Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Hockomock Area YMCA: Inclusive Golf Team plays at TPC

On July 25, 2022 TPC Boston hosted a golf clinic for 13 participants of the Hockomock Area YMCA’s Integration Initiative. Participants were given tips from TPC Boston golf professionals, receiving instruction in putting, chipping, and full swing from professional staff at TPC Boston. Later, the newly trained golfers hit the links and played a couple of holes on the championship course in Norton, MA. 

The Hockomock Area YMCA’s Integration Initiative was established in 2004 providing children and young adults with special needs an opportunity to participate with their typically developing peers in all the programs, services, and activities offered at the Y. This inclusion program is designed to improve social skills, build self-esteem, increase physical activity, and independence and to enhance mutual respect among people of all abilities. To date, over 1,300 families have participated in the Hockomock Y’s innovative inclusive program. 

TPC Boston has hosted the golf clinic program since its inception in 2011, giving kids and young adults with special needs the opportunity to learn the game of golf and improve their skills with guidance from the club professionals. 

The day is set up for the participants to rotate through three stations – driving, chipping and putting. The club professionals are spread among the stations and actively coach participants so they can improve their golf game. Following the instructional portion of the day, the kids and young adults were able to play golf on the championship course, guided by the club pros.

While some of the participants were golfing for the first time, some of the kids had years of experience and were excited to return. The golfers from the Integration Initiative have developed their game so much that the Hockomock Y was able to start a 20-person integrated golf team in 2014, a program which is still going strong. 

The Integration Initiative was created to bring children with special needs together to participate alongside typically developing peers, and golf is a great outlet to make that happen. The social interaction, communication and patience needed for golf help emphasize the mission of inclusion. 

The YMCA looks forward to their upcoming Integration Initiative fundraisers later this year including the October 11th Legends Golf Classic tournament, also hosted by TPC Boston, which will feature sports legends from the Boston area, and their annual signature gala, the Legends Ball on November 15th, honoring Former New England Patriots Linebacker & Hall of Famer Steve Nelson and current New England Patriots Center & Captain David Andrews for their commitment to the YMCA and the community.

The Initiative has positively impacted over 1,300 families, a number which grows more and more every year thanks to events like this golf clinic. 


About Hockomock Area YMCA:
The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.  With over 29,000 members, half under the age of 18, our promise is to partner and collaborate with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve.

About TPC Boston
Originally designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, TPC Boston’s award-winning layout was re-designed in 2007 by celebrated golf course architect Gil Hanse, with PGA Tour player Brad Faxon serving as a consultant. The result is a compelling par-72, 7,241-yard masterpiece named by Golf Digest the “Best Private Remodel of 2007.” 
Members of the Hockomock Area YMCA unified golf team are pictured at the clinic with Don Baldassare, Head Golf Professional at TPC Boston, along with members of the TPC professional golf staff and YMCA volunteer Sophie Scott. L-R, the golfers include: Dan Deschenes, Brian Santos, Daniel Bortolotti, Mike McCarthy, Doug McNulty, Matt Cobb, Jaci Ehrlich, Kevin Leary, Liam Farley, Tim Paquin, Ben Ragazzo, Kevin Prior and Dillan Murphy.
Members of the Hockomock Area YMCA unified golf team are pictured at the clinic with Don Baldassare, Head Golf Professional at TPC Boston, along with members of the TPC professional golf staff and YMCA volunteer Sophie Scott. L-R, the golfers include: Dan Deschenes, Brian Santos, Daniel Bortolotti, Mike McCarthy, Doug McNulty, Matt Cobb, Jaci Ehrlich, Kevin Leary, Liam Farley, Tim Paquin, Ben Ragazzo, Kevin Prior and Dillan Murphy.

No comments:

Post a Comment