Essex Golf Center
August 2023
Essex Golf Center
When we say that our therapy is innovative and unique, we’re not exaggerating. What you’re looking at is not a Saturday morning tee time with some friends – this is a physical therapy session taking place at a local driving range. After an accident or traumatic brain injury, one of the most common remarks we hear from clients is how they miss the things they used to be able to do – the things they enjoyed that made them feel normal. Therefore, we’re always thinking of how to incorporate the activities the clients love with the therapies that they need.
The idea for bringing clients to the driving range came from two PT Assistants, Ken and Nate, who are both avid golfers; they have been incorporating putting greens into their PT sessions for a long time. But they weren’t satisfied with just a putting green. Luckily for everyone, the Essex Golf Center in Roseland, NJ is located about 5 minutes away from our Livingston Day Program facility.
When Ken and Nate first came up with the idea, they had two clients in mind who they knew would love to attend this monthly outing. Once the outing was planned and established, they added two more clients based on their interest level. For this kind of therapy outing taking place once a month, the same clients go every time in order to build comfort and to work on progression.
They call it golf because all the other four-letter words were taken.
Ray Floyd, PGA Hall of Fame
There’s no two ways about it – golf is hard! Forget about a client’s level of ability, golf is difficult for everyone. But the clients are always up for a challenge, and they approach each of those challenges with a positive attitude and a determined state of mind.
I’m getting better at golf now because I’m hitting fewer spectators.
Gerald Ford
Due to the varying level of abilities with each client, the physical therapists select a focus based on what they feel the client needs to prioritize to maximize carryover into their function. Another words, the PT goals for the golf outings work on therapies that supplement and enhance their regular PT sessions. Here are some of the golf outing therapy goals for the clients:
- Sean benefits as swinging a club encourages flexibility in his trunk, hip, and arm while challenging his standing balance.
- Danny benefits as golf provides an activity of interest while he works on increasing his standing endurance and overall endurance.
- Greg’s focus is standing balance, balance recovery when he loses his balance, and coordination.
- Willie uses golf to work on his standing endurance, posture, and standing balance.
The Essex Golf Center has been a pleasure to work with. Although they don’t normally take reservations, they have accommodated our clients by allowing us to call and reserve spots ahead of time; this ensures the clients practice under the covered areas, making their golf experience as safe and as pleasant as possible.
This is how Kina, the Assistant Director of the PT department, sums up the golf outings: “The clients really enjoy it! They have made progress with their golf skills and therapeutic skills, which both our staff and the clients themselves recognize. They take pride in the progress they’ve made. The therapists have noticed a great team environment, as the clients cheer and encourage each other after almost every shot. Dan, a client who was previously a golf caddy, gets involved with providing advice on the other clients’ techniques, which the others really appreciate. At the end of each visit, they all look forward to the next scheduled Golf Outing!“
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