LIFE Special Olympics Golf Team
By Amanda Church
September 2020
This past July LIFE’s Special Olympics Local Program Coordinator and Fitness Director Ian Saarmann got some great news that some of Special Olympics sports were going to start up again. Some of these sports included bocce, cycling, and of course golf. Once the news was out that golf was going to start up, it did not take long for some life residents to be excited and ready to start practicing.
LIFE’s golf team is coached by Justin Secher who is also a Fitness Coach at Plymouth’s campus. The golf team started practicing at the golf course near their houses or with Justin on Wednesday nights. LIFE’s golf team had some new additions this year including Margaret Conway from Mashpee, Eric Brand and Dan Brewster from Plymouth. The golf team had two separate competitions, but before they could attend them they had to read and understand the new Special Olympics guidelines that were put in place by Special Olympics Mass and by Governor Charlie Baker.
The first competition some of the LIFE Golf team members competed in was a skills competition that included a golf clinic with a PGA Golf Pro by the name of Bob Beach. Bob helped the athletes by teaching them different strategies and techniques on how they can improve their game. Bob was very inspiring to all the Special Olympics golfers. There were a few members of the golf team that received medals.
Margaret Conway, Dan Brewster, Jace LaPlant, and Eric Brand all medaled gold.
Now on to the August tournament which is the State Tournament that Special Olympics luckily was able to hold this year. This year it was a tad different as LIFE’s golf team played unified. LIFE family members, friends and coaches matched up with a LIFE golfer and they all played extremely well.
John Derr said “It was fun being back on the course and everyone played well. Everyone did not leave empty handed as everyone from the LIFE golf team took home first, second and third place medals and awards. Thank you to everyone that participated in this year’s Special Olympics golf season.”
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Living Independently Forever, Inc. is a non-profit with multiple locations throughout Southeast Massachusetts supporting adults with autism, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities in their pursuit of a happy, independent life.
