Judy Alvarez, PGA/LPGA Master Professional, Palm Cove Golf & Yacht Club, Palm City, Florida.

Judy Alvarez on the importance of inviting golfers with disabilities or injuries to your facility:
I like to spread the word to our golfers to invite friends, neighbors or family members with injuries or disabilities to come to our facility to enjoy golf, whether they are beginners or experienced players. There are people in our community, and every community, who are visually impaired or paralyzed, for example, including veterans and civilians. Invite them to clinics for disabled golfers or into an already-existing fee-based program. Be creative; inspire and motivate people; make them feel welcome. Figure out what equipment and training aids they need to succeed. On Tuesdays, I donate my time by offering free golf clinics to veterans, who don’t pay for range balls, either.

Judy Alvarez on the business impact of inviting golfers with disabilities or injuries to your facility:
Treat injured and disabled golfers like everyone else. Gather their email addresses and include them in your email blasts and broadcasts. We find that these participants do return to our facility. They purchase range balls, lunch and golf; they regrip their clubs and buy new equipment. At our club, 50% of them have signed up for and continue in our fee-based programs, without discounts. We have realized $600 during the first three months this year as a result of including disabled golfers in our programming.

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