WAGA News
My name is Rob Walden, and I am 53 years old. I grew up in a small copper mining town in rural Arizona named San Manuel. Three weeks after my 18th birthday, I enlisted in United States Air Force. In 1997 I married my beautiful bride Julie, we have one son, Jake, who is 20 years old and is an accomplished golfer in his own right and who is also pursuing a career in professional golf. My grandfather introduced me to the game of golf when I was about 11 years old and have been playing it ever since.
In 2016, I unfortunately had an accident at home with one of my ½ scale model airplanes where I lost most of my fingers on my right hand from the airplane propellor. I not only had to re-learn how to do my day-to-day activities but also how to play golf again with half of my hand missing. I enjoy volunteering my time to promote golf, a couple being the First Tee Phoenix as a youth volunteer golf coach and Special Olympics of Arizona. Watching a kid hit their first good golf shot or seeing how happy the players are within the Special Olympics is incredibly special and truly inspiring. My goal is to bring awareness and inclusiveness in golf for people with all abilities. I love the game of golf and all the challenges it brings and hope to be an inspiration to those around me regardless of handicap or disability by being an example of perseverance and with a good attitude anything is possible regardless of what life throws at you.
I am currently ranked 3rd in the USAGA rankings for US Adaptive Golfers and Top 50 in the world by WR4GD rankings.
Dedicated and Motivated describes our next Western Region representative to the 2025 USGA Adaptive Open Championship, and the 2024 NAGA womens overall National Champion, Chris Oviatt from Oregon.
"Hi my name is Chris Oviatt. I've been an avid competitive golfer over 32 years. I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth disease in 1987. This disease causes both feet to drop as the nerves below the knee do not communicate with the muscles. My hands are also impacted and mostly in both thumbs. I don't play in the cold as my hands just won't work. My mobility has decreased over the past 5 years but luckily I'm pain free. Just need my braces and a cane to get around the course.
I've won about 20 club championships over the years and just won the Arrowhead Ladies invitational with 108 ladies with a 77. I beat my great friend and my Adaptive caddie by 1. I love the game of golf and will always be positive and supportive towards others on and off the course. My favorite is Play well and have fun. I look forward to what the next few years have in store for me. I'm excited to play in the USGA Adaptive Championship in July."
Bailey Bish, from Tucson, Arizona, has made her mark on adaptive golf through resilience and determination. After developing Dystonia in 2014 and POTS in 2016, she was forced to give up basketball. Refusing to give up on sports, she picked up golf and it became her new passion.
Bailey discovered adaptive golf through the University of Arizona’s Adaptive Golf program and dedicated herself to the sport. Through years of hard work, physical therapy, and Botox injections, she progressed to competing in 54-hole events. Her breakthrough came in 2023 when she won the PING U.S. Disabled Open Presented by the PGA of America. In recognition of her win PING presented her with a golden putter, becoming the first adaptive golfer to receive the honor.
She went on to claim titles at the Inaugural Florida Adaptive Open and Texas Adaptive Championship. In 2024 Bailey won the U.S. Adaptive Open, setting the women’s single day scoring record with a 3-under 69. She closed out the year by successfully defending her Texas Adaptive Championship title and kicked off 2025 with another win at the Inaugural SCGA Adaptive Championship.
Bailey is passionate about growing adaptive golf and hopes to inspire others facing adversity to discover new passions and possibilities.
