Special Olympics Forsyth athletes are able to compete in the following two Special Olympics golf levels:

Level 1 – Individual Skills Competition

1. Players get 5 attempts to compete in the following: short putt, long putt, chip shot, pitch shot, iron shot, wood shot
2. There is a point scoring system applied to each event from which the athlete is scored.

Level 2 – Unified Sports Alternate Shot Team Competition (9 Hole)

1. Players play 9 holes of alternate shot golf with a Unified Partner.  Our Polo Special Olympics program has enlisted highly skilled high school golfers to be the Unified Partner.
2. There is a (2) person team, a Special Olympics athlete and a Unified Partner play alternately from the teeing grounds and then alternate strokes on each hole until the ball is holed.
3. If the athlete hits tees shot on odd holes then Unified Partner hits tee shots on alternate holes.
4. The concept is that a skilled unified partner can help coach during play and help insure that the team is able to play the course more effectively than the SO athlete might do alone.

Practice starts in early August through the end of September – on Wednesday evening @ Polo Golf & Country Club.

Skills players rotate between three practice areas for the corresponding skills; Putting Green, Chipping / Pitching Green, Range.

Most practice evenings, the 9 Hole alternate shot players pair up with their Unified partners and go out on the course to play a few holes.

While there are no predefined required skills or ability for a Special Olympics Athlete to participate, an athlete must have the ability to take simple instructions and work with our coaches to participate safely. We want everyone to have fun and the opportunity to play golf, or at least give it a try, safely.

Polo Golf and Country Club has supported Special Olympics Forsyth Golf Program for the past 10 years.  The Polo G & CC members and friends, work with these athletes typically 1 to 1 coaching.  Without the support of Polo G & CC, we would not be able to offer our Golf Program to 15-18 athletes each year.