By Zachery Rufa

I was born 13 years ago with a very short femur (the femur is the largest bone in your body, found in the upper part of your leg). For me this has only been a minor inconvenience, but it has prevented me from running properly and participating effectively in many sporting activities; however, I am still involved in sports such as kayaking, handcycling, swimming, karate, and golf.

I was initially inspired to play golf because speed or strength are not required to play the game well. There is one more reason - my dad is a golf fanatic! He golfs at least once a week beginning in April (sometimes there is still snow on the ground). As the weather becomes nicer, he plays two or three times a week. My uncles also golf, as well as my aunt and grandmother. Needless to say, because I have grown up in the Rufa family, it would be almost impossible not to learn how to play golf.

Golf is one of the more social sports enjoyed by amateurs as well as sporting fanatics. It's a relaxing game that can be played while talking with friends. It is also a game that can be highly competitive between those same friends, relatives, colleagues, or even strangers.

Golf is well suited to people with disabilities, such as persons with amputations, visual impairments, or paraplegia. Single-handed clubs are available for people with upper body amputations, and adaptive single Rider golf Carts are available for people with lower body amputations. These carts can go anywhere on the golf course. Also available are hinged clubs. The club face is on a hinge that can be adjusted so that the club is parallel to the ground, increasing ball distance. Also, golfers who are blind have "coaches" - people who tell the golfer where and how far the hole is.

I personally do not have to use any adaptive equipment or receive any beneficiary rules, nor have I played with anyone who does, but that does not mean they aren't available. I found the following websites contain helpful information on adaptive equipment: http://easiergolfing.com/ and http://golf-country.com/.

I recently had the opportunity to interview a golfer named Mike Mercado, who lost his sight to glaucoma. Mike had never golfed before he went blind. In fact, Mike told me that he actually started doing a lot more things since he lost his sight. Mike has been playing golf for the past 15 years. He plays about once a week, but he admits to practicing much more. "Muscle memory" is extremely important to Mike because he cannot see the ball. His partner tells him how far his ball is from the hole and lines him up. Mike told me the hardest things for him are deep grass and bunkers, as many other golfers would agree. Mike also told me that he normally shoots about a 50 on 9 holes (hopefully, I can do the same someday). He says the most important advice he can give to golfers is to never be discouraged. He explains that he listens to professional golfers on TV who practice and play at least 8 hours a day, every day and they still make mistakes. That just proves that no one is perfect; we all make mistakes. Golf is more for fun than for competition.

I agree that optimism is an important part of the game and Mike is the epitome of what every golfer should be. I don't think it would be such a terrible thing if all golfers couldn't see. There's a joke about a man who was blind who challenged Tiger Woods to a game. When Tiger asked when, the man told him 11:45. As he walked away, the man yelled to Woods, "See you tonight!"

Anyone who is good at the game of golf will tell you that to become a skilled player you need to have the drive and desire to do so. However, newcomers also need to remember to have fun, and don't get discouraged. If you practice, you're bound to improve. Just because beginners are less competent doesn't mean they always will be. Newcomers to the sport may also want to seek help from experienced golfers, and learn from their criticism. I have learned through my dad and my school golf coach. In addition, if a person is short like me, remember not to become discouraged. Expect to see your game improve as you get taller. This is because shorter clubs don't get as much momentum as larger ones. The best way to improve is through visualization. Pick a spot where you want your ball to go, look at your ball, see the spot, and swing.

Of course, there are those bad games that every player experiences. (It's easy to become discouraged, but you need to hang in there.) I remember my first competitive school-sponsored match. I lost badly. It was rainy, throwing my ball off; and windy, throwing it off even more. It was also very cold (40º-45ºF), which made the game extremely difficult. By the third hole, I was about ready to give up. Then, out of nowhere, my dad showed up and brought me a pair of gloves and a sweatshirt. After that, I was on. I played an awesome game (in my opinion). I lost by about 30 strokes to my competitor but fortunately, for my game and my peace of mind, I was also competing against a friend who is on my golf team. He only beat me by two shots, so I was very satisfied.

As for me, golf is more for fun than it is for competition. Because I have trouble walking, I often don't even play the entire course. I have however, gradually tried to increase the number of holes I play. Fortunately, I have a student membership at the local 9-hole course close to my house. Many people are not this lucky. However, there are different options people can choose when starting to play this game. If you do want to play or walk the entire course, you can rent a cart. Driving ranges or par-3 courses are also excellent options for beginners. Golf is adaptable and fun for almost anyone.

Golf improves a person physically, mentally, and socially. Every time golfers take a swing, they improve themselves physically, as if they had performed a sit-up. Every stroke increases arm, hip, and leg strength. Walking a course is also a great workout. Mental drive and conditioning is also increased over time and persistence with this sport. And again, golf is one of the most social of all the sports. Many good and lifelong friends can be made in this game.

As I reflect on one of the last times I went golfing this summer, I realize I have shown improvement physically, mentally, and socially. One particular day, I went to the golf course with my dad and my sister. As I started playing, I instantly knew I had improved since the last time I went golfing. I just seemed to be hitting the ball better and farther. On one of the par-3 holes, I hit the ball from the tee-off box and it almost landed on the green. I had mentally dealt better with the hardest part of my game: long-range shots. This made me feel mentally stronger. To have gotten so much better gave me a great feeling and allowed me to have a good time with my family. In case you were wondering, on that day I was 20 strokes under what I normally hit. Unfortunately, the last time I went, things did not go so well. My game was not "on" like it was on the previous day. I must also admit that I was not as strong mentally. Fortunately, this was not my final game. My golf handicap will only get better be-cause I will not allow my "handicap" to get in the way.