The amazing versatility of TGM
 

I was responding to a poster on another site and thought it might interest a few in here, so here it is:

"If you have any interest at all, I'll tell you a little about the guy with Polio. He's left handed, as his right arm has the deformity. His right arm is about 6 inches shorter than his left, it won't straighten, and his hand is withered. One of the things that brought him to mind was the beginning of the thread and the talk of the arms hanging. For him, he only had one arm that would hang. Without the pictures found in TGM and the exaggerated form of separated hands, I might not have ever thought to build the type of club this man would need. I built him a club that was 6 inches longer than standard, with a grip in the standard location and an additional but smaller grip on top. His hands are separated by about six inches of space.

When he began with me, he had terrible posture from attempting to play with standard clubs. The only reason he came to me in the first place was his son. He had heard through a few people in Atlanta that I had worked with some very good juniors. He had no intention of getting any better himself, he just wanted his son to get help. He reluctantly took off his jacket and showed me his problem and asked if I thought that I could help him. I thought there were a few things that we could do. So, I went home and went straight to the book (TGM). I started with the grip, where I knew there were many options. He's got some of the longest clubs in the business, and has had more success than he had ever dreamed of having. He presently hits a 7 iron about 145 yards, and has a smile on his face every time golf is mentioned. I'm in the same boat as you, in the respect that I would never claim to have the intelligence or the patience to write a work like TGM. But, I can read. And with that ability, I can help people. Even if they are the only person in a million that would use that specific pattern, it's in the book."

This is another instance where TGM is thought to be a method, but fits anyone. Congrats to Homer for giving me the blueprint for this man's golfing happiness. Without Homer's genius and foresight, without Yoda's willingness to share his knowledge, without Henry-Griffitts being willing to make a club 6 inches over standard that has two grips, this man wouldn't have had a chance. He's presently addicted to the game and has to beg his 15 year old son to go play with him. Previously, it was his son doing the begging. He thought he'd never be able to play a game or sport with such passion, because of his limitation.

I thought the funniest thing was when this Jewish man was so happy with his golf game and was so thankful for the help I had given him, he gave me a Christmas present! I have many Jewish friends/students that are kind enough to wish me a Merry Christmas, and I wish them a Happy Hannukah. But, I usually don't get Christmas presents. I'm so happy about his success and so happy for him, I can't stand it!

Moral of the story: TGM can work for anyone, it's not a method.

helping others
 

Hi YodasLuke,
I am trying to build a road show to travel and help people with disabilities play the game. Some to return to it, some to take it up. I am a disabled vet myself. Anyway, I found your story both touching and enlightening. I will obviously be seeking your counsel more and more, my dear Jedi....

Fred Brattain
aka Obi WunPutt

different strokes for different folks
 

I've had many different challenges in close to 10,000 golf lessons: one affected by polio, some that have had strokes, some missing limbs, and some simply affected by aging. We all get the luxury of the latter.
I get confirmation everyday that I've chosen the right career path, but one man truly comes to mind. I had an Episcopal minister come to me for a lesson when I was teaching in North Carolina. He had no disabilities other than age and years of absence from sports. He had the most defeated look on his face I'd ever seen. I started the way I normally do in a lesson, and said, "tell me a little about yourself." He told me that he had been a minister for 35 years. He said that he had just retired, and it had been his dream to take up golf when he retired. He had never played, but had a passion for the game. He loved watching it on TV, and never passed a golf course without trying to catch a glimpse of someone hitting a ball. He had made the decision to devote himself fully to the ministry and thought golf would be a major distraction to his work, so he waited until retirement to take it up.
Now, comes my challenge. He said that he had been retired for about a month, and had been struggling to play the game. That was a colossal understatement after watching him hit a few, but I'll save that for another discussion. Then, he placed the ton of bricks on my shoulders by telling me that if I couldn't help him, he was going to give up on his dream. I'm not kidding that this man was almost in tears every time he thought he might have to quit.
The good news is that he took about five lessons, practicing diligently between lessons, and became a very good ball striker. He found the love for the game that knew he had always had. He told me before he moved from North Carolina, "you have given me the greatest gift any man could give me." Coming from a minister, I thought his words were straight from the heart.
It's a blessing to me to be able to help anyone enjoy the game as much as I do. And, with TGM it's possible.
I'd be honored to help you or anyone else that has a disability. It doesn't have to slow you down in life or in golf.