Ett slag av gangen (ESAG) is an association that uses golf as a coping arena for people with drug addiction, mental illness, convicted and released people, young people who experience exclusion and minorities. Golf is therefore used as a means for people with challenges to return to a “normal society”. ESAG is a non-profit association that seeks funds and provides support to golf clubs that want to run activity programs for their target group.

Kristiansund Golf Club established ESAG in their club three years ago. In addition to collaborating with ESAG centrally, they collaborate locally with the municipality (Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse) and the Correctional Service. They are also actively working to establish collaboration with NAV (Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration). The Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse provides information about ESAG to people they follow up with.

The municipality has also contributed by transporting participants to and from the golf course, especially at the start of the project. Employees from the municipality have also participated as supporters for the participants during training and contributed with their knowledge about the user group.

The financial support comes mainly from ESAG centrally, but the golf club in Kristiansund also has its local sponsors.

In Kristiansund, there has been a relatively stable group of participants for several years, but new participants are welcome. The group has a fixed training time once a week, also during public holidays. The training takes place both outside on the golf course and inside using golf simulators and ends with socializing and lunch. The trainers are volunteers affiliated with the golf club and one of the participants is now the first to carry out a training course himself. The offer is free for the participants. The club provides equipment.