Youth on Course lowers expensive barriers to the game of golf This article appeared in the November...
Sunshine Through Golf Camps help developmentally disabled
This article appeared in the November 2024 edition of Chicago District Golfer.
To read more Chicago District Golfer stories, head to our article archive.
David DeGuilio (dark CDGA hat) first met Cog Hill Golf & Country Club's Jeff Rimsnider (Callaway hat) through the first Sunshine Through Golf Camp held 25 years ago. David's father, Gus (green CDGA hat), says the program has been vital to David's quality of life.
Every time Gus DeGuilio brings up golf at home, his son David already is halfway out the door. “He’s loading up the trunk and ready to go,” Gus said. In that way, David is like most golfers who are obsessed with the sport. His 50th birthday is Nov. 26, and he’s played the game since he was a teenager.
“When he was younger, I took him to the range,” said Gus, who introduced David to golf. “I had to slow him down because he was so excited to hit balls. He absolutely loves the game.”
In other ways, David is different. He’s intellectually disabled (ID), a term used to describe a person with limitations in cognitive functioning, according to the Special Olympics. ID can contribute to a person developing and learning differently and at a slower pace. In every way, David represents the resounding success of the Chicago District Golf Association’s Sunshine Through Golf (STG) Camp Program. Created in 1999 by the CDGA Foundation in collaboration with Special Recreation Associations (SRA) and PGA professionals, STG just celebrated its 25th anniversary and has operated at nearly 100 courses while serving nearly 1,000 golfers annually.
“Our goal always has been to promote the game of golf and change lives,” said Robert Markionni, the CDGA’s executive director since 1996. “No matter what challenges a player faces, we believe we can help them.”
On an overcast, windy and unseasonably chilly fall afternoon in Lemont, David and his dad waited in the parking lot of Midwest Golf House, home of the CDGA, for David’s longtime teacher and former Cog Hill Golf & Country Club head pro Jeff Rimsnider to arrive. The threesome was there to showcase the Bob Berry Sunshine Course which features three holes – all par 3s – and is the exclusive home to the CDGA’s Sunshine Programs.
Playing with borrowed clubs, David warmed up on the putting green before heading out to the 140-yard first hole. Armed with a 6 iron, David hit a pin-seeking low draw that landed a few yards short of the green. He chipped up to a few feet and tapped in for par.
“Usually after a few minutes of instruction, David is good to go on his own,” Gus said. “We don’t have to tend to him too much.”
Rimsnider has taught David every year since the start of STG in 1999 and understands the sensitivity that comes with the task. Rimsnider’s oldest son is developmentally disabled.
“You have to be patient and caring,” he said. “There was nothing like [Sunshine] at the time. I had no experience with it. What I did was keep it simple and safe and made sure it was fun. It was all about being inclusive.”
Rimsnider can tell if David is engaged and enjoying the session. On the practice green at the Sunshine Course, with Rimsnider by his side and offering instruction and encouragement, David always paid attention.
“I can see in his eyes he wants to learn and wants to succeed,” said Rimsnider, who confirmed David never missed a class. “When he smiles, I know he got it.”
Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) afflict roughly 5% of the U.S. population and are most likely to result in a sedentary lifestyle, according to a consensus of studies. Special Olympics contends it’s essential for this group to be active because science shows exercise reduces health risks and improves quality of life.
Doug Brazeau, the head professional at Old Orchard Country Club in Mount Prospect, recently completed his 15th year working with Sunshine golfers. At first, he considered it a way to make himself a better teacher.
“I wanted to challenge myself,” Brazeau said. “I had to figure out a different way to communicate. Instead of speaking instructions, I had to be more visual about what I wanted them to do. It was cool.”
But Brazeau later learned golf is more than birdies and bogeys. The game provided both a productive and positive outlet.
“The activity is vital for their well-being,” he said. “Parents have told me if it wasn’t for this, they would be on the couch watching TV or playing video games. [STG] is something they look forward to.”
Sunshine Through Golf Camp instructors like Rimsnider (left) provide customized basic instruction and playing opportunities to disabled participants like DiGuilio (right).
STG offers customized programming to people with all types of IDD, including those with physical limitations, such as paralysis. In fact, STG is an extension of a CDGA initiative started during World War II, when the organization used golf as therapy for veterans returning home from overseas.
“The CDGA believed then there was value in offering this service,” Markionni said. “That’s true, and that’s why we’ve continued using the game and our resources to help people.”
On the walk from the first green to the second tee box at the Sunshine Course, Rimsnider stopped and shared a story about another golfer. Rimsnider pointed to the green and then to the tee box, which was no more than 15 yards away. When the boy first started in Sunshine Camps, he couldn’t hit the ball that far, Rimsnider said. A few years later, he made par on the first hole.
“That kid couldn’t hit the ball out of his shadow,” Rimsnider said. “That’s why I’m so proud of this program. It’s exposed people to golf who otherwise wouldn’t get access. Once you see someone hit that first good shot, it’s special.”
David isn’t as animated as some players. He takes the golf seriously. Maybe it’s his age or his time spent playing the game. At Midwest Golf House that day, David was dapperly dressed in a pressed shirt and shorts, white Nike golf shoes and a navy blue CDGA hat.
“David is funny and loves golf, but he’s the first to tell the others in class to be quiet and listen,” Rimsnider said, laughing.
Had STG never existed, Gus said David would be OK. David plays volleyball, basketball, softball, to name a few. When pressed, Gus admitted David and those like him are better off because of their golf experiences.
“There’s no question it’s been a success,” Gus said. “Most who come are not athletically inclined at all. They dribble the ball off the tee. You give them the basics and next thing you know the ball is flying off the grass, and you see a big smile on their face.” l
Matt Harness is a freelance writer who frequently writes on golf.
Therapeutic Sunshine Programs
CDGA Therapeutic Sunshine Programs utilize the restorative attributes of golf to profoundly impact the lives of those with intellectual disabilities. Examples of these programs include:
Sunshine Through Golf Camps:
As demonstrated in the adjacent feature story, the CDGA celebrated 25 years of its innovative Sunshine Through Golf Camp Program in 2024. Camps are a partnership between PGA Professionals, CDGA member clubs, Special Recreation Associations, Private Agencies or Park Districts and the CDGA. These camps featured nearly 1,000 participants in 2024.
RevelationGolf Clinics:
In conjunction with RevelationGolf, the CDGA administered 71 clinics for various veterans groups at numerous facilities throughout the Chicago District.
Bob Berry Sunshine Course Clinics:
The CDGA partnered with the I Got This Foundation (pictured) and Turning Pointe Autism Foundation to host golf clinics for individuals with disabilities on the Bob Berry Sunshine Course.
