BUTTON HOLE

REGARDLESS OF RACE AND ECONOMIC BACKGROUND, BUTTON HOLE STRIVES TO BREAK DOWN THE FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL BARRIERS TO THE GAME OF GOLF. WORKING WITH COMMUNITY LEADERS FROM VARIOUS YOUTH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES SUCH AS WEST END COMMUNITY CENTER; ALL ELEVEN BRANCHES OF THE PROVIDENCE RECREATION DEPARTMENT NEIGHBORHOOD CENTERS; SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL; ACHIEVEMENT FIRST ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL; PASA (PROVIDENCE AFTER SCHOOL ALLIANCE) - DEL SESTO MIDDLE SCHOOL; AND MANY OTHER LOCAL SCHOOLS AND GROUPS - BUTTON HOLE EXPANDED ITS PROGRAMS TO LOCAL MINORITY YOUTH. OVER 442 LOCAL KIDS FROM VARIOUS PROVIDENCE SCHOOLS AND AGENCIES PARTICIPATED IN THE MULTI-SESSION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. EQUIPMENT AND INSTRUCTION WERE PROVIDED AT NO CHARGE FOR THESE KIDS. ADDITIONALLY, ANOTHER 472 LOCAL RI KIDS PARTICIPATED IN THE MULTI-SESSION PROGRAMS AT A MINIMAL FEE OF $100 PER CHILD. PARENTS, TEACHERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY THE YOUTH REPORTED GREAT SATISFACTION WITH THE PROGRAM AND ENJOYED LEARNING GOLF, MANY FOR THE FIRST TIME. A JUNIOR GOLF LEAGUE WAS CONDUCTED EVERY MONDAY IN THE SUMMER IN WHICH 40 KIDS PARTICIPATED REGULARLY. SOME KIDS ENJOYED TRAVELING TO LOCAL COURSES TO PLAY AND EXPERIENCE A "BIG" COURSE. ADDITIONALLY, BUTTON HOLE HOSTED GOLF PROGRAMS FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS OF RHODE ISLAND THROUGHOUT THE SPRING AND SUMMER. VETERANS PARTICIPATED IN TWICE MONTHLY GOLF CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. A WOMEN'S LEAGUE HAD 60 PARTICIPANTS PLAYING EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGHOUT THE SEASON. BUTTON HOLE PARTNERED WITH "FULL SWING GOLF RHODE ISLAND" TO PROVIDE TWO GOLF CLINICS FOR 20 PHYSICALLY AND DEVELOPMENTALLY CHALLENGED CHILDREN. ADDITIONALLY, THE FACILITY HAS TWO "PARAMOBILE" GOLF CARTS WITH LIFT SEATS THAT FACILITATES PLAYERS WITHOUT USE OF LOWER EXTREMITIES TO PLAY THE COURSE OR USE THE DRIVING RANGE. THE COURSE AND RANGE ARE HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE. THE FACILITY'S DRIVING RANGE AND COURSE WERE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AND 2025 ACTIVITY WAS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN 25 YEARS OF OPERATION.