Ron Tristano, the 2001 Northern Ohio PGA Section Teacher of the Year, is the PGA Head Professional at the Challenge Golf Course & Driving Range in Akron, Ohio.

Ron Tristano on the importance of teaching golfers with various disabilities:
When teaching those with various disabilities, the biggest piece of advice I can give is to work hand-in-hand with a local hospital, rehab, or medical center. We literally have therapists on the range with us during our classes, lessons and clinics to help guide me as to what a certain student can or can’t do. It’s also a great way to have an easy on-ramp for the student – many times their therapist is a safety blanket for them – and this can lower the intimidation factor. Working alongside these medical professionals, I have developed a teaching plan most effective for individuals with various disabilities, including amputation, spinal cord, head trauma, stroke and neuro-muscular disease. Our goal is to help each golfer set and meet attainable goals, proving successful because it is therapy-based. The first lesson starts with determining their balance, grip and range of motion capabilities. Choosing the right club to begin with is extremely important — some may start with an iron off the tee or a taller golfer may start with a fairway wood to keep them from bending over so far. Each individual needs to be assessed for their particular capability.

Ron Tristano on the business impact of teaching golfers with various disabilities:
We work with over 250 different individuals with disabilities each year, many taking multiple individual or group lessons. Our services are completely free to those who can’t afford them and a modest amount — $80 for a 5-week class or $16 per session and $9 for 9-holes with a cart, for those with special needs who can pay. For able-bodied people, a round is $12 with a cart and our most popular youth program, a 4-day camp, costs $95. We have over a thousand site visits each year and provide adaptive clubs, gloves and a special approach to teaching that focuses on what the individual can do, NOT what they can’t do. And it all comes at no charge to those who cannot afford the equipment. We have over 3,000 rounds played on our course each year, and are open to the public, providing numerous classes for able-bodied and physically challenged youngsters. Our program serves most of Northern Ohio with people coming from an hour or more away to take lessons and play our course. We accept donation and run fundraisers to be able to support the various initiatives. PGA professionals are the most talented teachers in the world and I urge all of them to reach out to a rehab center to begin helping people in the area enjoy the many benefits of playing golf.

If you would like to email the author of this Best Practice directly, please email esr.challengegolf@gmail.com

Editor’s note: The above comments reflect the opinion and experiences of the submitting PGA Professional and are not endorsed by PGA Magazine or the PGA of America.