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Group Restores Joy Of The Game For Those With Disabilities

Fore-Hope Golfer (Added: September 22, 2009)

A look at a local organization that is celebrating 20 years of the joy of the game. (more)

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Published: September 22, 2009

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DUBLIN, Ohio -- Any longtime golfer will attest the therapeutic benefit of hitting the fairways physically and emotionally. For those who through disability can no longer play, it can be a difficult adjustment, but a local organization is celebrating 20 years of restoring the joy of the game.

"I was sitting in my scooter. He said, 'Can you swing standing up?' I said, 'Sure, I might fall on my face afterwards, but I can do it,'" said Keith Crabtree.

Living with multiple sclerosis, Crabtree said he hung up his clubs and his 8 handicap two decades ago, but a few months ago, a therapist at The Ohio State University Medical Center multiple sclerosis unit tipped him off to Fore Hope -- an organization that for 20 years has worked with those limited by a disability to tee it up again.

The organization was founded in Dublin in 1989 by Mindy Derr to help her father who was dealing with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, swing again.

Hundreds of people like Crabtree have gone through the six-week program with PGA-teaching professionals like Todd Tracey.

"Versus able-bodied (people), it's pretty much taught the same way. With Fore Hope, it is customized based on the disability," Tracey said.

From stroke sufferers to multiple sclerosis amputees to paraplegics, the participants gather on Wednesday nights for a special league at Safari Golf Club.

Crabtree said that after a mulligan, his first time on the green, he bogied the first hole -- and felt the support from other players.

"Everyone behind me was clapping," Crabtree said. "It was so much fun to just be out there again and do this again."

Fore Hope will hold its fundraising golf tournament at Safari Golf Club on Sept. 25, where able-bodied golfers will play alongside program participants. For more information, call 614-784-1111 or visit www.forehope.org.

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