TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The United States Golf Association has awarded a one-year, $30,000 grant to On Even Par of Tuscaloosa to support the charity’s golf program for individuals with disabilities.
Jean Miller, a member of the USGA’s Women’s Committee, will present the grant to Jerry Pope, president of On Even Par, on Friday, Oct. 26, at The University of Alabama’s Harry Pritchett Golf Course. The event will begin with lunch and a check presentation at 11 a.m., with golf starting at 12:30 p.m.
The presentation will be part of “Conrad Rehling’s Inaugural On Even Par Tournament,” which is a four-man team scramble that will take place at the UA Harry Pritchett Golf Course.
On Even Par’s golf program for individuals with disabilities will include both an instructional component that will be held at the Harry Pritchett Golf Course, and an educational component that will take place throughout the state of Alabama.
The instructional component will consist of golf lessons that are specifically adapted for individuals with disabilities, as well as the “Golf Buddies” program, which will pair nondisabled individuals with disabled individuals for rounds of golf. Participants in the instructional component will be recruited from the adjacent Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center, as well as from the entire Tuscaloosa area.
Through the educational component, On Even Par will travel to every public golf course in Alabama, where they will hold seminars on golf course accessibility for course owners, golf professionals, and members of the health care community. These seminars will feature the demonstration of a single-rider golf cart, which has been loaned indefinitely to the program by Club Car Golf Cart Co.
“In the awarding of this grant to On Even Par, the USGA has empowered our cause to make a difference in the lives of ‘differently able’ golfers here in Alabama,” said Pope. “For the good of the game and for the good of all golfers, no matter what their handicap, we at On Even Par embrace the confidence of the USGA in our mission and accept the challenge to be a winner.”
“On Even Par is doing an excellent job of making the game of golf accessible to individuals with disabilities,” said USGA President Trey Holland. “Through their program, they will not only work to introduce disabled individuals to golf, but will prove to members of the golf community that the inclusion of these individuals is not only possible, but ultimately good for the game.”
This grant is part of the USGA’s “For the Good of Game” initiative, a 10-year, $50 million commitment to programs and projects that make golf more affordable and accessible to nontraditional audiences.
To learn more about On Even Par, contact Jerry Pope at 205/554-7585
or Gary Minor at the UA Harry Pritchett Golf Course at 205/348-7041.
To learn more about the USGA Foundation Grants Program, visit their website at www.usga.org or call 719/471-4810.
Contact
Linda Hill, UA Media Relations, 205/348-8325, lhill@ur.ua.edu
Source
Jerry Pope, president of On Even Par, 205/554-7585
Gary Minor, UA Harry Pritchett Golf Course, 205/348-7041