because of a tragic accident on I-75 when he was 24 years old. It took half of his left leg, but with about a dozen surgeries over the years he’s turned it into a positive experience to help others overcome such challenges to still play golf. He is a national leader for adaptive golf and played in the 2022 USGA Adaptive Open, a concept he helped create.
Ramin was joined by others as coaches at the Monday clinic, like: Kim Moore of Battle Creek, who won the women’s division of the USGA Adaptive Open in 2022, and Brian Bemis of the Country Club of Lansing who lost a leg to cancer as a teenager. Seven nationally renowned adaptive golf coaches and trainers also came in for the event.
Ramin runs 38 events on a national adaptive golf tour.
“So many times we’ll go to a place (to hold the event) and they don’t know what to expect,” he said. “But when we get there the response is, ‘oh, this is amazing. We want to get you guys back again.’”
He said each event typically begins in the first year with 3-7 adaptive golfers. Those are growing each year to 20 or more players.
“This is so rewarding,” Ramin added. “To see the joy on people’s faces when they are able to get out and do something and know there is still a chance at life. I played with a guy this summer who hadn’t been out to play until he got a solo rider three years ago. It was life changing. You could see it in his face. Now he plays golf three days a week. He wasn’t doing much before that, but golf really opens doors for folks.”
