More than 100 community members gathered at the USGA Golf Experience & World Golf Hall of Fame on March 19 to tee up Engaged Golf, a program designed to help neighbors living with dementia, their care partners, and families stay active in their favorite pastime. Attendees heard speakers, received a tour and access to the facility, and learned of intentions for group golfing outings, including monthly putting socials.
Engaged Golf, an impact project of The Engaged Brains Project, is led by dementia champions Sue Wright, Lorelei Milan, Laurie Fabian and Lori Lee, and a committee dedicated to keeping neighbors on the course, despite the challenges brain changes may bring.
“We were thrilled with the success of the event and to provide an opportunity for individuals living with brain change and their care partners to come together and learn how they can rejoin the game they love through Engaged Golf,” Wright said.
Wright and her fellow dementia champions joined The Engaged Brains Project last year. The project is a yearlong dementia care initiative led by board-certified neuropsychologist Karen D. Sullivan and the philanthropy of the Reid Fellowship for Healthcare Transformation of The Foundation of FirstHealth.
“The Foundation of FirstHealth is proud to support The Engaged Brains Project and innovative programs like Engaged Golf, which exemplify our mission of transforming health care through philanthropy,” said Dana Casson, president of The Foundation of FirstHealth. “This initiative is a powerful reminder that health care extends beyond hospital walls. Through Engaged Golf, we’re ensuring that our neighbors living with brain change can continue to experience the joy, connection and sense of identity that golf brings. We’re honored to stand alongside Dr. Sullivan and the many dedicated individuals who are making this vision a reality.”
Sullivan added, “We were honored to be at the USGA Experience & World Golf Hall of Fame in the hallowed halls that celebrate the legacies of golf’s greatest players, innovators and teachers, to kick off our Engaged Golf initiative. Our four Engaged Brains Champions behind this program and a host of other community residents have put so much time, heart and thoughtfulness into this program.
“Golf is so much more than a sport,” Sullivan explained. “It’s a powerful form of therapy for the brain, a balm for the human spirit and a connector of communities, particularly here in Moore County. Golf also enriches emotional well-being in ways we may not always appreciate, especially when our brain is functioning at its best. Golf’s greatest impact on our health may lie in the profound sense of belonging it fosters. People don’t just golf, they are golfers. When we play golf, we become part of something: a club, a tradition, a team. Belonging is at the heart of golf, and it is this type of social connection that is one the strongest predictors of well-being, especially in older adulthood.”
Using a positive, person-centered approach to dementia care is the project’s goal as well as raising awareness and encouraging engagement in activities like golf to promote better quality of life for those living with dementia or brain change in Moore County.
“With advances in modern medicine and a world-class healthcare system in FirstHealth right in our back yard, we are living longer, healthier lives,” Sullivan said. “This progress calls for us to adapt our beloved pastimes to accommodate the changes that come with aging, including age-related health issues like brain change and dementia.
“On behalf of The Foundation of FirstHealth, we are sincerely grateful to Dr. Sullivan for her leadership in this critical work and engaging our community in support of care partners and those experiencing brain change” said Karen Fitch, foundation chair. “The extraordinary team of Sue, Lorelei, Laurie and Lori, who stepped up to be champions in The Engaged Brains Project and created Engaged Golf as their impact project, is a true testament to the core purpose of FirstHeath, ‘To Care For People.’”
Engaged Golf aims to provide its participants with mental stimulation, social interaction and physical activity. The group is set to host monthly putting socials that begin Monday, April 7 from 10-11 a.m. at Wee Pines Mini Golf, a community partner of the project. Subsequent dates are May 5, June 2, July 7, Aug. 4, Sept. 8, Oct. 6, Nov. 3 and Dec. 1
“We would like to invite any of neighbors living with dementia or brain change who would like to participate in the putting socials with us at Wee Pines for a fun, inclusive and engaging experience,” Wright said. “These putting socials are the perfect opportunity to connect, share smiles and reignite your love for golf, so whether you’re a seasoned golfer or just looking to enjoy a welcoming social activity, we’d love to see you there.”
The group also intends to extend golf playing opportunities, such as a par 3 course, later this year.
“A Pinehurst-based dementia-friendly golf program honors the very essence of why so many chose Moore County as their home—a place so unique and inviting that it often feels like love at first sight,” Sullivan said. “Imagine spending a lifetime building a career, dreaming of retiring here, only to see the game you cherish—and the benefits it brings—fade away. We refuse to let that happen, because it doesn’t have to be that way. There are many things that our neighbors lose as they face the challenges of dementia, but community and connection does not need to be one of them. This is what we stand for in The Engaged Brains Project.”
Recent studies have shown how participation in adaptive sports leads to enhanced social skills and a stronger sense of belonging, which is what both Engaged Golf and The Engaged Brains Project hope to accomplish at a local level.
“We’ve made thoughtful accommodations for those with mobility, vision, and hearing challenges—and now, it’s time to extend those same rights to our neighbors experiencing brain change,” Sullivan said. “Engaged Golf will offer tailored adaptations, supported by trained volunteers. What we launched with Engaged Golf isn’t just a new program—it’s a groundbreaking chapter in Pinehurst’s legacy, and we’re so grateful to The Foundation of FirstHealth for its invaluable support of The Engaged Brains Project.”
Registration is not required but encouraged for the April 7 and upcoming monthly putting socials for golfers living with brain change and their care partners. For more information on Engaged Golf’s upcoming putting socials and events, email [email protected].
Feature photo: Sue Wright, left, Lorelei Milan, Karen Sullivan, Laurie Fabian and Lori Lee organized the first event for Engaged Golf at the USGA Experience & World Golf Hall of Fame in Pinehurst in March.
Contributed article and photo.
