Massachusetts Para-Golfers Assoc. Expenses

Stephen Kuketz is organizing this fundraiser to benefit Massachusetts Para-Golfers Association, Inc..

Tax deductible

The Massachusetts Para-Golfers Association, Inc. ("MPGA") is a sect. 501(c)(3) which promotes adaptive golf for players with a broad spectrum of impairments - whether vision, hearing, arm or leg amputee, mobility loss, t.b.i, autism, wounded veteran, paraplegic or other.

Join us in making a difference! We're raising money to get impaired golfers back on the course, from tee to green. Donations will allow us to purchase adaptive golf carts & accessories (and cover associated expenses) which enable the disabled to swing clubs from a standing position, and enjoy an embarrassment free, enjoyable round of recreational or competitive golf.

“It’s like a power wheelchair,” explains Steve Kuketz on the fairly new innovations to the golf course scene. “It has all terrain tires. When you get to your ball, you push a lever and it stands you up so you can swing a full-length golf club at a normal stance or angle or approach to the ball.”

About the goal amount:

$50,000 of MPGA annual expenses will help us achieve our 2022 Goals:

$42,000* to purchase 3 used carts and repair them
$8,000 costs associated with accessories like clubs, maintenance, transportation and trailering, demonstrations, learning materials, course fees and other Foundation overhead like running the MPGA Adaptive Golf Academy which teaches adaptive athletes how to golf based on the uniquer demands of adaptive equipment and course etiquette.

* if someone were to privately purchase their own cart, it would cost $32,000.

Steve's Story:

In 1991, Steve was injured left eye blind and became a paraplegic. He tried to golf but quickly realized a seated manual wheelchair position was unsuitable to hand-propel him through the course, let alone permit him to strike the ball consistently with accuracy. It was ergonomically impossible!

January, 2016, after a 25 year hiatus, he moved to the Boston Harbor area and joined the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, Ma. Within a few days into membership physical therapist (Ali M), a Partnership Program leader, mentioned to him about the innovative Paramobile Golf Cart, the indoor winter golf clinic presented adaptive golf PGA Professional Rick Johnson. After they talked briefly about how to stand-up into position to play a one-handed take-away to strike the ball, now, he is playing golf!

August 1, 2016, day 3 back on the course, as a one-armed golf swing, left eye blind, paraplegic - he aced hole 5, 151 yards at the Leo J. Martin Memorial Golf Course in Weston, MA. This is a World's First!

After that, Steve has dedicated his life to getting the disabled back on the course. The MPGA was formed in 2017.

Learn more about the MPGA here.

Testimonials:

"I had a skiing accident in 2020 that left me paralyzed from my chest down. While I loved to ski my true passion was golf. While in the hospital, a friend showed me a video of a para golf cart. I was very excited to think I might be able to play golf again. Over the next few months, I researched the para golf cart, where they were made and how I might purchase one. This research led me eventually to MPGA and Steve Kuketz. I was then able to meet up with Steve at Pongapaug Golf Course for my first lesson. I was very surprised when Steve asked me whether I was going to be a one arm or two arm golfer! I thought it was a strange question seeing that I had two arms. I soon realized that after a few attempts with 2 arms I was destined to be a one armed golfer. I now use my para golf cart at Plymouth Country Club. I have finally received a handicap and hope to play with Steve in some the adaptive golf tournaments he helps organize next summer."

- Barry B.

"Being able to get back on the course with my dad has been a big win in the midst of recovery from his accident. It's given us back a sport we love to do together, and given him a chance to get outside with friends again - at a time when it has mattered more than ever before"

- Alex B.

"As a person with hearing loss who requires the use of hearing aids, I have experienced tremendous difficulty in communicating with people in situations in which masks are required to keep us safe from the COVID virus. Masks are a barrier to my ability to communicate because I rely on reading lips as part of my method of communication. During this challenging time, I thought about my “bucket list” of things I would like to do and learning how to play golf has been on the forefront. To make me more comfortable, I pursued an instructor who works with people with disabilities. As luck would have it, I discovered Steve Kuketz, instructor, and president of MPGA in my Google search. He has been incredibly empathetic and sensitive to my hearing needs as I learn the game of golf. An important adaptive technology that supports my ability to communicate on the golf course is a small microphone that Steve wears on his shirt collar which has Bluetooth capability and sends his speech directly to my hearing aids. My journey in finding Steve as an instructor has made a profound difference in not only learning how to play golf, but also connecting with him and others who share a commonality of having a disability and connecting with one another as friends. "

- Anthony C.