Access and Inclusion in Action!
Arc Herkimer and the MV Golf & Event Center
By Courtney Brown
Arc Herkimer, located in Upstate New York, is an agency that provides support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It also has the distinction of being one of the only human services organizations in the country to own and operate a golf course.
The MV Golf & Event Center is 161 acres of picturesque property that overlooks the scenic Mohawk Valley. On the course, guests can enjoy 18-holes of golf, on-site causal dining at the Tin Cup Tavern & Grille, and a spacious event tent for special occasions. Most significantly, the golf course is one of the agency’s social enterprises that engage people with disabilities in vocational, volunteerism, and athletic endeavors, as well as integrating with the community.
Among the typical golf equipment and accessories, the course also offers two SoloRider golf carts. SoloRider is a single specialized cart that is engineered for players with disabilities and ambulatory challenges to integrate seamlessly into the game of golf. Its custom design is rugged enough for the course terrain, while smooth enough to drive right onto the putting green, allowing players to shoot from any comfortable position, without ever leaving the cart.
On July 31, Arc Herkimer held its annual Golf Open fundraising event. On the 10th hole of the tournament, golfers were greeted by Arc Herkimer President/CEO, Kevin Crosley, who strapped players into the SoloRider for a unique golf experience.
More than half of the 140 golfers took their turn on the SoloRider, giving their best swing effort. Some struggled with the new challenge, while others found their most successful shot of the day to be from the comfort of the adaptive seat. Most importantly, it helped golfers of all ages and abilities to understand how a person with an ambulatory issue may play on the course, and was just another way that Arc Herkimer is helping to provide inclusivity in the local community.
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About the Author: Courtney Brown is the Public Relations Director for Arc Herkimer. As stated on https://archerkimer.org/about/, the Herkimer County Chapter of NYSARC, Inc. does business as Arc Herkimer, which was incorporated in 1969 in New York State as a private not-for-profit organization.
With seven diverse divisions and over forty different sites throughout Herkimer County, Arc Herkimer supports over six-hundred people with disabilities each year.
Through funding, grants, donations, fundraising events, and unique revenue opportunities, the agency is able to offer first-class services and a community-centered experience.