Golfing With A Disability ?

[Iaing]

My best mate had his leg amputated yesterday after a long fight with bad circulation and infection caused by diabetes. He is 53.

Up until about 5 years ago when the complications of his condition raised their ugly head he was an avid golfer who played off 4. Although he hasn't played since then, he's kept his membership up in the hope that things would improve.

When I went to see him today we were talking about the old days and how much he had enjoyed his golf and would miss it.

It started me thinking that although it will obviously be a long way down the road, will it be worth setting a goal of getting him back on the golf course? Or am I being overly optimistic through watching the amazing feats of disabled athletes on TV?

Has anyone got any knowledge about this who could point me in the right direction?

 

[Tiger]

I've got some info somewhere on the Disability Golf Association. I'll dig it out and PM you. Hope your mate gets back into the game. My life was turned upside down when I got diagnosed with MS but golf has been a massive crutch for me and has helped me get through the tough times

Forgot to mention that current disability golf champ plays off about four and is an amputee

 

[stevek1969]

Iain my young brother lost his leg below the knee and has a prosthetic leg, it doesn't hinder him playing golf in the slightest, he also works offshore on a rig,it took him a while but he got there.

Hope your mate gets on ok and gets back on the course soon.

There is a British Amputee Golf Open every year , i think my brother played in it one year, he met some fantastic guys, good golfers with all sorts of limbs missing.

 

[golfsaint]

Hi try this website , i have not used it but may help , on another note i play weekly with my dad who only has one arm , and its hard for him but he is determined and getting better.



http://www.disabledgolfsociety.com/

 

[Bratty]

We've got a member at Westerham (although he may now be at The Addington) who has one artificial leg. Now his is amputated just above the knee, which probably makes easier, but he plays off 7. I would suggest there's every hope he could play and enojy himself, but he'll need to get used to the idea of his game needing to change.

 

[Matty]

There's a charity that gets servicemen injured in Iraq and Afghanistan out on golf courses and they have limbs missing. If he wants to do it enough there will be a way.

 

[Iaing]

Thanks for the replies folks. I think I'm definitely going to try to persuade him to give it a go through time.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

There is a guy at Sand Martins that plays with only one leg and does ok

 

[Dodger]

When I sat on my SGU Management Course in November there were 2 lads present who were there on an R&A backed initiative and they had both lost limbs in Afgan.

Both played golf and spoke of some sort of organisation that helped them.....I could try and find the craic out for you if you want.

Top lads they were too,cracking young men.

 

[RichardC]

There was a member at my last club that was blind. He played off 5 :thup:

 

[Hobbit]

There's a guy at Flixton GC in Manchester who has lost both legs because of diabetes. He's off mid teens and wins his fair share of comps. Seen him fall over a couple of times when he really goes after it but he just laughs it off and gets on with his game.

 

[Pants]

Has anyone got any knowledge about this who could point me in the right direction?

Just get him to do a search on Google "one legged golfer" and that could spur him on.

 

[backwoodsman]

No reason whatsoever why he can't get back into it. And play to a damn good standard too. There's plenty who do. Have look at

http://www.disabilitygolf.org.uk/

as well as the other links

 

[Bash]

Have played against two chaps in different friendly club matches; one with a prosthetic leg and one with one arm. It didn't hinder them at all. Both played off about 18 to 20 handicap.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

My club used to host the BASLA Championship.
There were some amazing guys and gals competing at a high level.
Stand outs were the Swedish guy who played off one with a left leg hip amputee he hit our 530 yard par 5 in two shots.
The other guy played off 14 and was a double elbow amputee. He bought me a pint and carried both glasses and a couple of packets of crisps back to the table. I remember thinking that eating the crisps would be interesting but he managed it nae bother.

 

[balaclava]

There's a guy in my club plays with one arm and hits a decent ball.

 

[ScienceBoy]

My thursday team league captain from a few years ago played with one arm, very well infact!

I know something like that would not stop me playing golf, I would find a way!

 

[Foxholer]

Guy at a previous club lost a leg to Bone Cancer a long time ago. Plays off 10 or 11; went to World Disabled Golf champs at Beth Page (Green&Red) and was one of the more able-bodied golfers. One guy had lost arm and leg and played off 2!

See this link also! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/golf/europeantour/6252470/Manuel-De-Los-Santos-steals-the-show-in-the-Dunhill-Links-Championship.html

And he's only the #2!

 

[gumbo84]

My cousin lost the use of his arm about 7years ago and although it was hard he now plays off of 14 and is competing in the southern disability championship. He absolutely smashed me

 

[james-white]

i give get honour to these huys and ladies to battle on they keep me playing golf