The ADA and PGA have recently band together to bring golfing to disabled Americans by forming the Association of Disabled American Golfers (ADAG). Some of the accommodations made for disabled players include a single cart, which allows golfers to every part of the golf course. The plight of the disabled golf player was brought to the attention of the public by a disabled golfer named Casey Martin. Martin was the driving force behind the ADAG, because he made the PGA of America realize that disabled golfers should have the chance to compete in tournaments also. The Association of Disabled American Golfers (ADAG) was born when President Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities ACT. The ADA is designed to incorporate access for the disabled into all facets of life. The ADAG is headed by Greg Jones, and has paved the way for disabled golfers.

The ADAG holds its own national golfing tournament each year. The national tournament held by the ADAG includes disabled as well as able-bodied teammates. The tournament is two-days long, and serves several purposes for the disabled players. Disabled players are given the chance to compete in a golfing tournament as well show the world how having a disability does not affect their golfing skills. The tournaments sponsored by the ADAG offer a networking forum, the opportunity for disabled players to learn new equipment and the chance to have fun on the golf course. The national tournament held by the ADAG is not a championship; it is always seen as a friendly tournament and has become a nexus for disabled golf. The tournament is held at Fox Hollow at Lakewood Golf Course.

Fox Hollow is on of the best examples of how tweaking the design of a golf course can accommodate the ADA, and disabled players who rely on wheels to get around the course. The architect of the Fox Hollow course used a local committee of disabled players to help incorporate the ADA’s requirements into the layout of the course. The committee found simple problems with the course’s design such as curbs, complicated cart paths and inaccessible drinking fountains.  The golf course was eventually tweaked to meet all of the disabled players’ needs. All the tees and greens were sculpted into gradual slopes, and their large size was ideal for the wheeled vehicles of the disabled players. The bunkers were given flat bottoms and multiple points for access, and are maintained to keep the sand firm enough to support wheels.   

The PGA of America has funded the Rutgers study to improve the courses designed for disabled players. The study is aimed at developing usage guidelines for players, and maintenance guidelines for superintendents. In the study a cart driven by a disabled player was driven over a specified area of the green several times. The study found that the tire marks created by the disabled player’s cart didn’t disrupt the accuracy of the players’ puts. Although improvements are still needed, the golf courses for the disabled are still operating on a daily basis. The national tournament for disabled players has given many disabled players the chance to live out their dream of playing golf.

The PGA of America has been supportive in every aspect of the ADAG’s development. The PGA sponsors the ADA’s national tournament, and has help to fund several studies to improve golfing for disabled players. The ADA has teamed with the PGA to bring the joy of golf back into the lives of disabled players. The national tournament held by the ADA is one of the most respected tournaments in the game of golf. The PGA and ADA have made the ADAG one of the greatest outlets for disabled players.