Empowerment on the Green: Adults with Disabilities Foster Confidence and Passion at Tiburón

NAPLES, Fla. - June 26, 2024 - PRLog -- On Friday, June 28^th, participants from the Pathways to Opportunity program are taking their skills to the green at the Tiburón Golf Club in Naples for a Golf Skills Showcase offered by the I GOT THIS Foundation.  The Golf Skills Showcase is the highlight of the 5 day I GOT THIS Golf Camp, which will run at Tiburon Golf Club from June 24-28.

Pathways to Opportunity (PTO) is a life skills development program for individuals with intellectual and development disabilities, one of the programs offered by Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida (SWF).

Last December, several PTO participants attended a 2 hour I GOT THIS Discovery Golf Clinic held at Tiburón. The 5 day I GOT THIS Golf Camp is the Foundation's flagship golf instruction program and is the perfect opportunity for Athletes 13+ with intellectual disabilities to learn fun and useful golf skills, led by professional golf instructors.

"The Discovery Golf Clinic sparked an unexpected passion for golf among many of our participants, and ignited a desire to explore the sport further," explains Jessica Tursi, Goodwill SWFL's Director of Disability Services. "Inspired by their experience, they came together and birthed the Pathways Birdies, a newfound PTO golf club."

Together, the Pathways Birdies have created a social group forged by a love of the game of golf. Recognizing their dedication, Pathways to Opportunity was able to secure funding to purchase a putting green for practice sessions.

"With each putt, the Pathways Birdies are fostering camaraderie and a shared love for the game," states Tursi. "Thanks to the I GOT THIS Foundation's Discovery Golf Clinic, these once-strangers have become a tight-knit community, bonded by their passion to learn golf and the opportunities it brings."

The June I GOT THIS Golf Camp, which runs from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., is a continuation from December and will allow the participants who went previously to become leaders and help teach the golf skills they previously learned to other participants. It will also provide opportunity for staff to bring the PTO participants out into the community while sharing in the fun of golfing.

"The I GOT THIS Foundation is excited to be back at Tiburón and working with Pathways to Opportunity," offers I GOT THIS Foundation Executive Director, Tracy Hupko. "To see these Athletes continue their golf journey from a Discovery Golf Clinic to a week-long Golf Camp, demonstrates a need for these programs here and around the country."

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is committed to serving people with disabilities and disadvantages by offering life-changing opportunities to achieve independence. For more information on how Goodwill SWFL positively impacts the community, visit www.Goodwillswfl.org