Andy, a Project GAIN participant, sinks a shot as his instructor looks on.

Mentors are the final and most crucial aspect of GAIN in accomplishing true inclusion. Project GAIN uses volunteers to act as mentors who are paired with participants. People with disabilities often do not have the same opportunities to develop friendships and a social support network, as do individuals who do not have a disability. This acts as a barrier to their access of recreational resources. Mentors have the opportunity to share social interaction skills that they have developed over their lifetimes. This naturally occurs during the interactions between the mentor and participant. Mentors help participants to remove real and perceived barriers to their inclusion in the game of golf. Mentors can be family members, friends, or any individuals who choose to participate in learning or sharing the game with the participant. While the mentor and the individual with a disability may be at different levels of learning, learning, in general, is an experience that the two will share. This shared experience is crucial for developing a real bond between the mentor and participant that can lead to a strong friendship. The key to the newly formed friendship is that it is constructed around genuine interests that are mutually shared (D. Compton, personal communication, March 1, 2006). Aside from acting as a role model and serving as a source of support and self-efficacy (achieved through vicarious learning) for the participant, mentors can also provide a link to the larger community and future golf endeavors.