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Sports Offered
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Golf |
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Like most golfers, Special Olympics athletes are driven by the opportunity to compete. Program planning is designed to develop individual golf skills that enhance performance, allowing the athlete to achieve success in playing the game. Both on the practice area and on the course, Special Olympics athletes participating in golf have gained the respect of their golf peers.
The Special Olympics golf program is centered on two educational phases designed to encompass all skill levels: learning to swing a golf club and learning to play the game. Athletes may participate in skills, 9-hole stroke play or 18-hole stroke play.
Special Olympics Minnesota currently offers four levels of golf competition. Individual skills competition (Level 1) and 3-hole competition provide meaningful competition for athletes of lower ability, allowing them to train and compete in basic golf skills. In order for athletes to advance to Levels 2 (individual 9-hole) or 4 (alternate shot 9-hole), they must achieve a total of 40 points in the Individual Skills Test. Those athletes scoring less than 40 in the Individual Skills Test have the opportunity to compete in 3-hole individual or alternate shot events.
Athletes can also participate in Unified Sports® Team Play. Unified Sports® is a program that combines Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (partners) on sports teams for training and competition. In Unified Sports golf, a team would include one Special Olympics athlete and one partner. |
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Golf Facts
Golf made its debut at the 1995 Special Olympics World Summer Games in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
At the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games, held in North Carolina, USA, Kevin Erickson of Wisconsin, USA, broke a Special Olympics World Games record by scoring a 78 at Washington Duke Country Club Golf Course.
One-hundred and nineteen athletes from 12 programs competed in golf at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland.
Twenty Minnesota delegations currently offer their athletes the opportunity to train and compete in golf. To find a delegation offering golf in your area, click here.
Participation in golf at the state level has grown from 89 golfers and Unified partners in 2000 to 268 in 2006. For more information on the golf program or Fall Games, contact Pam Bergerson.
In addition to competition at the golf tournament at Fall Games, athletes can also compete at area golf competitions in Area 3 , Area 4 and Area 12. |
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Special Olympics Minnesota Golf Events
Level 2 - Alternate Shot Team Play Competition
Level 4 - Individual Stroke Play Competition (9 hole)
The following event provides meaningful competition for athletes with lower ability levels:
Level 1 - Individual Skills Competition:
Short Putt, Long Putt, Chip Shot, Pitch Shot, Iron Shot, Wood Shot
3-hole Individual Competition
3-hole Alternate Shot Team Play Competition |
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