“It took me about 5 years to get out of the ‘woe is me,’ and ‘sports won’t be the same as it was before,’ but when I started getting involved, I started realizing it is the same – you just have to do it differently.”
Sam is talking about golf – a sport he thought he’d never play again after he became a paraplegic. But thanks to adaptive tools like specialized golf carts and clubs, Sam has picked up the game once more.
Specific modifications to adapt the game
Tim, another avid golfer and paraplegic, re-entered the game once adapted carts were developed. Tim uses a specialized one-person golf cart to play the game. “The seat swivels 360 degrees, and I can hit the ball from a seated position. I didn’t know I could do that!” he shares.
But golf carts aren’t the only specialized tools Tim uses. He has a device designed to allow him to put the tee into the grass and another to mount the ball onto the tee – all without him having to bend down. Tim also uses custom made golf clubs with angled hosels designed specifically for players who swing from a seated position. And Sam modified several of his clubs himself by extending the grip down the shaft to get better leverage when swinging.
Using these modified tools has re-opened the world of golf to both Tim and Sam, and allowed them to enjoy the social aspect of the game as well. “I reconnected with my buddies from high school, we had a reunion, and played together for the first time in 37 years,” shares Tim. “It was just like we picked up from where we left off.”
“I don’t have to rely on anybody else to show up. I just have to show up, and they have to put me together with three other players. That’s great.”
If you’re interested in taking up golf for wheelchair users, consider contacting your local golf course to see what adapted equipment they offer.