A South Carolina nonprofit is chipping away barriers and teeing up fun for Upstate adults and children with disabilities.By tee time Monday, nearly a hundred people with disabilities arrived at Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf's monthly gathering at Top Golf.Founder Brandon Worley said it's about having a ball while using the game of golf to learn real-life skills. "Golf, essentially it's a game of misses," said Worley. "You don't hit every shot perfect in golf, right? And just like in life, you're not going to wake up every day and every day's going to be a perfect day. Having that perseverance to overcome, keep going, adapt, and do whatever it takes to get the job done."Worley started this nonprofit four years ago, inviting now-Coach John Robinson to the first meeting."I said, 'wait a minute, there's no way I can hit a golf ball in my wheelchair.' He goes, 'trust me,'" said Robinson.Robinson has spina bifida. After several back surgeries, Robinson uses a wheelchair. That meeting, specialized machinery helped him stand on his own for the first time in years to hit the ball. ”I cried like a baby," he said. "And he thought something was wrong, thought I was hurting, and I told him 'no, it's tears of joy.'"Now a golf coach for the nonprofit, Robinson uses his disabilities to relate to the children and adults who want to learn. "To see some of the kids here getting in the same equipment brings happiness to my heart," he smiled.Robinson and Worley said their goal is to train golfers to adapt to their circumstances and learn independence and growing confidence. Watch the video above for the full story.
A South Carolina nonprofit is chipping away barriers and teeing up fun for Upstate adults and children with disabilities.
By tee time Monday, nearly a hundred people with disabilities arrived at Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf's monthly gathering at Top Golf.
Founder Brandon Worley said it's about having a ball while using the game of golf to learn real-life skills.
"Golf, essentially it's a game of misses," said Worley. "You don't hit every shot perfect in golf, right? And just like in life, you're not going to wake up every day and every day's going to be a perfect day. Having that perseverance to overcome, keep going, adapt, and do whatever it takes to get the job done."
Worley started this nonprofit four years ago, inviting now-Coach John Robinson to the first meeting.
"I said, 'wait a minute, there's no way I can hit a golf ball in my wheelchair.' He goes, 'trust me,'" said Robinson.
Robinson has spina bifida. After several back surgeries, Robinson uses a wheelchair. That meeting, specialized machinery helped him stand on his own for the first time in years to hit the ball.
”I cried like a baby," he said. "And he thought something was wrong, thought I was hurting, and I told him 'no, it's tears of joy.'"
Now a golf coach for the nonprofit, Robinson uses his disabilities to relate to the children and adults who want to learn.
"To see some of the kids here getting in the same equipment brings happiness to my heart," he smiled.
Robinson and Worley said their goal is to train golfers to adapt to their circumstances and learn independence and growing confidence.
Watch the video above for the full story.
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