By Liz Whitney
The New Canaan YMCA partnered with the Metropolitan Golf Association (MGA) to host an adaptive golf clinic furthering the Y’s mission to provide meaningful and enriching programs for individuals with special needs in the community. The clinic was facilitated through MGA’s Adaptive Golf Program that launched this February, providing opportunities for kids and adults with physical, intellectual, and neurological impairments to learn the game of golf through the MGA Foundation.
Golf clinic participants were taught golf fundamentals, like gripping the club, proper stance, and golf swing basics, and competed in various games. Volunteers and MGA staff conducted small group instruction. Not only did players learn the basics of golf, but they learned them in fun and creative ways. The participants could play various games and activities with different objectives that challenge the various skills required to be a well-rounded golfer.
Ryan Kayton, the MGA’s Manager of Adaptive Golf shared, “Hosting an MGA Adaptive Golf Clinic at the New Cannan YMCA provided a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals of all abilities could experience the joy of golf, build confidence, and create lasting connections. We are grateful for the YMCA’s partnership in advancing adaptive sports and creating meaningful opportunities for all.”
Through accessibility, advocacy, community engagement, and education, the MGA Adaptive Golf Program aims to inspire inclusion in the game of golf by creating meaningful and positive opportunities for the adaptive community.
Carolynn Kaufman, Director of Inclusion & Support Services at the New Canaan YMCA shared, “We strive to offer adaptive programs for individuals of all ages with special needs in the community at our Y. This clinic was a great opportunity for our participants to learn new skills, make connections, and build confidence in an inclusive and welcoming environment. We are proud to partner with MGA to provide additional opportunities for adaptive programming to those with special needs in the community.”
MGA’s adaptive golf program partnership goes hand in hand with the Y’s special needs inclusion and support initiative, which serves over 130 children, teens, and adults with special needs each year through meaningful programs and support. These programs are dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming place for individuals of all abilities to develop skills, make friends, and have fun. To learn more about the Y’s special needs initiative, visit www.newcanaanymca.org/ysn.
The MGA Adaptive Golf Program started in 2024 and has already displayed the need for more programming in golf within the adaptive community. This year, the program collaborated with seven different organizations and hosted close to 150 participants in its clinics. Next year the program aims to grow partnering with 12 organizations and by 2026 expand programming to include the physical disability space. For additional information about the MGA Adaptive Golf Program, visit www.mgagolf.org/foundation/adaptive.
