Breaking
“Ultimately, we want to provide facilities
with recommendations that are the result of
in-depth research so they can provide a positive
golfer experience for golfers of all abilities.”
—Lauren Johnson
and Innovation (RSI) Department could
prove to be a potential unsung hero.
The RSI team was born out of the
USGA’s pace of play initiative, in which
mathematical formulas were applied.
It led to an instrumented flagstick that
assisted in measuring cycle time and
helped control pace of play. The powers-
that-be were convinced the value data and
math could play in other areas.
“In essence, this meant that the USGA
had identified a way to evolve from being
an organization largely focused on best
practices and education [and] into an
organization that also had a meaningful
[research and development] program that
could create new technologies and new
tools,” said the USGA’s Rand Jerris, Ph.D.,
Senior Managing Director, Public Services.
Double amputee
Jim Wegryzn.
vsga.org
At the moment, developing best prac-
tices for individuals with disabilities at
golf courses, and how to improve the
overall experience via in-depth research
describes the RSI’s thrust.
How so?
“Ultimately, it was the application of
scientific methodology to a problem that
has long plagued the game that led us to
new approaches, new understandings and
new solutions,” Jerris said.
Lauren Johnson, a data analyst on the
RSI team, added, “There is an emphasis
on approaching this problem scientifically
where we are collecting data, pulling out
metrics and then testing our findings with
golfers who have a disability.”
Currently there is a working group made
up of course architects, superintendents,
golfers with disabilities, golf
pros, medical experts and ADA
consultants. All are involved to
cover as many touchpoints as
possible with adaptive golfers.
As of now, the RSI team has
been conducting interviews
with disabled golfers to learn
about inconveniences and set-
backs they may have with course
design and setup. The RSI team
is also uncovering things that
aren’t a struggle, which can be
equally important. Moreover,
the team has been traveling to
national courses that are con-
ducive to those with disabilities.
They’re leveraging that infor-
mation to see what advantages
can be extracted.
Once various interviews are
complete, surveys will be sent
to a sample of adaptive golf-
ers to glean more information,
Johnson said.
Barriers
“Ultimately, we want to provide facilities
with recommendations that are the result
of in-depth research so they can provide a
positive golfer experience for golfers of all
abilities,” she added.
Jerris and Johnson didn’t give a time-
table for when recommendations will be
ready. Whenever that happens, the USGA
will include its 59 Allied Golf Associations
—including the VSGA—in its findings.
Some Allied Golf Associations, such as
the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA),
have a head start. The GSGA has run what
has been deemed a successful Adaptive
Golf Program and Adaptive Golf Academy,
run by David Windsor. He teaches adaptive
golfers with the hope the sports enhances
their quality of life.
The USGA has also been actively repre-
senting the U.S. on the International Golf
Federation’s International Disabled Golf
Committee in developing the application
that will be turned into the International
Paralympic Committee this summer.
If golf ’s return to the 2016 Olympics
is any indication, odds are favorable
that the sport will be added to the 2024
Paralympic Games.
“It’s such a wonderful opportunity
to showcase the amazing athletes from
around the world who play the game, and
we are very optimistic that golf will be
added to the 2024 Paralympic Games,”
said Major, who has been representing the
USGA on the IGF International Disabled
Golf Committee.
In tying it all up, the prudent takeaway
is that adaptive golfers can expect much
more in the near future and beyond. The
USGA’s concerted effort to remove any
nebulousness should be applauded. To that
degree, it’s only half the battle.
In revisiting Faircloth’s earlier statement
on what adaptive golfers can do, instead of
what they cannot, it’s ultimately up to the
community to get out and play, he said.
“Some may say it’s hard to be accepted
and that may be the case, but until you put
forth the effort, then that cannot be said.
If you want to try golf, go try golf. Nothing
is stopping you,” Faircloth said. “If that’s
what you’re waiting on, then you will miss
out on everything.”
Simply stated, the game will always be
there with open arms.
J U LY / A U G U ST 2 0 18 | V I R G I N I A G O L F E R
29