More than 100 golf enthusiasts, including participants in Toledo's Project Gain, took part in a PGA Play Golf America Day, May 31, at Maumee Sports Mall in Toledo, Ohio. PGA Distinguished Service Award winner Dennis Walters of Jupiter, Fla., one of golf's most popular and best traveled trick shot entertainers, performed for the crowd.

Launched in 2004, Project Gain is a national research and development project funded by the United States Golf Association Foundation, the PGA Foundation, and the PGA Tour. The project is designed to be a comprehensive community based program, using golf as the primary medium, to maximize opportunities for inclusion into the fabric of the local community by people with disabilities.

"It was tremendous to have Dennis Walters present his program and exhibit how you can take your expectations past what has been previously believed," said Ability Center for Greater Toledo Public Relations Manager Dan Wilkins. "The audience was impressed by him, and boy, can he drive a golf ball!

"The expectations that exist in society about the disabled are a paradigm of low expectations. Adults who have been told that over and over are now finding that they don't have to buy that. Someone like Dennis is affirmation that you can go forward and achieve great things."

Each golfer in the program, with access to single-rider golf carts, had a PGA Professional mentor assisting throughout the day.

"I was impressed the by the number of families that participated in our Play Golf America Day this year," said Nick Myers, president of the Northern Ohio PGA Toledo Chapter. "This was the second year that our Chapter has been host and the enthusiasm was great. We have definitely reached a younger crowd. We had an age range from 3 to 70 years old."

Northern Ohio PGA Executive Director Dominic Antenucci said that the Section was "proud" to have Walters, a paraplegic since a 1974 accident, present his program.

"The Dennis Walters inspirational golf show and motivational clinic was a hit at the Toledo Chapter PGA Play Golf America Day," said Antenucci. "Dennis not only hit wonderful golf shots over and over again for the golf fans, but his words of inspiration for all his fans were rewarding and memorable. Dennis never stopped promoting his fellow PGA Professionals, the host facility and the game he loves. We are fortunate to have a representative like Dennis Walters promoting the game of golf and The PGA of America."

Wilkins said that the Ability Center for Greater Toledo's golf program is in its early stages. He anticipates that with such support as through Play Golf America and with the coordination of Jenny Buttler, the Center's Project Gain manager, it will continue to grow.

"Jenny's enthusiasm is what is driving us to greater heights," said Wilkins. "She has done a great job of connecting and bringing in people to get out and discover golf."

The Ability Center of Greater Toledo touches thousands of disabled individuals in seven surrounding Ohio counties and has advocacy groups represented at the state and national levels.

Begun in 2004, Play Golf America is an industry-wide national marketing campaign developed and led by The PGA of America to increase participation among new and existing golfers and to grow the number of people who play the game. For more information about Play Golf America, visit www.PlayGolfAmerica.com.

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.