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General The First Swing concept originated in the USA after the Vietnam War when the US Government was faced with thousands of amputees returning from war. After research was done, it was found that golf was the best sport suited to rehabilitate persons with debilitating injuries. SADGA invited Bob Wilson, founder of the First Swing Programme in the US, to South Africa in 2001 to introduce the programme here. Conditions in South Africa are obviously different to that in the US, which meant that we had to modify the programme for our specific needs. After initial teething problems the First Swing Programme officially started in January 2003. Being new and inexperienced in this field our sole objective was to introduce disabled children to golf and to enable them to play a competitive round of golf. In the period between 2003 and 2007 we identified a number of insufficiencies in the programme, the following two being the two overwhelming insufficiencies:
Change the focus and the outcome! After in-depth introspection, SADGA made the fundamental change to the First Swing Programme that golf will only be one of the tools of the programme and that the outcome would change to a “golf career guidance programme”. The golf industry and related industries in South Africa has exploded in the last 10 years and there are no indications that they will die down anytime soon. In the August 07 issue of Compleat Golfer magazine, on page 47, an article was published stating that 74 golf course developments (41 new courses) have been approved to be built in the next 10 years in South Africa. At SADGA we want to give the disabled children in South Africa, specifically in rural and disadvantaged communities, the opportunity to share in this phenomenal growth of golf. if you think education is expensive, try ignorance!' The programme Golf Coaching The South African Golf Development Board produced a comprehensive coaching manual in association with the PGA of South Africa. SADGA has received full use of the manual which will enable us to not only coach the disabled children with the correct techniques, but the entire coaching programme will be measurable. The areas that will be focused on are:
Career Guidance
The primary function of the career guidance part of the programme is to expose the disabled children to various golf and golf related industries such as:
The practical implementation of this part of the programme is to arrange excursions on a monthly basis to all of the above. Imperial Chauffeur Drive will be our partner making this possible and will literally be driving the children to their future!
Building a profile of each child
A comprehensive database will be built up of each child in the following areas:
End of year training camp
SADGA has formed a partnership with Astra School for the disabled in Montana, Cape Town. What makes this partnership significant is the fact that the school is situated next door to King David Golf Course where SADGA’s Head Office is based. Astra School boasts with some of the best facilities in the country, like occupational therapy rooms, purpose built swimming pool with disabled access and ample accommodation facilities. A high performance centre will be established where the best performing candidates from all the participating regions will receive an invitation to the end of year training camp in Cape Town. Some of the highlights of the camp will be:
Results
There are many programmes and development initiatives but on closer inspection one finds that the focus remains on development and not on results. The First Swing Programme will have as its main outcome to show measurable results such as:
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