Conference 7.286::golf

I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know you, but obviously you're a good 
player. What is wrong exactly? Did your doctor tell you to quit? 
Forever?

I've seen players overcome some incredible handicaps to play more than 
respectable golf. One member at our club lost both legs to a massive 
heart attack, but plays--and quite well--every weekend. At the risk of 
seeming polly-annish: Don't give up! Consider your fate a challenge, 
and any challenge can be met. You've got the name for it. Another 
fellow named Hogan overcame supposedly insurmountable injuries.

Good luck.

    	I'm no Doctor or anything, but I do know one thing, I'd never
    accept such a dismal fate as that, without getting a 2nd opinion.
    If you already have, I'll stick my foot in my mouth.  Anyway, I've
    been told before with my back, not to play golf anymore.  That was
    3 years ago, and my back hasn't bothered me once this year!!!  Of
    course, I have changed my game and no longer swing hard, and I have
    lost about 15 pounds since then, but it just goes to show that Doctors
    are human too.  I hope everything works out for you, whether or
    not you get to play golf again.  Good Luck, and I really hope some
    day you'll again enjoy a round of golf.
    
    Beak

    Hi,
    Let's hope that "the Ben Hogan" story can be repeated and that you
    will be able to play this fine game again.
    
    Never say never!!!!!!
    Tom

    Pete!
    
    	Get a second opinion!  See a chiroprator!  Don't give up hope!
    Stay positive!  Stay active in the notesfile!  I'll bet there are
    a lot more of us in here that feel the same way.  
    
    
    					Mike

    
    	Geee , from the sound of things... you seem quite sure of the
    verdict. If ( I say if, because I hope the situation will change for
    the better), you know for sure there truly will be no more golf
    for you... I feel very sad for you. I know you too must love the
    game as all of us in this notes file, and it will be tough. Maybe
    it would be good for you to spend time teaching? Your son would
    love to learn from such a good player...
    
    take care,
    
    	Walt
    

    Sorry to pry... but what has happened?... I understand, and apologize
    if you don't want to recount.
    
    Respectfully,
    
    Rick

    
    Ya know you guys are  great. I was really feeling down in the dumps
    and you guys come through with the perfect mix of understanding and get
    off you ass and do something about it. So this afternoon I am going to 
    see a different doctor, a chiropractor and see what he has to say. I
    met him once and he has a great attitude. I will not be denied. I will
    let you know how it goes. 
    
    Thanks fella's, really , from the heart
    
    The Hoghead will lash again or become the greatest putter in the
    history of the game. 

    Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I hope this notes file will continue
    to inspire you to keep your head up should the second opinion turn
    for the worst. 
    
    I would suggest a doctor that plays the game. Only than will they
    know the feelings you have and may offer some other advise. Also
    you may want to try a sports doctor.
    
    Hope this helps in some way. Afterall the name HOGAN is a symbol
    of perseverance and determination.
    
    Ken

    RE .8
    
     I love that kind of talk. I'll play again if I HAVE TO PUSH IT DOWN
    THE FAIRWAY WITH MY NOSE. At least that way I will be sure to keep my
    head down. Still got that great sence of humor. 
    
    Pete_not_long_but_off_line

    I don't buy it. Granted, you haven't told us what the doctor said,
    but I think you're overreacting. No doubt something has happened
    -- maybe even something serious -- that will keep you off the course
    for a while. But I'll bet that a year from now you'll shoot another
    73, and you'll look back in disbelief on the day you gave up golf.
    
    Let's look at what you say happened: you were playing a career round.
    The you developed serious pain. You blew up to a 43-47 (a score
    most duffers would love to have), and you concluded that your golf
    career is over. I may be out of line here, because only you know
    what the nature of your injury is, but I think it would take something
    extraordinary to keep someone who loves the game so much off the
    course.
    
    Last week I played behind a guy at Wayland who used two canes to
    drag himself from the cart to his ball. I think he had artificial
    legs. Pretty good player, too. My father-in-law has only a thumb
    on his left hand, still shoots in the low 90s (at age 78). There's
    a guy who plays Sandy Burr once in a while who lost his left arm.
    He wins money and beats people without strokes.
    
    I don't want to sound like Jerry Lewis here, but there's many, many
    things you can do before you have to give it up. You might have
    to completely change your swing. You might have to ride from now
    on. You might have to have surgery or physical therapy. But unless
    your doctor told you that you're risking your life if you play --
    don't give up!
    
    I can't imagine quitting golf. I would do anything -- anything!
    -- to keep playing. I hope you can find a way to keep playing so
    your son will learn from a real player.  My fondest memories are
    of playing golf with my father.

    re .10   
    
    Alright, alright , okay enough. My God what a verbal lashing. My scores
    have no bearing on if I can or should play again. I have been playing
    this game to long to let that stuff bother me. 
    
    Bottom line I have three broken bones in my back. the little extensions
    on each vertbra that keep them lined up. Needless to say over the years
    these unsupported vertabra have moved and thi is painful especially
    when they move against the syatic(sp) nerv. I have lived with this pain
    for a long time and know when thngs are not right nad things are not
    right. BUT, I understand what you are saying and the spirit you say it
    in. I'll be back. I got to now or you guys will never let me live it
    down. Your note takes a different approach: get em mad , challenge em.
    I like that.
    
    Pete
    
    don't mean to sound like a cry baby  waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

    	Pete, I'm glad to hear you're going to fight it till the very
    end.  Isn't that what kept guys like Brian Piccalo(sp) going???
    But if by chance the pain is too much and you cannot continue, I
    wish you all the luck and hope you'll at least continue to play
    what they call miniature golf.  Just recently, on TV they had a
    show about some organization that had to do with Professional Putting
    Golfers Association.  Seems that they have what they call, Professional
    Putters.  They make between 10 and 25 thousand a year if they're
    good.  You certainly might consider somethinglike that, at least
    with your son, should things not work out.  But I'm pretty confident,
    seeing your spirit in your last few replies, that you will eventually
    end up playing this great game, once again!!!
    
    Beak

    
    I would like you all to know that I am playing golf again with the help
    of a great chiropractor. He explained that my hip will always be sore
    and my back will always hurt but he can keep the sharp disabling pain
    from reoccuring. It seems if they know what you want to do they can
    help you do it. There is a spot in my lower back that he admitts he can
    do nothing about but he can stablize it and that is what was causing
    all the pain. My hips have a terrible tilt but he has inserted a lift
    that seems to help. Bottom line he says if I golf it will hurt
    sometimes worse than others but if I stop it will hurt from lack of
    excersice. He said walking alot will help and a bunch of other
    stretching excesices. I carry a much lighter bag one of those little
    cloth backs and he insists that pulling a cart is worse than walking.
    I havn't played eighteen yet as a matter of fact I only play about
    6 holes whan I play.BUT this weekend I am going to play in a little
    tournament and hope to play the whole thing. 
    It seems I may have over-reacted but I got to tell ya gang when
    something like that happens and you go to a doctor and he tells you
    that if you continue to golf you will eventually disable yourself it
    scares the greens fees right out of you. 
    
    Let me  a say this. If you have a structule problem with your back
    see a chiropractor. I saw three different orth's and got three
    different opinions ranging from surgery to take two asprin. For a while
    there I didn't know if I was coming or going.
    
    Oh just for the record my doc. is a two handicap.
    
    Thanks again for all your concern. You have no idea how great it fells
    to be back out there playing. Ya know right or wrong I had it in my
    mind I was not going to be able to play again and that is scary.
    
    Pete

    	Glad to hear you're back playing again.  I can only imagine
    how elated you are to be able to do so, even if it is only 9 holes
    a week or so, after thinking you never would be able to play again.
    Instead of walking and carrying your clubs, have you thought about
    renting a cart with whoever you play with, and putting your clubs
    on the cart, but walking the course without having to carry your
    clubs?  I do this occassionaly, especially when I play in a tournament.
    Not having to carry or pull my clubs around is great, and walking
    most of the holes, seems to help keep some sort of rythem or tempo
    about my whole game going.  In your case, with a back problem, maybe
    walking every other hole would allow you to play more holes before
    experiencing any severe pain.  I'm certainly no doctor or expert
    in dealing with back problems, but I have experienced lower back
    pain from time to time after playing golf, and have found this to
    help.
    
    Beak

    
    	Good goin Pete.  It's great to hear you're getting back into it.
    It would have been a shame to have all that golfing talent go to waste.
    Even with your back problem, I'll bet you can still beat the pants
    off of 90% of the golfing public.  Keep it up.
    
    Dave Hurley

    
    Wow, elated is an understatment. I am so happy I could eat dirt. I had a
    vacation day yesterday, it was my birthday, oh thank you. Anyway I'm at
    home with not a whole lot to do sooooooooooo. Yes, Yes cast my fate to
    the wind I'm going for the big eighteen. Well I made it around it
    pretty good style. My back felt weak more than anything. An hour after
    I played it was sore as hell but no sharp pain, well a few nimor ones
    but still not bad. I walked nice an easy did a few stretching
    excersises when I felt a little shakey. Kept the swing slow and hit the
    ball pretty well. I finished with an 82 (41 41) and putted poorly. The
    slow swing really keeps the ball in play. I take the club away very
    slow in order not to put a lot of tork on my back and dito on the
    follow through. Ya know a couple of times I just stopped and looked
    around at things. It was a beautiful day. The smell of the course the
    trees the sun. The day was mine I was doing what I love to do. I think
    I could have shot 102 and felt
    great...................................................................
    Naaaa. It was great though. The next time you play stand on the first
    tee a couple of minutes before you play and just think how lucky we all
    are how incredable fortunate we are to be us. Then a moment of silence
    for those who can't because of some real bad luck. Then a deep breath
    and go out and shoot the round of your life. It's going to be part of
    my routine now. I'm getting pretty emotional in my old age but that's
    how i feel and if anyone can understand that, it's you.
    
    
    hit the ball drag pete hit the ball drag pete
    
    

    Happy birthday to you,
    Happy Birthday to you,
    Happy Birthday dear Pete,
    Happy Birthday to you!
    
    Congratulations Pete! and thanks for the update.
    
    Patti

    
     Patti,
    
       I assume Feliz Cumpleanos a ti means Happy Birthday in Spanish
    maybe????? Thank you, you have a very pleasant voice.
    
      The Birthday Boy
      Pete

     Re: .16

>    Kept the swing slow and hit the
>    ball pretty well. I finished with an 82 (41 41) and putted poorly. The
>    slow swing really keeps the ball in play. 

     Could you tell me where I can get one of those backs?  The only way I
     can shoot 82 is to play well & putt like Crenshaw. ;-)

     On a more serious note I'm glad that you can still get out and play.

     Larry

    
    		Yeah, the only way *I* can get an 82 is to go 
    		candlepin bowling. 

    
    It is great to here that you are able to play again!!! I went
    through 8 months of muscle spasms last year in my back and have
    had to change the way I swing to avoid triggering the spasms again.
    Slow and easy is really a cure for a lot of golf's little problems.
    Hang in there and keep watching the grass grow.
    
    THE MAD HACKER

    Pete,
    Just saw this note.....very interesting.. I just spent the worst
    summer of my life, not having played golf since 6/15 due to a miserably
    inflamed sciatic nerve in my left leg. The diagnosis from the
    orthopedic surgeon was first a swollen disc (L5), and the latest
    pictures (from a MRI, magnetic resonance imaging) show the disc
    to be herniated with a detached fragment floating around. The weird
    thing is, after three visits to a chiropractor, and a series of
    excercises designed to push the swelling in the disc away from the
    sciatic nerve, I feel WONDERFUL!! I can bend, touch my toes, tie
    my shoes, lift do yardwork, etc. Sound familiar? I actually could
    not even dress myself a month ago!!  I may be in some sort of remission
    now, having a "fragment" broken off, but my surgeon says: "no pain,
    no surgery", and I'm all for that. Gonna try golf this weekend,
    wish me luck!
    
    Glad your situation turned out great!
    
    Steve

    
    Steve,
     Yes, your situation sounds very familiar. Let me make a few
    suggestions. Keep your swing slow and stay loose. Try to not to
    overswing nad take some time to loosen up before you play. Don't be
    afraid to overclub yourself for a while until you feel nice and loose.
    Believe it or not my game has improved since the injury. I concentrate
    on good machanics and staying loose and swinging slow. The golf swing
    does things to your back that yard work and other things just don't do.
    Take it slow and don't worry about the score card. I shortened my back
    swing and take the club away much slower than I did before.
    
     I'm glad to hear you are going to be back on the course. Let me know
    how things go for you this weekend. Remember stay loose and swing slow.
    
    Pete