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Adaptive Programs
Click picture to see description and ordering information.
There are 4 products in this category. |
Photo by Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Boyer, 28th Public Affairs Detachment
´Thank you UPRIGHT Golf for the rubber range tees and practice equipment. We pick the balls up by hand so we are grateful for whatever we can get. The ball grabbers will be very helpful. The golf range has been a success as a
stress reliver and for recreational use. It works well when you come off of a mission outside the wire. This is the first driving range in Iraq and now nearly every Forward Obsevation Base (FOB) is trying to set up a
drivng range. The new golf driving range draws more soldiers than basketball, softball, and volleyball combined! Thank you again for your support to the soldiers.´
First Sgt. Clinton Merritte, Camp Victory, Iraq
Price: $0.00
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On the following page you´ll find a comprehensive list of golf courses that have a single rider golf car available for the public´s use. The list was compiled by our friends at Mobility Golf from a variety of sources and may not be current.
Please contact the course to make sure this information is accurate, that the accessible golf car is in good working condition and that the course is open to the public.
UPRIGHT Golf makes golf possible for some, easier for most, and better for all. Browse our ´Adaptive Clubs, Adaptive Equipment, and Single Rider Cars´ categories to see the world´s most comprehensive offering of easy-to-use senior and adaptive golf playing aids.
Click on the picture to go to the next page.
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Get a FREE 6-Pk. of Unbreakable Tees with a $20.00 purchase NOT including the calculated S&H charges!
Tired of having your tees breaking after every shot? Tired of having to purchase and carry dozens of golf tees in your golf bag? Well, let UPRIGHT Golf introduce you to our new 3-1/4 in. long Unbreakable Tees.
CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO GO TO THE ORDER PAGE.
UPRIGHT Golf´s Unbreakable Tees might be the last tee you´ll ever need to purchase! Our Unbreakable Tee also works great with all of our teeing devices as the slightly oversized head (1/2 in.) makes it so easy to place the ball on the tee.
The Unbreakable Tees are specifically designed to re-create every aspect of real wood tees while increasing overall durability and performance.
UPRIGHT Golf is so confident that ´you´ll lose it before you break it´ that we´ll give you (2) replacements if you ever break one! Now that´s confidence!
OPTION #1 is for a FREE 6-Pack of Unbreakable Tees that we will give you with any purchase of $20.00 or more NOT including S&H charges. However, you can also purchase larger quantities with purchase OPTIONS #2-#5.
To learn more about the 3-1/4" Unbreakable Tees just click on the picture.
Price: $0.00
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February 4, 2007
Dr. Robert M. Gates
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301
Dear Dr. Gates:
Mobility Golf is a non-profit corporation with a mission to increase opportunities for the mobility
impaired to play golf. This letter is written in support of making military golf courses accessible as
well as to respond to the issues raised by Section 664 of the National Defense Authorization Act for
FY 07.
I. The Golf Courses on Military Bases.
There are approximately 175 golf courses on military bases throughout the world. These courses are
very popular--with over 5 million rounds played a year. They are also very profitable with an annual
profit of over $23 million in FY 05. 1 Although these golf courses have fleets of standard golf carts,
very few offer accessible golf carts (swivel seats and hand controls) that can be used by disabled
persons who either can’t walk or have difficulty walking. 2 Thousands of disabled veterans are unable
to use these golf courses solely because of the failure to provide accessible golf carts.
Many in Congress believe that disabled veterans should have the opportunity to use the military golf
courses but the Department of Defense has refused to make the courses accessible. As a result of
this refusal, Section 664 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY07 requires the Secretary of
Defense (Sec Def) to conduct a study and report to Congress by April 16, 2007 “on making
accessible golf carts available at all military golf courses for use by disabled persons authorized to
use such courses.” The Sec Def was specifically directed to report on:
1. The current plans to improve access of disabled persons to morale, welfare and recreation
(MWR) facilities and activities including plans to make accessible golf carts available
2. Whether any portion of these plans require congressional authorization or funding
3. The timing and cost of making these MWR facilities and activities fully accessible to disabled
persons
4. The expected utilization rates of the MWR facilities by disabled persons if they were fully
accessible.
5. Any legal requirements applicable to providing accessible golf carts with specific attention to
the applicability of section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
1 In some DoD documents, the term “profit” is used. In other documents, the term “Net income before
depreciation” (cash flow) is used.
2 Pictures of accessible golf carts can be seen at http://mobilitygolf.com/equipment/index.html
Set forth below is the information that should result in a recommendation to immediately make all
military golf courses accessible to those with a mobility disability.
II. The Cost of Making Golf Courses Accessible is Minimal and Does Not Require Appropriated
Funds.
Accessible golf carts are readily available and can be leased for five years at a cost of approximately
$2000 per year. If every military golf course provided 2 accessible carts, it would cost only 3% of the
annual profits—one cart would only cost 1.5% of profits. This assumes that no one ever used the
cart! Unlike other accessibility requirements such as ramps and bathrooms, the disabled user can be
charged the standard cart rental fee. In addition, there is the fee for playing the course, fees from
family and friends who play with the disabled golfer, revenues from merchandise such as balls, clubs
and clothing as well as food and beverage purchases. In sum, the “cost” of providing accessibility to
the golf courses is minimal when compared to the profits of the golf course and the revenue
generated.
III. The Anticipated Utilization Rates of Accessible Golf Carts Should, Over Time, be Significant.
A. Introduction.
Very few golf courses in the country provide accessible golf carts. As a result, currently there are
relatively few disabled golfers. However, there is a large population of potential disabled golfers
that, over time, can be expected to take up the game once the courses are accessible. This will
require an outreach by DoD, the VA and other governmental and non-governmental
organizations.
Those with mobility impairments include a wide variety of injuries and illnesses. These include:
• Leg amputees
• Spinal cord injuries
• Strokes
• MS
• Spinal Bifida
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Polio
• Cerebral Palsy
• Parkinson’s
• Hip, knee, back, leg ailments
• Cardiac and lung disease
B. The general population
Most of the military golf courses are open to the public. Therefore, in analyzing the anticipated
usage, it is necessary to look at the mobility-disabled population of the whole country.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau publication “Americans With Disabilities: 2002,” 25 million
people age 15 and over have an ambulatory disability, 2.7 million use a wheelchair, and another 9.1
million use assistive devices such as canes, crutches and walkers. 3 It is estimated that 13.4% of the
total population plays golf. 4 There is no reason to think that the rate of participation in golf by the
mobility-impaired population would be any less than the general population. This would result in over
3 million potential golfers in the general population
3 See www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p70-107.pdf.
4 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000, there are 209 million people over the age of 18 in
this country. According to the National Golf Foundation, there are 28 million golfers over the age of 18.
Thus, 13.4% of the population over the age of 18 plays golf.
C. The disabled military and veteran population.
Although most military golf courses are open to the public, many are limited to those who are eligible
for gate passes to the base. This population includes:
i. Active military
ii. Retired military—including those on permanent disability
iii. DoD employees
iv. DoD subcontractors that work on the base
v. Family and guests of the above.
While we don’t have statistics on the number of disabled persons in all of these categories, we do
know that there are thousands of active military currently undergoing treatment in DoD health care
facilities who have a mobility disability. In addition, there is substantial data concerning those who
access the VA health care system. 5
• 44,000 veterans have a spinal cord injury
• 760,000 veterans have had a stroke
• 28,000 veterans have MS.
• 10,546 veterans received artificial legs in 2005
A significant percentage of each of these categories has the potential to play golf if the courses were
accessible.
Another indication that there is a large population of potential disabled golfers is a survey conducted
by the Paralyzed Veterans of America in 2003: 6% of the respondents indicated that they played golf
and another 21% said they were interested in golf. This survey indicates that there are 5600 potential
golfers just from the PVA membership.
IV. Military Golf Courses Should and Must be Accessible.
A. Making military golf courses accessible is the “right thing to do.”
Putting aside the legalities, it is embarrassing to think that our country does not permit those who
were disabled in military service to play golf at the military courses. These are men and women who
lost their legs or suffered a spinal cord injury in service to our country. By what logic can DoD refuse
to divert a small amount of the golf course profits to provide accessible golf carts?
B. Making military golf courses accessible is an important part of post-injury rehabilitation.
Both military hospitals and the VA health system have extensive rehabilitation programs for those
suffering from a variety of injuries and illnesses resulting in a loss of mobility. These rehabilitation
programs have two primary functions: one is to increase the physical strength and capacity as much
as possible, the other is to prepare those with permanent disabilities to return to society. Such
individuals often experience severe depression. Golf can be an important rehabilitation tool. It is one
of the few activities that combine sports and social interaction, can be played by persons of any age
and, for the mobility impaired, is not a segregated “wheelchair sport” but an activity that can be played
with family, friends and business associates. It can ease re-entry into society and be an antidote to
depression.
C. Making military golf courses accessible is required by law.
Congress was correct in requiring the Sec Def to report on the applicability of Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 which states that “No otherwise qualified individual with a disability in the
United States … shall, solely by reason of her or his disability, be excluded from the participation in,
5 This information was obtained from the website of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity …
conducted by any Executive Agency.”
In enacting the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Congress made a finding that millions of Americans had
disabilities and that they constituted “one of the most disadvantaged groups in society” and that
“disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals
to … enjoy full inclusion and integration in the economic, political, social, cultural and educational
mainstream of American society...’’ Congress also said that “individuals with disabilities continually
encounter various forms of discrimination in … recreation…” and that “It is the policy of the United
States that all programs, projects and activities … shall be carried out in a manner consistent with the
principles of … equal access … and inclusion, integration and full participation …”
Section 504 includes a specific implementing requirement that, “The head of each such agency shall
promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the amendments to this section.” 6
Pursuant to this directive, DoD issued a final rule implementing Section 504 on April 8, 1982. 7
Numerous provisions of the DoD rule make it clear that the failure to provide access to golf courses
on DoD property is a violation of Section 504. These provisions include:
§ 56.4 Policy.
It is DoD policy that no qualified handicapped person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis
of handicap under any program or activity … that is conducted by a DoD Component.
§56.7 (a). This part applies to all DoD Components … insofar as the programs and activities of the
DoD Components … affect handicapped persons in the United States.
§56.8 (a) (1). No qualified handicapped person shall, on the basis of handicap, be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefit of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any
program or activity that is conducted by the Department of Defense….
§56.8 (a) (2) (ii). A … DoD Component may not … on the basis of handicap: Deny a qualified
handicapped person the opportunity to participate in or benefit from the aid, benefit, or service:
§56.8 (a) (6). A DoD Component may not (i) Subject qualified handicapped persons to discrimination
on the basis of handicap: (ii) Defeat or substantially impair accomplishments of the objectives of the
DoD Component’s program or activity with respect to handicapped persons.
§56.8 (a) (8). … DoD Components shall administer programs and activities in the most integrated
setting appropriate to the needs of qualified handicapped persons.
§ 56.8 (c) Program accessibility – (1) General requirements. No qualified handicap person shall,
because a … DoD Component’s facilities are inaccessible to or not usable by handicapped persons,
be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or otherwise be subjected to
discrimination under any program or activity … conducted by the Department of Defense.
§ 56.8(c)(2) Existing facilities. (i) A … DoD Component shall operate each program or activity so that
the program or activity, when viewed in its entirety, is readily accessible to and usable by
handicapped persons.
§56.8(c)(2)(iii). A … DoD Component may comply with paragraph (c)(2)(i) … of this section through
such means as the acquisition … of equipment…or any other method that results in making the
program or activity of the DoD Component accessible to handicapped persons.
6 29 U.S.C. § 794.
7 32 CFR Part 56, DoD Directive 1020.1
§56.8(c)(2)(v). In choosing among available methods for meeting the requirements of this section, a
DoD Component shall give priority to those methods that offer programs and activities to
handicapped persons in the most integrated setting appropriate with nonhandicapped persons.
Clearly, both Section 504 and the DoD regulations require that those with mobility disabilities be
provided access to the golf courses, which can be simply done by adding accessible golf carts to the
existing golf cart fleet.
V. Conclusion.
It is unconscionable that those brave young wounded warriors who face a lifetime as disabled
persons are not able to play golf at the military golf courses along with their non-disabled comrades.
It is also a clear violation of Section 504 and the DoD implementing regulations for DoD to exclude
those with mobility disabilities from playing golf when the courses are very profitable and providing
accessible golf carts is so easy to do and relatively inexpensive. In sum, there is no legitimate reason
for denying disabled veterans, or any other authorized person with a mobility disability, from playing
golf at DoD courses. On behalf of disabled golfers, I urge you to make all military golf courses
accessible.
Very truly yours,
Richard Thesing
Managing Director
Cc: Honorable Michael L. Dominguez
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness)
Room 3E621, The Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-4000
Mr. Clarence A. Johnson
Principal Director for Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity
Room 5D641, The Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-4000
Judith C. Gilliom
Disability Program Manager
Department of Defense
Room 5D641, The Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301-4000
Price: $0.00
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