|
Toolkit Provides Guidance For Golf Course Owners And Operators On Accessibility To Golfers With Disabilities Contact Gary Robb ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 27, 2003) - The National Alliance for Accessible Golf announced that it has released a toolkit for golf course owners and operators to assist in improving the accessibility of golf courses to golfers with disabilities. The toolkit is one of the initial projects of the Alliance and includes background information on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its Accessibility Guidelines for Golf Course Design and Construction; a listing of resources and contact information for getting advice about specific ADA compliance issues; a golf course access check list; and answers to frequently asked questions. The frequently asked questions section contains information on a wide range of issues encountered by golf course owners and operators as they seek to make their courses more accessible to golfers with disabilities, including what parts of the facility are covered by the ADA, who is covered by the ADA, what type of physical changes must be made to the course, staff training, pace of play and golf cart policies. The checklist covers both the golf course and facilities and is designed to be used by owners and operators to evaluate their current accessibility status and begin to design future improvements. "The Alliance's golf course operators toolkit is a valuable resource for course owners and operators who are interested in developing a new market - golfers with disabilities," said Gary Robb, President of the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. "The frequently asked questions section is especially helpful in providing direction for operators as they begin to serve this new segment of golfers." The toolkit is available on the Alliance Web site at www.accessgolf.org/alliance/golf-toolkit.htm - and can also be accessed at the Web sites of the Alliance member organizations: National Golf Course Owners Association, Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Club Managers Association of America, PGA of America and the LPGA. Project GAIN is sponsored by the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. The National Alliance for Accessible Golf was formed in the summer of 2001 by leaders from the golf industry and representatives of organizations serving people with disabilities and golfers with disabilities. Participants involved in the formation of the Alliance include the United States Golf Association, the Professional Golfers Association of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the National Golf Course Owners Association, the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, the Club Managers Association of America and the First Tee. University representatives and organizations and individuals representing golfers with disabilities were also involved. The National Alliance for Accessible Golf is located at Indiana University's National Center on Accessibility, Department of Recreation and Park Administration, School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation. For more information about the project, e-mail naag@indiana.edu. |