| | He's Got Game Again
by Jim Beasley
disabling injury or health event often means the end of many activities. In 1993, professional golfer JaRo Jones was diagnosed with post polio syndrome and neuromuscular atrophy. The conventional golf swing put too much stress on his muscles. But he decided that his disability could not keep him from the game he loved – and loved to teach. Bound and determined to continue playing the game, Jones developed an alternative swing.
In 1994, when JaRo’s disability prevented him from returning to work, he and his wife Susan, received financial support from his CIGNA Group Insurance disability benefits to launch Golf Rx for All, as a means for Jones to earn a living. Jones’group helps persons with disabilities continue to play – or learn to play – the game of golf. Since opening offices outside of Houston, Texas, Golf Rx for All has been involved in teaching people how to play, regardless of their disability.
"Golfers with disabilities are limited only by their own limitations," explains Jones. "We have not seen one who did not want to learn to play golf."
Jones says his method is to first determine the physical abilities of the student. Then, he focuses on what function of the golf swing the student is able to perform. Next, he allows the student’s own physical abilities to create the golf swing. And lastly, he make subtle changes to correct the ball flight. "We keep it simple, remembering that the game of golf is meant to be fun," Jones says,
Tom Meadows is a stroke survivor from Kerrville, Texas with praise for Jones. "I thought I would never be able to play golf again. I live on a golf course, and I would see people coming by all day- I would just sit there and resent them. With Mr. Jones’ help, I now have a different outlook. I am back on the course. This is great!"
Besides providing video golf lessons through the company’s Internet site (www.golfrxforall.com), Jones also takes his Golf Rx for All on the road with clincs from May through September each year. The schedule for this year’s events is expected to be posted on the Website by May 1, 2001. Visitors to the site can also use a RealPlayer® browser plug-in to view some of the basic lessons taught by Golf Rx for All.
Karen Deming is host and coordinator for the British Paralympic Sports Team. "Mr. Jones and his wife, Susan, traveled to Florida and conducted a golf clinic for the British Paralympic Team. The clinic was an outstanding success and I am extremely grateful for Mr. Jones’ contribution to the British Athletes."
Currently, Jones is searching for a golf course to purchase. He believes having a course will help him teach in the proper environment. "There are about 6,000,000 potential new golfers who all have a disabilitiy of some kind," he says. "This is the most underserved population when it comes to learning to play golf. We teach golf professionals and therapists how to work with people with disabilities – and get them involved with golf."
The system appears to be paying off. Since starting the Golf Rx for All program, Jones has helped more than 8,500 people learn the joy of playing golf.
Links:
JaRo’s e-mail address is JaRoGolfRxForAll@aol.com
The Professional Golf Association of America www.pga.com
The National Golf Foundation www.ngf.org
Golf Rx for All links page http://www.golfrxforall.com/links.html
Golf for the disabled – information on government agencies and golf opportunities for persons with disabilities http://www.pga.com/faq/disabled/index.html
| |
