United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA)

What United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) does

United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit national coalition founded in 2014 and headquartered in Westmont, Illinois, that delivers adaptive golf programs to individuals with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities across the United States. The organization operates through a network of over 50 grassroots member organizations that provide adaptive golf instruction, on-course experiences, and competitive tournaments under the USAGA Rankings & Standards (USAGR) trademarked ranking system. USAGA organizes its work around three pillars — Teach (coach training, including SNAG clinics), Play (instructional clinics and on-course programs), and Compete (ranked tournaments) — and serves approximately 40,000 individuals annually, of whom 26% are combat-wounded veterans. The organization also runs the Women's Adaptive Golf Championship, an annual fundraising golf outing, a legacy giving program, and a newly launched online Pro Shop selling adaptive golf products.

USAGA generates revenue through four primary streams: tax-deductible individual donations, corporate sponsorships (notably Arcis Golf as a seven-year partner and Wintrust Bank as presenting sponsor of the annual golf outing), foundation grants (including Gatorade, DuPage Foundation, and Make Golf Your Thing), and nascent Pro Shop e-commerce sales. Programs are largely provided free of charge to participants; the only paid offering in the data is a $50 coach training workshop (waived if registered before October 1st). The organization holds no parent company or private equity ownership, is governed by a Board of Directors, and operates with 6 employees and a largely volunteer-driven coach network. Sub-brands include USAGR, the Women's Adaptive Golf Committee (WAGC), and the S.N.A.G. (Starting New At Golf) beginner program.

Strategically, USAGA is led by Executive Director Jonathan Snyder following the April 2025 passing of founder and chairman Edmund 'EQ' Sylvester. The organization's go-to-market motion is community-led, leveraging member organizations for direct program delivery while pursuing earned media coverage, blog content, social media engagement, and sponsorship co-marketing to amplify reach. Notable industry partnerships include PGA, PGA Tour, Challenged Athletes Foundation, Chicago District Golf Association, Shriners Children's Hospital (since 2018), and Topgolf Callaway Brands. International expansion is evidenced by member organizations in Japan (Japan Disabled Golf Association) and Argentina (Asociación Argentina de Golf).

Name

United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA)

Legal name

United States Adaptive Golf Alliance

Website

https://usaga.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit national coalition founded in 2014 that delivers adaptive golf instruction, coach training, and ranked tournaments to approximately 40,000 individuals with disabilities annually across all 50 states through a network of 50+ grassroots member organizations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Adaptive Sports Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH), Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL)

Keywords

• Adaptive golf programs
• Disability sports inclusion
• Golf coach training
• Adaptive athletics coalition
• Nonprofit golf services

Headquarters

HQ city

Westmont

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting adaptive golf accessibility. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support, golf course access, and program support. Major sponsors include Arcis Golf, Wintrust Bank, and others.
3. Grants: Foundation grants supporting adaptive golf programs. Examples include $15,000 Gatorade Equity in Sports Community Grant and $5,000 DuPage Foundation Community Impact Grant.
4. Pro Shop Sales: Online Pro Shop selling adaptive golf products. Proceeds support adaptive golfers across the United States.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

USAGA delivers adaptive golf instruction, coach training, clinics, and competitive tournaments to individuals with disabilities through a national coalition of over 50 member organizations. The organization operates on a three-pillar model (Teach, Play, Compete), providing S.N.A.G. beginner clinics at schools, driving range programs, on-course experiences, and ranked tournaments under the USAGR standards. Most programs and lessons are provided at no charge to participants, supported by donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

USAGA operates as a non-profit coalition providing a unified portfolio of adaptive golf programs centered on three pillars: Teach (adaptive golf coach training), Play (clinics and on-course experiences), and Compete (tournaments under USAGR rankings). The organization offers adaptive golf clinics and instruction, competitive tournament events, coach certification programs, the USAGR national ranking system, the Women's Adaptive Golf Championship, annual fundraising golf outings, an online pro shop for adaptive golf equipment, and a legacy giving program. These services are delivered through a network of over 50 member organizations across the United States serving individuals with all types of disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• USAGR (U.S. Adaptive Golf Rankings): USAGA Rankings & Standards system that tracks and ranks adaptive golfers and organizes tournaments under consistent standards.
• Women's Adaptive Golf Committee (WAGC)
• S.N.A.G. (Starting New At Golf)

Products and services

• Adaptive Golf Clinics

Quantifiable outcome

• 40,000 individuals receive adaptive golf services annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Arcis GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond largest owner and operator of private, resort and daily fee clubs in the US. Continuing financial, golf course access and program support for the seventh consecutive year. Makes golf accessible to diverse audiences as a core tenet.
• PGA (Professional Golfers' Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor supporting adaptive golf initiatives and promoting inclusion in golf.
• PGA TourcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial sponsor supporting adaptive golf and promoting the sport to broader audiences.
• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-time partner hosting joint adaptive golf clinics at locations including The Olympic Club and Metropolitan Golf Links in Northern California. CAF provides grants to individual adaptive athletes.
• Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for hosting coaches workshops and conducting tournaments including Chicago Adaptive Open. CDGA Foundation provides grant support.
• Kids Golf FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupports SNAG (Starting New At Golf) clinics and youth adaptive golf programs.
• Topgolf Callaway BrandsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting adaptive golf initiatives and programs.
• Club ChampionminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting adaptive golf programs.
• Golf GalaxyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor supporting adaptive golf initiatives.
• Shriners Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership since 2018 for adaptive golf clinics at Shriners Children's Open (PGA Tour event in Las Vegas).
• National Alliance for Accessible GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance member working to increase participation of people with disabilities in golf. USAGA involved with GAIN network.
• North American One-Armed Golfers Association (NAOAGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember organization providing tournaments and support for one-armed golfers. Participated in Cairns Cup.
• Japan Disabled Golf AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational member organization promoting adaptive golf in Japan. Their Japan Open Golf Championship is included in USAGA rankings.
• Asociación Argentina de GolfcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational member organization bringing adaptive golf opportunities to Argentina.
• The Olympic ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for adaptive golf clinics with CAF in Northern California.
• Cog Hill Golf and Country ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for annual golf outing and coaches workshops. Located in Lemont, IL.
• Fox Bend Golf ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue for 13th Annual USAGA Golf Outing (June 2026) and Chicago Adaptive Open.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Japan Disabled Golf Association: International USAGA member organization promoting adaptive golf in Japan; their Japan Open is included in USAGA's USAGR rankings, demonstrating comparable mission executed in a different geography.

Direct peers

• Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF): Long-time USAGA partner that hosts joint adaptive golf clinics; both organizations fund and deliver adaptive sports opportunities, with CAF operating more as a grantmaker to individual athletes and USAGA as a coalition organizer.
• EDGA (European Disabled Golf Association): European counterpart that develops adaptive golf rankings, tournaments, and coaching standards — directly comparable to USAGA's USAGR rankings and tournament pathway mission, though operating transatlantically.
• National Alliance for Accessible Golf: USAGA's GAIN network alliance partner; both organizations work to expand golf participation among people with disabilities through programming, advocacy, and instructor training, serving overlapping beneficiary populations.
• North American One-Armed Golfers Association (NAOAGA): USAGA member organization running adaptive golf tournaments and support for one-armed golfers, including the Cairns Cup; operates a comparable competitive pathway for a specific disability segment.

Emerging players

• Adaptive Sports Center (Crested Butte, CO): Adaptive sports nonprofit delivering outdoor recreational programming including adaptive golf to individuals with disabilities; comparable beneficiary base and nonprofit funding model, though broader than golf.

Broad incumbents

• PGA REACH: The PGA of America's charitable foundation focused on growing access to golf, including adaptive golf; as a PGA official sponsor, USAGA both partners with and competes for visibility with PGA REACH on adaptive-golf programming.
• Special Olympics: The largest global disability sports organization; USAGA sits within the same adaptive sports ecosystem and competes for similar donor and corporate partner attention, though Special Olympics spans many sports while USAGA focuses on golf.
• Move United (formerly Disabled Sports USA): National umbrella for community-based adaptive sports organizations; USAGA's coalition of grassroots member orgs mirrors Move United's chapter-based delivery model for disability sports programming.
• National Wheelchair Basketball Association: National governing body for an adaptive sport, structurally analogous to USAGA's role as a coalition-based governing body for adaptive golf with ranked competitive pathways.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-states-adaptive-golf-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA)