| The Inspiration Behind "Golf for Life" By: Nancy "Brad's Mom" Hennefer |
Who We Are
It has been seventeen years since our son Brad was born with that extra twenty-first
chromosome, and he has led our family on many journeys during that time period and
taught us more about life than we ever could have imagined. His latest journey, which
we refer to as “Golf for Life,” is by far the most exciting of all.
Our family is excited to be collaborating with the NDSC, The Professional Golfers’
Association of America (PGA) and The PGA Foundation to offer a pilot golf instruction
program in the Philadelphia Section of the PGA called “Golf for Life.” Brad, who has
been playing golf for almost his entire life, was the inspiration for the “Golf for Life”
program concept. He started playing miniature golf at about three years old under the
close eye of his older brother. Brad’s brother, Bob, started playing in junior tours and
Brad was always close by practicing along side his brother, and apparently
comprehending far more than we realized. Brad spent countless hours in his brother’s
shadow watching him compete in tournaments and trying to imitate his every move at
the driving range and on the course. Although Brad is a “lefty” and Bob is right-
handed, Brad somehow figured out the complexities of a golf swing.
In October 2000, at age twelve, Brad played in his first Special Olympics of New Jersey
golf tournament with his brother as his partner and coach, and they won their first gold
medal together. Brad was the youngest golfer in the New Jersey state championship
and was generally competing with men between ages twenty-five and forty years old.
Our sons were quite the team until 2002 when Bob went off to college. There was
suddenly a void in Brad’s “golf life.” I was surfing the web for local golf programs one
day and noticed that the Philadelphia Section of the PGA had a program whereby
individuals with special needs were paired up with a PGA professional who
volunteered to provide golf instruction.
In the summer of 2003, Brad first met Rich Smith, Jr. who volunteered to be his “golf
buddy.” Rich had never worked with an individual with Down syndrome and had no
idea what he was getting into, but fate changed both his life and Brad’s life that day.
Rich, who is now President of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA, has provided
professional golf instruction to Brad for the past few years. Brad has blossomed
under his direction and is now able to independently play eighteen holes of golf. Brad
is also participating on his high school golf team, which practices at the course where
Rich is the Director of Golf. Brad and Rich have developed a strong bond with each
other over the years, and they seem to truly bring out the best in each other.
Our family’s goal, along with Rich Smith and his family, is to now provide to other
individuals who have Down syndrome, the same opportunities to work with a PGA
professional that are being provided to Brad. Rich Smith and my husband, Bob, met
with the NDSC in Atlanta during January 2006 to formally present the program that will
be piloted in the Philadelphia Section of the PGA this summer and hopefully expanded
nationally. Through collaboration between The PGA Foundation and the NDSC, our
goal is to provide a national golf instruction and development cycle to individuals who
have Down Syndrome.
chromosome, and he has led our family on many journeys during that time period and
taught us more about life than we ever could have imagined. His latest journey, which
we refer to as “Golf for Life,” is by far the most exciting of all.
Our family is excited to be collaborating with the NDSC, The Professional Golfers’
Association of America (PGA) and The PGA Foundation to offer a pilot golf instruction
program in the Philadelphia Section of the PGA called “Golf for Life.” Brad, who has
been playing golf for almost his entire life, was the inspiration for the “Golf for Life”
program concept. He started playing miniature golf at about three years old under the
close eye of his older brother. Brad’s brother, Bob, started playing in junior tours and
Brad was always close by practicing along side his brother, and apparently
comprehending far more than we realized. Brad spent countless hours in his brother’s
shadow watching him compete in tournaments and trying to imitate his every move at
the driving range and on the course. Although Brad is a “lefty” and Bob is right-
handed, Brad somehow figured out the complexities of a golf swing.
In October 2000, at age twelve, Brad played in his first Special Olympics of New Jersey
golf tournament with his brother as his partner and coach, and they won their first gold
medal together. Brad was the youngest golfer in the New Jersey state championship
and was generally competing with men between ages twenty-five and forty years old.
Our sons were quite the team until 2002 when Bob went off to college. There was
suddenly a void in Brad’s “golf life.” I was surfing the web for local golf programs one
day and noticed that the Philadelphia Section of the PGA had a program whereby
individuals with special needs were paired up with a PGA professional who
volunteered to provide golf instruction.
In the summer of 2003, Brad first met Rich Smith, Jr. who volunteered to be his “golf
buddy.” Rich had never worked with an individual with Down syndrome and had no
idea what he was getting into, but fate changed both his life and Brad’s life that day.
Rich, who is now President of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA, has provided
professional golf instruction to Brad for the past few years. Brad has blossomed
under his direction and is now able to independently play eighteen holes of golf. Brad
is also participating on his high school golf team, which practices at the course where
Rich is the Director of Golf. Brad and Rich have developed a strong bond with each
other over the years, and they seem to truly bring out the best in each other.
Our family’s goal, along with Rich Smith and his family, is to now provide to other
individuals who have Down syndrome, the same opportunities to work with a PGA
professional that are being provided to Brad. Rich Smith and my husband, Bob, met
with the NDSC in Atlanta during January 2006 to formally present the program that will
be piloted in the Philadelphia Section of the PGA this summer and hopefully expanded
nationally. Through collaboration between The PGA Foundation and the NDSC, our
goal is to provide a national golf instruction and development cycle to individuals who
have Down Syndrome.
Programs
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| Providing Golf Opportunities to Individuals with Down Syndrome |
| The Brad Hennefer Golf for Life Foundation |