I have met some of the most
extraordinary people through my
involvementwithPGAHOPE (Helping
Our Patriots Everywhere), Adaptive
Golf, and the other programs
for golfers with disabilities. The
participants that assemble across
the country for these programs are
battling a wide variety of physical
and mental conditions ranging from
spinal cord injury, partial paralysis
due to traumatic brain injuries such
as a stroke, neurological conditions
and amputations. And in many cases,
these brave individuals were also
battling the debilitating effects of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and
sense of loss that often accompanies
such injuries.
Golf instructors find it fulfilling to
instruct these “gladiators,” who refuse
to quit when others would have given
up long ago. Society may have deemed
them disabled and attempted to
marginalize them, but their indomitable
spirit and positive mental attitude often
make these individuals unforgettable.
The challenges that the participants
face also often provides a unique test
Golf Therapy Has the Power to Change Lives
By:
Rich O’Brien
NWO Golf Links