Conference 7.286::golf

>    	I suppose that it would be possible, but if you only have your
>    left hand, should you swing left-handed or right-handed?  

	I think that he should swing "right handed"; that is with the
	left arm towards the target.  The left arm is the dominant arm
	in the swing.  I've had pros hit shots with only their left
	arm to prove that a over active right arm & hand was harmful.
	The worst part was that they hit the ball further one armed
	than I did with two.

	Good Luck,
	Larry

    
    Interesting problem, but previously solved.  Someone with only a left
    arm should play with right-handed clubs.  I recall seeing articles
    about such people some time ago.  Also, about 15 years ago there was a
    man at our golf club who had the use of both arms, but who was missing
    part of his right elbow.  This restricted his swing such that he took
    has backswing with both arms, but released his right hand just before
    impact. The follow through was with the one arm.
    
    Much of the power for a right handed golfer comes from the left
    arm/hand, thus the use of gloves on the left hand (discussed in other
    notes).  I would think the key to a one armed golfer would come in the
    rotation of the wrist through the ball at impact.   
    
    

    
      We met, and became good friends, in Bermuda.  He is the bartender
    at Grotto Bay.  He was on the Bermudian Soccor Team.  He lost his
    right arm in a motor scooter accident on the island.  He plays one
    handed, shoots in the SEVENTIES, and hits the ball a long way. 
    It is interesting to see him play problem shots and how he has
    adapted to these shots.  A nicer guy you'll never meet.  His name
    is Quinn Talbot.  Look him up, if you go to Bermuda, and say "hello"
    from Sharon CC, you just might drink all night for next to nothing...

Well, a guy that I play golf with often has a friend with whom he
plays golf often who does not have use of his right arm.  Now, I have
never shot a round with this individual, but I understand that
he has no particular difficulty swinging the club at all.
This person has not had the use of his right arm since birth so
he has developed alot of strength and coordination in his left
arm.  A person disabled as an adult may have to develop extra wrist
and arm strength.

Alot of golf books recommend a left-handed only swing as an exercise
to learn the feel of the swing while keeping your right hand inactive.
A full swing is basically a left-handed activity for right-handed people.
The problem with most righties is that our right arms are so dominant that
we can't keep them from over-controlling the swing.  I mean, try brushing
your teeth or eating a meal with your left hand to really feel the
dependence on the right and lack of coordination on the left.
Makes you feel silly :-).

    
    	There is a member at my country club that has only his
    	left arm and plays to an 18-19 handicap.  There is also
    	another member that lost both of his legs from the knees
    	down and plays to a 12!  
    
    	Both of these people belong to an association called the
    	National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA).  As a matter of
    	fact one of them is President of the Association!
    
    	You can get information about the NAGA by mailing to:
    
    	Bob Wilson
        NAGA President 
    	18 Walnut Hill
    	Amherst, NH  03031
    	

    re .4:
    
    Well, by that logic, I should have no trouble -- I use my left hand
    to hold the toothbrush, as well as the fork/spoon;  I golf right-handed.
    
    One of these days I'll wise up and get a lesson or three to realize
    my full potential!  (-:  (Or maybe I should switch to a left-handed
    stance??)
    
     -- John

    One morning my partner and I got to the 10th tee and found
    ourselves behind a golfer with one arm and a golfer with one
    leg.  We thought we were in for a long back nine until we
    watched them tee off.  The one-armed golfer hit the ball real
    well, the one-legged golfer about average.  They had a cart,
    we were walking, and we couldn't keep up with them.

    I would have thought that a golfer with only a left arm should
    play right-handed and vice versa, but the golfer I followed
    played the other way around.  He had a right arm and played
    right-handed.  Playing golf with only one leg looked much
    harder than planned one-armed -- a lot of hopping on the
    follow-through.
    

    I remember Ken Venturi talking about Calvin Peete having an accident
    as a child.  The result of this was a 70% loss of dexterity (sp?)
    in one of his arms.  If this is true it shows what determination
    and love of the game can demonstrate.
    
    
                                     Larry

Jack Newton, an Australian pro was doing extremely well on the international
tour until he had an unfortunate accident with a Cessna propellor, losing his
right arm and one eye, amongst other injuries.

He is now a golf commentator, runs a company that manufactures golf clubs
(although he was setting this up before the accident), and still plays golf. I
saw an item on a sports program where he was outdriving 2 handed golfers (and
taking their money!), and playing with great accuracy. He plays right handed (ie
left shoulder to the target).

Lindsay

    Tom,
    I witnessed the International One-Armed Golf Championship, at the
    Auld Course in St. Andrews, in the summer of 1982. The winner was
    avery fine golfer from Athlone, Ireland and he beat an American
    from Hubbard, Ohio.
    
    Both shot in the mid-80's and were extremely good golfers. The American
    had the better style, but the Irishman was a better competitor.
    
    Their autographs are in a book about St. Andrewss that I keep at
    home. If interested, I could get you the names.
    Tom