The Traveling Wheelchair

Back Nine Club in Lakeville
17 Heritage Hill Drive
Lakeville, MA 02347 
Clubhouse: 508.947.9993
Golf Shop: 508.947.9991
http://www.thebacknineclub.com/

Monday evening, my mom, friends and I attended a casual social evening at Back Nine Club with State Representative Steve Canessa, my wonderful State Representative. We were pleased to find the Back Nine Club wheelchair friendly and accessible.

The Back Nine Club, located on the 18-hole “Back Nine” golf course in Lakeville is open to the public daily 11am to 9pm. We parked our van in one of the 4 handicap parking spaces located in front of the entrance. There are a set of steps leading to the entrance as well as a nice and wide wheelchair accessible ramp on the side. The entry doors are not automatic yet they are plenty wide enough to fit my chair through. Amanda held the door open for me while Ric pushed my manual chair inside.

The lobby has plenty of room for me to maneuver my chair. From the lobby we entered the lounge. Here we were warmly greeted by Representative Canessa as he was greeting all the guests. The bar in the lounge is not wheelchair accessible for it is too high. ADA doesn’t require a bar to be accessible as long as there is accessible seating in the same area which there is. Yet Kenny & Company believes all bars should have the countertop of the bar lowered in a small section so a person in a wheelchair can sit and enjoy a drink at the bar.

All the dining tables are of a perfect wheelchair accessible height. There are 4 large flat screen TVs set on the walls which are easy for all to view. Access to a large outdoor deck is easy for the door is wide; all tables on this deck have umbrellas and all are of a good wheelchair accessible height. My mom, friends and I enjoyed the view of the beautiful golf course while sitting at a table on the deck.

From the deck we saw a beautiful historic stone tower that was located on the grounds of the golf course and were curious to see what it was. We were pleased to find a wide wheelchair accessible ramp leading from this deck to the grounds of the golf course. When we got to the tower we saw a sign which reads ‘Town of Lakeville Sailors Home Tower 1892′. It is has some historical significance of Lakeville.

The powder room is spacious wheelchair accessible and fully ADA compliant. There is a large handicap stall and the pipes under the accessible sink are covered as is ADA required. I could easily reach the soap and hand towel dispenser too.

The food was delicious; the presentation was outstanding; and the service was great!

As we were ready to leave Representative Canessa kindly offered to walk us out to our van. We discussed the hearing for the legislation he filed; House 3785 ”An Act Relative to the Transportation of Individuals Seated in Wheelchairs”. The hearing for House 3785 is scheduled to be heard by the Joint Committee on Transportation on October 6, 2009 at 11am in Hearing Room B-1 at the Massachusetts State House.

I give Back Nine Club FOUR STARS for wheelchair accessibility. In order to earn the Fifth Star they would need to install an automatic entry door so a person in a wheelchair can enter and exit independently.

Representative Stephen Canessa earns FIVE STARS for his kindness, sensitivity, caring and work he does for the rights of the disabled.