BRIDGEVILLE — The WPGA and Special Olympics Pennsylvania, with the support of Morgan Stanley, teamed up Wednesday night to host its first All Abilities Clinic at Topgolf Pittsburgh.
The event, which received over 90 players, brought together adaptive golfers — those dealing with a wide range of disabilities or impairments — for a night of instruction and fun while learning the game of golf.
Including 17 experienced instructors, family members and athletes, the clinic brought in 193 people to Topgolf Pittsburgh.
“This night could not have been a bigger success,” said Carol Onufro, president of the WPGA Board of Directors. “It’s a shining example of the need, desire and potential for adaptive golf in our region and the willingness of the professionals and those in the golf industry to welcome people into the game who may not have had an outlet before. Simply put, it was amazing.”
The Western Pennsylvania Golf Association has spent the last two years diligently observing and researching adaptive golf, which allows golfers with various disabilities and impairments to have the game of golf curated to their needs with the assistance of specialized equipment and modifications to the rules.
But Wednesday night was about giving so many an introduction to the game in a relaxed, friendly and fun setting.
“It was really cool,” said Bob Gillespie, Director of Instruction at Topgolf Pittsburgh. “Getting to see kids hit golf balls and, in a lot of cases, hit golf balls for the first time and hearing that contact, it was pretty awesome for these kids to be able to hear that.”
Gillespie, a PGA professional, worked primarily with seated players.
“When they came in, I think there may have been a little bit of ‘okay, how is this going to go,’” he said. “And that was on both parts, to be honest. But once we got them understanding and seeing and realizing they can do it, you know, anybody can play golf. It was really a lot of fun.”
Several PGA professionals who work at clubs and courses throughout Western Pennsylvania volunteered their time to the clinic. Members of First Tee Pittsburgh, the Special Olympics Pennsylvania and the WPGA staff and volunteers also assisted.
Instructors included Kathleen Smith of the WPGA and Special Olympics PA, Brendan King of Longue Vue Club, Devin Gee of Oakmont Country Club, Tyler Smith of Fox Chapel Golf Club, Camille O’Halloran of Fox Chapel Golf Club, Matthew Kraus of Sunnehanna Country Club, Steven Hopley of Sewickley Heights Golf Club, Corey Livingston of The Club at Nevillewood, Cameron Haller of Longue Vue Club, Zachary Turek of Westmoreland Country Club, Bob Salera of Special Olympics PA, Bob Gillespie of Topgolf and Special Olympics PA, Marc McCarey of Morgan Stanley and Special Olympics PA, David Kuhn of Kuhn Golf Academy and Special Olympics PA and Ken Pizzica of Tri-State PGA and Special Olympics PA.
In addition, accomplished junior amateur golfer Mya Morgan and junior golfer Cameron Greiner volunteered their time to help adaptive players learn the game.
Jim Voland, an adaptive player who spread the word about the event via social media and both provided and received instruction Wednesday, took to Instagram to share his experience.
“Such an amazing first All Abilities Golf Clinic,” he wrote. “I am so blessed to be a part of this event, and really enjoyed working with (Onufro) and the WPGA to make it happen. Let’s continue to work together to grow adaptive golf in Pittsburgh!”
And while the players received the most joy and education from the event, everyone in attendance seemed to benefit.
“Seeing the smiles on their faces was awesome,” said Gillespie. “And I don’t think I’ve smiled this much in a golf lesson in a long time.”
For any media inquiries, please contact WPGA Director of Communications Josh Rowntree.
