“ I think we as an organization knew that we needed to get involved,” Walder said.
In January 2024, the VSGA Board of Directors formed a committee, chaired by Lauren Greenlief, to grow and develop initiatives to serve golfers and aspiring golfers who have unique needs not being met by other existing channels. Youth on Course and Military Engagement are two of those programs.
Greenlief, a managing director and partner at Boston Consulting Group, and Walder led an extensive, comprehensive joint project in the spring of 2024 to develop the vision and strategy for the VSGA’ s adaptive golf initiative. The research focused on understanding the existing and future programming and tournaments in adaptive golf throughout the U. S.
A plan for the VSGA’ s adaptive golf strategy was presented to the Board of Directors in October 2024 and approved to begin in 2025.
“ We decided our inroads would be clinics and play days,” Walder said.“ Then we could scale up from there.”
Adaptive
GOLF BENEFITS
Improves balance and hand-eye coordination
Increases endurance and range of motion
Builds strength in the hands, arms, and legs
Involved decision making
Helps elevate one ' s self esteem and dignity
Can be played by anyone, regardless of physical or cognitive challenges
Adaptive clinics
The clinics offer personalized instruction ensuring each player learns in a way that matches their abilities. All clinics are free and open to all players with disabilities, including non-VSGA members.
Five-week clinics were held at Independence Golf Club( central), Bide-A-Wee Golf Course( Tidewater), and Burke Lake Golf Center( Northern Virginia).
“ It was important to the organization to focus on three areas of the Commonwealth to provide access to the greatest number of golfers in year one,” Greenlief said.
Campbell, 44, from Alexandria, was hired as the coordinator for the first season. A big man with a big personality, Campbell got involved in adaptive golf because he coached a golf team at a local high school that included a player with physical and mental adaptive needs.
“ Watching him thrive as a member of the JV team led me to investigate the offerings for other adaptive golfers,” Campbell said.“ When I saw the position open at the VSGA, I jumped at the chance to do something to build infrastructure for high-quality programming.
Adam Relan, PGA, works with clinic participant at Bide-A-Wee Golf Course.
20 V IRGINIA G OLFER | M ARCH / A PRIL 2026