Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, Grand Blanc, MI — August 18, 2025
It’s Ally Challenge week at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Monday’s at a professional golf tournament are usually slow days, unless a playoff is carried over from the weekend. At the Ally Challenge presented by McLaren, Monday is one of the highlights of the week. Presenting sponsor McLaren Health Care holds its annual Adaptive Golf Clinic on the first day of tournament week, and it is one of our favorite events to cover.
Together with McLaren Health Care and the McLaren Flint Foundation, the tournament has once again teamed up with the U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) to put on a clinic featuring trained adaptive golf coaches providing instruction to a group of 40-plus adaptive golfers using a wide array of adaptive golf equipment. Attendees will range in age and are recruited from McLaren Health Care’s patient base as well as through USAGA, organizations such as Rehab Without Walls, and word-of-mouth. The Clinic features an atmosphere of camaraderie and support in underscoring this growing initiative in adaptive sports.
Adaptive golf is a rising movement in the sport to continue to grow the game and provide people with physical disabilities the tools and training to enjoy the game.
This year’s coaching staff included:
BRIAN BEMIS: From the management team at the Country Club of Lansing, a two-time Michigan Adaptive Golf Championship winner
BRYAN BIAGIOLI: Executive Director of The Michigan Amputee Golf Association
BRANDON CANESI: Founder of Hole High and the No. 1 G6 adaptive golfer in the world (USAGR)
KEVIN HOLLAND: Proud member of the North American One-Armed Golfer Association
RYANNE JACKSON: 2024 USDGA Golf Championship winner (Women’s Category)
RYAN LUKKARI: Works at Shenandoah Country Club, and proud member of the North American One-Armed Golfer Association
EVAN MATHIAS: Golf professional at Golf Galaxy in Indiana and winner of his division in the inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open
RYAN MATTHEWS: Golf professional at Correct2Compete in Indiana
JIMMY MOCERI: No. 1 G9 adaptive golfer in the world (USAGR)
KIM MOORE: Two-time and reigning champion of the Women’s U.S. Adaptive Open
TRACY RAMIN: U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) Chairman of Competition and one of the leading adaptive golf professionals in the U.S.
RICKY REILLY: No. 3 G14 adaptive golfer in the world (USAGR) and member of the 2025 Phoenix Cup for Team USA
JONATHAN SNYDER: U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) Executive Director and 2021 & 2022 North American one-arm National Champion
BRANDON WORLEY: Executive Director and Founder of Carolina Adaptive Golf
Adaptive Golf Coaches Talk Openly About Their Disabilities
One of the great things that individuals with disabilities learn at the clinic it that they can enjoy the game of golf despite their perceptions of limitations the sport imposes. Every coach at the clinic talks openly about their personal stories and their transition into adaptive golf whether it be from a condition they were born with or a life event that presented them with the opportunity.
Tracy Ramin, who helped organize and introduce the participants on the driving range at Warwick Hills, shared his amazing experience with us two years ago. You can read the story by clicking on this link.
At this year’s event we spoke with several coaches who volunteered their time to participate.
BRIAN BEMIS uses crutches to navigate his way around the golf course. Brian lost a portion of his right leg to cancer at a young age, two more surgeries took away the remainder of the limb leaving him without a means of attaching an artificial leg. As a youngster he played sports and displayed good athleticism. But had no interest in golf. Until, after his final operation his dad gave him a bucket of balls and a golf club and suggested he try it. Brian had fun and soon his competitive nature took over and he began to work on his game. It is quite something to witness Brian hit a golf ball standing on one leg, taking a full backswing and then a follow through hop to maintain his balance. As noted above, he is a two-time Michigan Adaptive Golf Championship winner.
Brian Bemis / Lasco Press Photo
RICKY REILLY, to put it politely is vertically challenged. We asked Ricky if it is hard to find quality golf clubs for individuals of short stature. He said he used to buy regular clubs and cut the shafts down to fit his height. However, thanks to the growth of adaptive golf one manufacturer has jumped into the market. PING Golf works with adaptive players to provide them with top quality equipment. According to Ricky, ping manufactures clubs specific to the measurements of the player. They don’t just shorten the shaft of the club they cut the length on the top and bottom so the shaft retains it’s proper flex point and impact response. When Ricky began using the PING designed clubs the difference was remarkable and a definite improvement to his game.
Ricky Reilly / Lasco Press Photo
JIMMY MOCERI plays golf in a wheelchair. How is that possible, you say? Manufacturers are noting the growth of adaptive golf and jumping into the market to assist individuals that cannot stand on their own. Jimmy was on hand to show clinic attendees that paralysis is not an excuse to give up on playing golf. Jimmy is from Rochester Hills, he told us he golfs frequently and has played at 50 area courses. Only once was there an objection to the motorized cart.
Jimmy Moceri demonstrates his adaptive golf cart that elevates him to a standing position when addressing the golf ball. / Lasco Press Photo
U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance
The U.S. Adaptive Golf Alliance website is a valuable asset to those individuals who want to learn more about adaptive golf. A disability, injury, health issue or birth condition is no reason to not enjoy the game that is universal and lifelong with the right equipment and encouragement. Get out on the course and have fun.
For more pictures of the McLaren Adaptive Golf Clinic visit the Author’s Facebook Page.
