HERO Golf Therapy Program

In 2021, the Lowcountry chapter of the Stand Up and Play Foundation developed a groundbreaking Golf Therapy program designed to help Emergency Responders who have suffered injuries, illnesses, or challenges whether they occurred in the line of duty or after serving and protecting. The dependents of emergency responders are also encouraged to attend. We believe that a program like this has been needed for many years.

The program was co-founded by a medically-retired firefighter by the name of Josh Swindle who was paralyzed in the line of duty that knows first-hand the challenges that many emergency responders face. He is now a Man on a Mission to help his fellow emergency responders.

The other co-founder of the program is Rich O’Brien whose life was saved by City of Charleston firefighter Paul Tumminia who revived him three times after he suffered catastrophic injuries in a golf cart accident that included a broken neck, broken back, four skull fractures, and brain damage in every lobe of his brain. On that day, Paul fought hard to keep Rich alive against all odds. During his long road to recovery, Rich endured 12,000 hours of physical therapy and has pioneered the use of golf as therapy for the recovery from injuries, illnesses, or challenges. The HERO Program is his way of returning the favor to emergency responders for saving his life.

The program is FREE to Emergency Responders and their families as a thank you for serving and protecting our community. Emergency Responders with no previous golf experience are welcome. Golf equipment is provided if needed for the clinics.

The HERO Golf Therapy Program has quickly become very popular with the emergency responders and their families. We also invited members of the community that have mobility challenges, traumatic brain injuries, amputated limbs, birth defects, or other injuries, illnesses, or challenges and would benefit from Golf Therapy. Of special note, many of these individuals lives were saved by emergency responders. The clinics now regularly attract 50-60 participants making it one of the largest adaptive golf programs.

Clinics are held from 0900-1100 on the 2nd Saturday of each month at The Golf Club at Wescott Plantation in Summerville, SC.