Larry Celano

Board Member

My name is Larry Celano from Chandler, Arizona I have a spinal cord injury from gunshots wounds suffered during the US Invasion of Panama back in December 1989, with the 82nd Airborne Division. I play golf from a Solorider Golf Cart because of my injuries that require the use of a wheelchair.

I started playing adaptive golf in 2001 at the age of 32 and in 2019, I played in my first adaptive golf tournament, At the USDGA Disabled Open in Virginia placing second in the seated division. Over the next 3 years I have played in over 10 adaptive tournaments winning 4. Competing in adaptive golf tournaments has giving me the competitive spirt to work hard to get better at not only golf but in life.

And the best part is I now have a big new family that is growing each and every year.

Justin Miller

Board Member

I started golfing when I was 11 years old in a very small town in northern Arizona, Concho. We were not big enough for a high school or a grocery store, but Concho had an 18 hole championship golf course. It was my first job, my place to escape, and I became good very early. I was 16 years old and on the high school golf team in our neighboring town St. Johns when our car flipped on an ice patch on the road on the way into school. I was paralyzed from the waist down with a break at L1. Total loss of feeling or movement in my legs and hips. I was devastated because I thought my golf dream was over.

When I returned home from the hospital, through car washes and spaghetti dinners, my community raised enough money to buy me a SoloRider golf cart, and I was able to continue the game I love so much.

In 2018 I played in my first disabled golfers competition at the US Disabled Open in Orlando, FL. Since then I have competed in nearly 20 events, played on the Disabled Ryder Cup (the Phoenix Cup) representing seated golfers on Team USA, played in international invitationals, and have become a world ranked player.

I live in Gilbert, Arizona with my wife Brittany and son and caddie Xavier.

Ben Brown

Board Member

2023 marks my third full season playing since being paralyzed 20 years ago, where I wish I would have known about the possibilities and opportunities to play golf much sooner. I wouldn't go as far as to say that golf saved my life, but it has greatly enhanced the quality of it. I truly believe other "adaptive" golfers would say the same thing. This sport is a fulfilling activity - physically, emotionally, and socially.

Before playing golf I had a few friends, now I have more friends than I know what to do with. I've played 24 different courses across 8 states in just 3 short years. I love to travel and play. Having started to play in a few tournaments has allowed me to connect with the adaptive golf community and expand my network, realizing the potential and discovering an entire world of golf I didn't know existed. The possibilities and opportunities for a disabled person to play golf are endless.

I look forward to working with the USSGA in growing the game and helping build opportunities for seated golfers, both current players as well as outreach to others who would benefit from the game.