In a story authored by Chris Lewis about adaptive golfers in the most recent edition of Golf Journal, the official publication of the United States Golf Association, he featured Anna Kittleson, the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s manager of adaptive golf.
Kittelson of Boise, Idaho had started her college career at Midwestern State University, but concluded it at Delaware. She popped up in a couple of posts I did on the Blue Hens and also when she teamed up with Delaware teammate Oihana Etxezarrata of Spain to earn a spot in the field for the 2021 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Maridoe Golf Club in Carrollton, Texas.
Lewis’ story chronicles Kittelson’s journey to figure out a way to marry her two passions, golf and her masters degree in exercise science, into a career. Kittleson discussed her options with Anthony Malizia, the head pro at Bidermann Golf Club, and Malizia pointed Kittleson toward Mario Machi, GAP’s assistant executive director.
Inspired by the success of the USGA’s first two editions of the U.S. Adaptive Open Championship at the Pinehurst Resort’s No. 6 Course, Machi wanted to establish an adaptive golf program for GAP aimed at giving individuals with cognitive, health, physical and sensory challenges the opportunity to play the game of golf using modified equipment and rules.
Machi brought Kittelson aboard as an adaptive golf intern with a P.J. Boatwright Jr. Internship. Halfway through her internship, Kittleson was hired full-time as GAP’s manager of adaptive golf.
Kittelson and Machi have worked quickly to accomplish one of their goals, the inaugural GAP Adaptive Championship, which will be played Oct. 14 and 15 at two of Bucks County’s top courses, Doylestown Country Club, a William Flynn design, and Lookaway Golf Club, a Rees Jones design.
The GAP Adaptive Championship will have 60 players in the field from 20 states and five countries, including Argentina, Cameroon, Canada and Sweden, in addition to the United States, teeing it up in 13 disability classifications.
Sounds like another event for adaptive golfers to put on their schedules, in addition to the U.S. Adaptive Open, which this year was played at Sand Creek Station Golf Course in Newton, Kan.
“Players can expect a top-tier event that’s thoughtfully designed with their needs in mind,” Kittelson told the GAP website. “The GAP Adaptive Championship is behind held at two premier facilities chosen specifically to provide participants with an unforgettable experience.
“Our goal is to make this adaptive event stand out by offering a high level of competition in world-class settings. Adaptive athletes deserve access to high-level spaces where they can compete. This event not only highlights that golf is for everyone, but it also helps break barriers for individuals with disabilities who may have thought golf was not possible.”
Machi is proud to bring a big adaptive event to a Philadelphia area that has always gone above and beyond when it comes to supporting the game of golf.
“Our introduction of Adaptive Golf programming always had two paths: Our No Limit Clinic series to bring new people to the game and a GAP Adaptive Championship to offer the best players in the world a chance to come to the Philadelphia area and compete against each other,” Machi told the GAP website. “To have a full field of 60 golfers of this caliber validates what we’ve worked toward for nearly two years.
“I hope participants really get to experience the challenge of Philadelphia golf. With a historic course like Doylestown and a modern track like Lookaway, it’s the best of both worlds. Two sites that hosted the Philadelphia Open in the past five years will be a great challenge for the players. We hope that all participants will mark this event as a must-play for future years.”
I’ve had a chance to read some of the stories that have emerged out of the first three U.S. Adaptive Open. In so many cases, you pick up how truly inspired the writers who have covered the U.S. Adaptive Open have been by the players who overcome their disabilities to play golf at a very high level.
So, if you want to head over to Doylestown or Lookaway and watch some of these stars of adaptive golf do their thing, prepare to be inspired.
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