The pitch shot might be my most challenging shot to hit, when playing golf. It usually doesn’t require a fully accelerated swing, like hitting a driver, or full iron shot. It calls for what might be called a feel shot, which places additional pressure on the swing. Using the softness in the hands to feel out the correct distance. Something my disability of cerebral palsy, has much impact around. The tension in my forearms and hands can be very difficult to control. impacting almost every object I interact with in my daily world. Being able to judge how firmly or softly to embrace an object becomes a constant struggle. The number of bottles of water I have held with too much pressure feels endless. Many of them losing their shape by the time I have finished the final sip. So, you can image how my hands struggle with anything requiring a gentle grip of some degree. The interesting aspect of my cerebral palsy becomes my enjoyment of the challenge. Any swing taken around the green in the game of golf, requires the manipulation of my hands. The quality of the strike many times gets traced back to the correct amount of grip pressure. If every golf hole ends with swings that place direct pressure on my disability. I must be a gluten for punishment, or I truly enjoy the game, and the challenge.
If you have spent time reading my blog. The love I have for playing golf would be of no surprise. As would my enjoyment for playing golf at Prospector in the Cascade Mountain Range. The course sits about an hour and a half from my home on the eastside of Seattle. Making the short drive to escape the hustle and bustle of the Seattle suburbs has always been worth the day trip. As this summer began drawing to a close, an idea that had been ruminating, found the legs of implementation. I set out to make an attempt at recording myself hitting some golf shots. Of course, I began the recording at a place I knew well. Prospector has also been a place of comfort through the years. So, with the anxious feelings involved with attempting a new endeavor. It felt like the ideal place to take the idea for a spin would be at a place of comfort. I set up the camera on a stick, which attached to the hand rail of the golf cart. My thought being to park the cart at an angle to the golf ball. Hoping to capture as much of the scenario as possible, with my first attempt. I wanted to show some of the place I have written so much about. Along with providing an image of playing golf with the challenges of cerebral palsy. Without knowing what it might feel like to watch myself playing a few golf shots.
Watching myself play golf brought more peace than I anticipated. The videos had me feeling joy during moments. The emotions of wanting to look away have greatly subsided and I was able to watch my challenges. The perceived difficulty of walking from the golf cart to the golf ball and back, again. It seemed to look more challenging on camera than it feels when I’m walking. It was the first thing coming to mind when spending time with the images. My movements appear pretty hard to perform. When I’m moving through my day, the manipulation of my body doesn’t feel challenging. Maybe because I have been doing it all of my life. Something else noticed was the effortless way in which I seemed to swing the club. My golf swing didn’t appear as challenging as the act of walking. It all continues to cause curiosity. Thinking about the reasons for the observations coming to my mind. Maybe, because I have been playing golf for so long. It could also be, golf is played with two feet planted squarely on the ground. Making it a less complicated movement for me to achieve with my disability. Unlike other sports, my feet aren’t moving while trying to perform. However, the challenge in these short shots lies in the fine motor movements. The hands are required to remain gentle, in order to execute the shot, well.
During two rounds of golf over the span of two weeks, I got some pitch shots on camera. Both days contained pretty great weather conditions. The sunny afternoon skies provided an amazing backdrop for my first attempts at filming. Both days were in the later part of August, as the weather was just beginning its transition into the fall months. Yet another reason contributing to the ideal timing of the trips. Suncadia is quite the place to play a round of golf. With their two public courses and one private club. Over the years, Prospector has become something of a safe place. Not too far for an escape when the world feels like its closing in on my emotions. The course has just the right amount of challenge for my skill level. With the holes containing enough variety to keep my mind and emotions engaged. I look forward to rounding each corner for the first view of the next golf hole. Taking me away to another place. The trips up to Prospector have helped me with the courage to fight an addiction. They have helped when sorting through troubled relationships. Now, the place is helping me explore a new concept. Providing a perspective of having cerebral palsy and playing golf. Finding the strength to watch myself, also helps me further embrace the challenges of my disability.
A Journey With Cerebral Palsy 