At an age when a lot of people are enjoying golf, I found I could not complete a single round.
But, thanks to the kind folks at golf courses here in Airdrie and in Crossfield, as well as something called simulator golf, I am able to enjoy what is really the only form of exercise I can do without doing harm to my body.
I’m 58 years old, with a number of health issues. I have a form of electrolyte imbalance called chronic hypophosphatemia (very rare, with no diagnosis as to why). This, over time, has caused my diaphragm to weaken so I require supplemental oxygen full-time.
I also have osteoarthritis in my neck, mid back and lower back, which causes obvious stiffness, myopathy (I have lumps throughout all major muscle groups), macular degeneration (I have not lost sight yet), medically induced diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
I have played golf since I was 12, but had to take about a ten-year break due to the electrolyte imbalance and lack of portable oxygen. In 2021, I was able to purchase a portable oxygen concentrator, which enabled me to finally get out for a few rounds in 2022. I was not able to complete 18 holes.
Yet, I have never lost my love for golf. For Christmas 2022, I was given some backyard golfing equipment. As soon as the snow melted, I went out and started to swing. I managed to hit ten balls and was completely played out.
I never gave up, though it took me a month of hitting balls to be able to get 50 swings without quitting. Once I completed this task, I took off to Collicutt Siding driving range in Crossfield to hit a small bucket of balls (approximately 35). After about two weeks, I went back and tried a large bucket of approximately 75 balls. It took me three hours to finish that, I almost quit three times and I thought I was going to have a heart attack. But I proved to myself I could finish, even though I wasn’t 100-per cent sure I was going to get home.
I persevered and I was finally able to go for a couple of nine-hole rounds at Collicutt — they were great for me. I was self-conscious about having to carry my oxygen around. I was told by the golf course staff that if anyone said anything to me to let them know and they would deal with it.
I ultimately managed to do 27 rounds at Collicutt. Even after golf season ended, I still had my backyard set-up, so I went out every day (which is important because, if I don’t keep active, my body seizes up within a week and I am unable to get a shirt or coat on due to pain).
Since we had such a beautiful fall last year, I was able to continue to hit balls. By Christmas 2023, I had hit 7,000 balls (I kept track on a spreadsheet; the basic number of swings for a nine-hole round is about 50).
But winter finally set in and it became frigid, limiting my outdoor activity. I was at my doctor and told him I was feeling sorry for myself because of the pain in my shoulders and I couldn’t get my coat on without help.
He told me I should try simulator golf — which brings me to the Airdrie connection.
I made a booking at Woodside Golf Course’s simulator set-up called The Bunker. Once I was done my allotted hour, a kind gentleman told me all about their membership program, which allows you to pay for a season and then use the simulator any day you want for an hour.
I signed up and it was the best thing I have done yet. Since I signed up in mid-January, I have played the equivalent of 51 18-hole rounds.
I cannot say enough about how nice Darcy and Mark have treated me at Woodside. Due to my need for an oxygen machine, simulator No. 2 is easier for me to move from playing area to the computer, so they always make sure that I have that sim. The odd time when there is someone already booked, they adjust it so I can play there.
If they had a golf club mentality and used memberships, I would never have been able to afford to go and my quality of life would have degraded.
In fact, since I’ve been able to play again, I have seen a number of benefits:
I have increased my physical endurance. My supplemental oxygen requirements aren’t as high; I don’t have to turn my machine to its highest setting as much. I can feel that my body has increased movement (my swings aren’t as rigid). My back doesn’t hurt as bad while golfing. And, of course, I am getting very good at golf, and I hope that this will carry on into this coming summer season with my first membership at Collicutt Siding.
All this is because I never gave up on my favourite form of exercise and found ways to overcome issues facing me.
Editor’s Note: Kevin Wendel reached out to us with his very moving story of his return to the game of golf. If you have a personal experience you would like to share with airdrielife readers, please contact our publisher at sherry@frogmediainc.ca.
