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Finding their swing: Adaptive clinic brings golf to young players in Williamsport

By Pat Crossley 6 min read

The weather was perfect with a slight breeze to break through the humidity as a group of young people ranging in age from nine to 18 years in age, lined up at the driving range at the Williamsport Country Club to show off what they had learned for the past three weeks at an adaptive golf clinic.

Held by UPMC Pediatric Rehabilitation in partnership with the Country Club, the clinic helps children with disabilities learn techniques that allow them to enjoy and participate in the sport of golf.

"We have been running a summer adaptive golf program here for some kids with disabilities, and we've had four weeks of sessions in which we have worked on different skills with the kids and have given them an on-course experience, just to provide an inclusive community activity for them that they might not get otherwise," said Brook Rozenburg, physical therapist, UPMC Pediatric Rehabilitation in North Central Pa., who helped develop the program.

During the clinic, the participants learn the etiquette of golf, how to chip, how to drive, how to putt, and just overall the game of golf and what goes into that, Rozenburg explained.

The feedback from the participants and their families has been very positive for the program which is in its second year at the Country Club.

"The participants have absolutely loved it. They're enthusiastic. They're having fun. They're learning a lot, and just growing overall as individuals. The families have given us a great response. They're so glad to be able to have this opportunity for their kiddos...they get to just come out and try something new and learn great things and just have fun with other peers," Rozenburg said.

That the group was having fun was evident, especially with Lorenzo Minnella, soon to be 17 and in his second year of participating in the golf clinic, as he swung at the golf ball sending it out on the grass.

His mother, Jenn, stood watching.

"He absolutely loved it," she commented.

"His dad golfs, so this is definitely a good teaching experience for him. And the staff has been amazing. The pros have been really good with him and real patient," Minnella said.

Lorenzo suffered a stroke at birth, his mother explained, so he can't use his right arm. His mom also shared that the pros regripped his golf clubs so that it would be easier for Lorenzo to hit the balls.

"They're teaching him to swing one-handed. They've been great at teaching him that type of thing. He absolutely loves it," she said.

"We love the program just because it's something different for the kids to do, and in our area, there's just unfortunately not enough special needs programs like this. So this is definitely a big thing for us," Minnella said.

The idea for the clinic came when the daughter of a member of the Country Club approached him with the request to do something different. The club's PGA Golf Pro, David Coates, was all in favor of it.

"When I was in New Jersey, we held camps like this as well. So helping out the community, helping out kids learn the game, and also give them a sense of escape from reality," Coates said.

"You can see it in their eyes how much fun they have. I know it's good. Again, it's an escape from reality, and you know the parent -- they're able to see their kids having fun, and you can see it in everyone's eyes," Coates said.

Coates admitted that two years ago he didn't really know how to "dive in with kids with disabilities."

"But I have a disability. One, I'm dyslexic, which I told the kids, and then I have a hearing problem. So the first thing I did is we talked to the kids and said, look, I have these two disabilities. For us to be good with your golf swings, you got to tell us your disability. Can't use the left hand, you can't use the right hand...they need to tell us, and then we learn to work around their disabilities," he said.

This year, one or two of the participants were taken out on the golf course at the Country Club during the sessions in order to just see the golf course, Coates said.

"Just to feel the green underneath their feet, to feel what a fairway looks like," he said.

Pointing to the driving range, Coates said, "So there's a lot going on here. You know, everything's consistent. Everything's perfectly flat. The grass is very consistent, perfectly flat out there. A lot of kids, they've never been on a golf green before, so they're able to see what an actual golf course looks like. So we added that experience for them," he said.

Coates also shared that the membership at the club "loves seeing these kids come out."

Declan O'Brien, who was in his second year at the clinic, was there with his grandfather, Dan Lazorka, who explained that his grandson had been going to Rozenburg for therapy for a couple of years and that's how he got involved in the clinic.

"He's golfed with me in several tournaments before," Lazorka said of his grandson. "So he's been around the game a little bit."

"This is actually getting them out in this kind of environment where no matter what their handicaps are, they have a way to be successful. And Brooke and Dave and all these people here bring out the best of them. I mean, it's an opportunity that generally kids that have any type of handicap don't ever get the opportunity to do. And you know, success breeds success, and this gives them a sense of being successful at something, and that self-confidence. I can see Declan's confidence going way up," Lazorka said.

He shared that Declan talks about it every day and with Tuesday being the last day, Lazorka said he'll probably be talking about it for weeks.

"I've seen such an improvement...These guys are professionals, and they just know how to get the best out of them. I'd just like to thank Brooke and her staff and everybody that does what they do. It's such a blessing," Lazorka added.

He noted that he and Declan were going to be in the St. John Neumann Regional Academy golf tournament next month.

""If he isn't golfing this well, then I'm going to throw him out of the cart," he said, adding with a laugh, "I'm only kidding."

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