Special Needs Golf

Regardless of ability level, age, gender, and physical condition, just about anyone can get a set of golf clubs, head outside, and hit balls. Golf is about as adaptable a game as one can get. It is also for those people with special needs or disabilities since they can learn to play golf. For these people, it less a question of their disability than of their will.

Whether you play golf for exercise, enjoyment, or just to feed your hungry competitive spirit, this sport is open to almost anyone. In fact, many people with physical disabilities consider golf a one of the best sports for them, not only for amputees, but anyone that has a disability. There are many devices available to help make the sport more accessible to people with special needs.

An amputee can pick it up, particularly people with leg prostheses, where a rotator and torsion absorber allow them to pivot to finish the swing. They can also play using only one arm. If they play using an arm and a prosthesis, there are many adaptive hardware that can attach the prosthetic arm to the golf club, allowing them to swing using both hands. If you cannot walk, you can still play the game sitting from a single rider cart. The USGA has approved the use of appropriate devices by arm amputees.

Advocates of special needs golf are working to get the single rider cart accessible on every public golf course. Such special carts are designed and developed to be safe on greens. As a matter of fact, a single-rider cart only exerts 7 lbs. Of pressure on the green, whereas, a 215-lb. person exerts around 12 lbs of pressure. They vary in their features. Some carts feature power-assist seats to bring the player to more of a standing position. Other carts have features that make the game more fun for those with special needs.