NAOAGA Programs
The North American One-Armed Golfer Association (NAOAGA) was created in October, 2000, to promote the game of golf among those that have an upper extremity disability for purposes of competition, recreation, physical and emotional rehabilitation, and to just provide an environment for physically-challenged individuals to unite, interact, socialize, compete and discuss pertinent issues associated with living with an upper extremity disability.
In accordance with eligibility standards to be considered a disabled athlete recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), NAOAGA will classify golfers with disabilities based upon the following definitions:
Unassisted – Getchell Division
The golfers in this division have impairments affecting at least one arm. For any stroke played during a round of golf: at the initiation of the stroke through striking of the ball, there can only be one intentional point of contact on the club and no intentional contact to the arm holding the club. Any intentional aid from an artificial appliance, prosthetic, anchoring the club or part of the impaired arm is not allowed as a second point of contact. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm. This category can also include someone who plays out of a mobility cart, uses a walker or cane to stabilize themselves with one arm and swings with the other.
Assisted – Fullgraf Division
The golfers in this division have impairments affecting at least one arm. For any stroke played during a round of golf: at the initiation of the stroke through striking of the ball, this class is allowed to have two points of intentional contact on the club or contact on the arm holding the club. Any intentional aid from an artificial appliance, prosthetic, anchoring the club or part of the impaired arm is allowed as a second point of contact. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm.
NAOAGA hosts an Annual Meeting & Championship for its membership each year at a different championship venue in North America. In its first 16 years of existence, events have been successfully staged from Las Vegas to Florida, New Mexico to Rhode Island, Chicago to Montreal, Kentucky to the Jersey Shore, & all the way to Prince Edward Island. This year's championship will head to northern Michigan at the beautiful Treetops Resort. NAOAGA hopes to add regional events in the future, and continue to introduce this wonderful game to one-armed golfers around the world.
The Fightmaster Cup, a trademarked international competition between the best players from NAOAGA and the United Kingdom's Society of One-Armed Golfers, in a Ryder Cup-style format, occurs every two years just before the Ryder Cup. The competition started in 2008 with the Americans winning the Cup and Europe capturing the Cup in subsequent years (2010, 2012, 2014 & 2016). The 2018 Fightmaster Cup is scheduled for Kent, England. The AM&Cs are the official qualifying events of the Fightmaster Cup.
The members of NAOAGA also strive to "give back" to the community whenever possible. The organization started a Junior Program in 2019 to grow the game of golf among youth in our community to introduce new players to the game. Adult players have supported clinics at each NAOAGA event and have included participants from Shriners and those from the PGA Hope program.
In accordance with eligibility standards to be considered a disabled athlete recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), NAOAGA will classify golfers with disabilities based upon the following definitions:
Unassisted – Getchell Division
The golfers in this division have impairments affecting at least one arm. For any stroke played during a round of golf: at the initiation of the stroke through striking of the ball, there can only be one intentional point of contact on the club and no intentional contact to the arm holding the club. Any intentional aid from an artificial appliance, prosthetic, anchoring the club or part of the impaired arm is not allowed as a second point of contact. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm. This category can also include someone who plays out of a mobility cart, uses a walker or cane to stabilize themselves with one arm and swings with the other.
Assisted – Fullgraf Division
The golfers in this division have impairments affecting at least one arm. For any stroke played during a round of golf: at the initiation of the stroke through striking of the ball, this class is allowed to have two points of intentional contact on the club or contact on the arm holding the club. Any intentional aid from an artificial appliance, prosthetic, anchoring the club or part of the impaired arm is allowed as a second point of contact. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm.
NAOAGA hosts an Annual Meeting & Championship for its membership each year at a different championship venue in North America. In its first 16 years of existence, events have been successfully staged from Las Vegas to Florida, New Mexico to Rhode Island, Chicago to Montreal, Kentucky to the Jersey Shore, & all the way to Prince Edward Island. This year's championship will head to northern Michigan at the beautiful Treetops Resort. NAOAGA hopes to add regional events in the future, and continue to introduce this wonderful game to one-armed golfers around the world.
The Fightmaster Cup, a trademarked international competition between the best players from NAOAGA and the United Kingdom's Society of One-Armed Golfers, in a Ryder Cup-style format, occurs every two years just before the Ryder Cup. The competition started in 2008 with the Americans winning the Cup and Europe capturing the Cup in subsequent years (2010, 2012, 2014 & 2016). The 2018 Fightmaster Cup is scheduled for Kent, England. The AM&Cs are the official qualifying events of the Fightmaster Cup.
The members of NAOAGA also strive to "give back" to the community whenever possible. The organization started a Junior Program in 2019 to grow the game of golf among youth in our community to introduce new players to the game. Adult players have supported clinics at each NAOAGA event and have included participants from Shriners and those from the PGA Hope program.