Why I Play Golf

           Before I write about how a blind person manages to play golf, I would like to convey why I have such a passion and love for the game of golf. My father and mother taught me to play golf, or any other sport, for the love of the game. They instilled in me the idea that if you are playing for any other reasons you are missing the point. As a youth I always wanted to beat other players and show off my skills so others would admire me. I suppose that is natural when one is younger. When I learned to not take the game so seriously I began to enjoy it  a lot better. But that has always been a challenge. I started around 6 or 7 years of age by picking up my dad’s shag balls in a large field. Around 9 or 10 I would stand at one end of the field and he would hit balls directly at me. He would then wave his hand in the direction the ball went.  The thing was my dad was a very good golfer and would often hit a ball and wave his hand directly at me. This meant I might be hit. It’s funny now but at the time I didn’t think anything about it.  He would always give me a short lesson and let me hit balls before we went home. It was great.

            I played junior golf in Nebraska and was a respectable player.  I remember being so nervous at those early tournaments. I had to learn to calm down and take deep breaths. Boy I remember those early days around 12 years old playing golf.  My cousin and I would often go out on the course behind his house and play around 1 p.m. when it was too hot for most people. We often played without shoes and even shirts at times. It was hit the ball, drag the clubs, and hit it again. I hit every bad shot one can imagine.

When I was in high school in the summer my friends and I would sometimes play 54 holes in one day. We would arrive at the club house about dawn and play 18 holes before breakfast. Then we would go out again and play another 18. We would then take a 1 hour lunch and rest before playing the final 18.

            Of course my heros were Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Nancy Lopez, Dottie Pepper, Nick Faldo, Raymond Floyd, Al Geiberger, George Archer, Lanny Watkins, Lee Elder, Tom Kite, and many many more. I admire the way Jack Nicklaus respects the game and his fellow competitors and the manner in which he has always conducted his personal life.

            I will always have a deep respect for my father. He could hit the ball a mile and really think his way around a course. He was a great athlete and is in the fast pitch softball hall of Fame as a pitcher. When I was 15 I tried every time we played to out drive him. It wasn’t until I was around 20 or so when I bgan to do it. The funny thing is after all those years of trying to out drive him, when I finally could, I never said a word to him about it.  He would just say “Good drive son”. For me, it was a way to honor him for what he had done for me.

            I often tell people that if I have two hours to get to know someone I can learn more about them playing golf than just about anything else.  I will learn how serious they are, how they handle adversity, how they think and try to make adjustments, if they know the rules,  if they have a sense of humor, and whether or not they curse, lie, or cheat. When I had a 6 handicap I was way too serious and would get upset if I hit a shot that I didn’t like when most people would be happy to hit that shot. I still play seriously but now I enjoy the outdoors and my friends much more.  It’s the outing that is important.