wounded warriors Archives • GolfStinks

4 Golfers Prove There’s More to the Game than Just Your Score

February 12, 2015 | By Greg D'Andrea | 1 Comment

Foursome_PB_HeadShots-2 — Why these golfers represent what makes this game great…

Last week we told you about four fans that AT&T has selected to get a behind-the-scenes look at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am (see HERE). But these aren’t just average golfers – in fact, they all have a backstory that is perhaps more intriguing than the Pro-Am itself.

I love stories such as these – they highlight what our mantra has been here at GolfStinks for years: That there’s way more to golf than just what you write down on your scorecard – and these four prove it. Golf has made them what they are today: Outgoing; driven; helpful and downright inspiring. These four golfers represent everything that is good about this game…

Let’s start with Tiffany Fitzgerald, since I’ve actually spoken with and written about her before (see HERE). Ms. Fitzgerald worked in corporate America for 15 years and decided to take-up golf in hopes that it could help her career. And while she did find success in business through golf, she recognized that golf was a sport that could bring people together in general (more specifically, women and minorities, who typically wouldn’t think twice about golf due to the stereotypes surrounding the game). Ms. Fitzgerald left the corporate world and founded Black Girls Golf, an organization dedicated to helping bring African-American women together on the golf course. Check out her video below and be sure to follow Ms. Fitzgerald’s adventures at the Pro-Am via @BlackGirlsGolf.

Meanwhile, Tim Lang had a completely different introduction to golf. Mr. Lang was seriously injured by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2006. While trying to cope with his situation through therapy and rehabilitation, Mr. Lang discovered golf and found it, above all else, helped him the most. Perhaps he puts it best when he says “golf is a metaphor for life.” Follow Mr. Lang’s adventures this week via @TimLangGolf.

Katie Horsford was a very shy 12-year-old when she started golfing via The First Tee program. She credits golf for her new outgoing personality, helping her find friends and allowing her to giveback (via The First Tee) to other girls. Oh and by the way, she’s actually pretty good at this game too. Keep up with Ms. Horsford as she traverses Pebble Beach this week via @kthorsford.

Rounding-out the foursome is Dan McLaughlin. Mr. McLaughlin just up and quit his job one day to go become a pro golfer. The interesting thing was he had only played golf once to that point (at a par 3 course no less) – I mean, who does that? Well, apparently Mr. McLaughlin does – and to document his journey, he started The Dan Plan, where his goal is to put in the mandatory 10,000 hours of practice to become a pro. How ridiculous is that? Well, considering he’s logged more than 5,000 hours and is already down to a 2 handicap, I’d say not too ridiculous after all! Now obviously, Mr. McLaughlin has some talent too, but the thought of picking up a club for the first time and saying, give me 10,000 hours of practice and I’ll be a scratch golfer, just boggles my mind. Talk about dedicated – go Dan, go! Follow Mr. McLaughlin via @thedanplan.

This post is in partnership with AT&T. All opinions are GolfStinks’.

How Golf Saved My Life

May 27, 2013 | By Golf Stinks | 3 Comments

Today is Memorial Day – a time to reflect upon all those who gave their lives for their country. But let us also not forget those Wounded Warriors who must assimilate themselves back into society after war. Below is Tim Gaestel’s journey (written in his own words). Mr. Gaestel connected with GolfStinks recently and we felt his story (how golf helped saved his life after his tour of duty) was worthy of reprint.

I started swinging a golf club when I was a little under three years old but, I wouldn’t fall in love with golf until my return from Iraq and the trials of warfare. While driving through a dangerous area south of Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded as my Humvee was passing – two pieces of shrapnel went through my lower IBA and into my back.

I would remain in Iraq for 8 months and in April 2004, I returned from the deployment a disabled soldier. My life was changed forever and the pain in my back would change my disposition on all of my abilities. Meanwhile, a few friends in my Unit decided that they wanted to buy new golf clubs and start playing golf (after returning from a deployment, our commanders allowed us a lot of free time to relax and recover from the stresses of life in war-time). My love for golf would grow but I was far from being a “golfer.” We played golf a good amount, but the pain in my back was often too much for me to endure and I started to play less and less until one day I decided I needed the money and I sold my golf clubs.

In September 2005, I would leave the Army and head back home to Austin, Texas to start my college career at Austin Community College. I had stopped playing golf and in fact, I had stopped being active all together. I used the pain in my back as an excuse to be lazy and I began to gain weight. With every added pound, the pain in my back would only increase. Three years passed and I went from being a 175-pound athletic person, to weighing 255 pounds and doing everything I could to resist any physical activity.

In 2008, I was accepted to Texas State University – this is where golf grabbed me and changed my life. A friend of mine named Raquel was working in the recreation department at Texas State and I had mentioned how I wanted to coach someday and she told me about a position through the REC department that would allow me to coach a Jr Golf Program. Raquel introduced me to the manager of the Texas State Golf Course who quickly decided to allow me to take over the program. Some of the perks of being an employee was being able to play the course for free and anytime I wanted.

My father would buy me a pushcart and I began to walk the course and as a result, I began to change my disposition on my abilities as a golfer and as person again. But nearly a year into working at the REC program, adversity struck again. My entire golf bag was stolen with all my golf clubs and a bag of golf attire (I was heading back to Austin for the weekend and planning on doing some laundry at my parents house). It was a setback for sure, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me.

Golf didn’t just help me lose weight and be more active; it allowed me to understand the world again. Golf showed me that I could still be competitive, that I could set goals and achieve those goals. The lessons I learned on the fairways transferred to my life. I have now lost the weight that I have struggled with over the years to lose; I have gained strength in my back, legs and shoulders. My back will always be a problem for me but now I know I can work through the pain and still do what I love to do.

In May 2011, I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos and recently moved out to San Angelo Texas where I started working for Bentwood Country Club as the Head Coach for the Jr High School Golf program. I eventually want to become a PGA Teaching Pro. I moved out to West Texas with my fiancé who has been my biggest supporter and I could not have done it without her and now she ‘s my wife. I’m teaching U.S. History at Central High School and hope to take over as Head Golf Coach if the position becomes available.

Quite simply, golf saved my life. It showed me that I could do anything if I practiced and worked hard. I want to spend my life sharing my passion for golf and showing how golf is more than just a game but a way of life and a strength I take deep pride in. I really think that Mizuno Golf and the #Playfamously contest could help my career – help me grow the game of golf in West Texas and make a name for myself in the golf business. But perhaps most importantly, I want to show Wounded Soldiers what golf did for me and what it can do for their own lives.

– Tim Gaestel

For more on Mr. Gaestel’s military service: http://www.purpleheartaustin.org/gaestel.htm
To connect with Mr. Gaestel on Twitter: @TGolfer83

A Memorial Day Tribute From Golfstinks

May 28, 2012 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

Contrary to popular belief, today is not National BBQ Day or National Cookout Day. No, that’s June 23rd this year. Rather, it’s Memorial Day. And although me and the guys here at golfstinks do intend to spend the day on the links before parking ourselves in front of our grills, we have certainly not forgotten why we’re able to do so.

Many times, lost in the three-day weekend is the reason you had the opportunity to hit the links on a Monday morning rather than stare at the walls buried inside your cubicle farm. Too often we don’t stop to take the time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

But this day is for them. And in celebration of the brave men and women in all branches of the military, we’re going to take a look back at some of the past posts in which we’ve made mention of our brave brothers and sisters. Be it Memorial Day, Veterans Day or just because, we at golfstinks believe that everyday should be a day to remember and give thanks to the people who who help to make our lives what they are.

Back in November of 2009, in a post titled Who Are Your Golf Heroes?, Stinky Golfer Greg introduced us to his Uncle Frank – a veteran of World War II and Greg’s personal golf hero.

In March of 2010, we came across the charity Bunkers In Baghdad. This great organization sends golf equipment to our active duty troops in the desert as well as donates equipment to our troops recovering with the Wounded Warriors Program.

For Memorial Day 2010, Stinky Golfer Pete reflected on a memorable round he played with his buddies father – a veteran of the Vietnam War. While hearing both stories he enjoyed, as well as others he may have wished he hadn’t heard, Pete was also given some words to live by…

We tend to poke a little fun at some of the over-the-top golf gadgets on the market today. But in August of 2010 Stinky Golfer Greg found that Wounded Warrior Golf was using a 3-D swing system to help wounded veterans recover their range of motion. Golf technology is helping our injured veterans recover? We can’t think of a better use.

Fast forward to Veterans Day 2011 when I got to experience first-hand the appreciation our troops and veterans, as well as their families and friends, have for the support shown to them by the people they are fighting for. It feels good to know you’re helping, but it feels better when you can truly understand the appreciation that goes along with it.

This Memorial Day, all we ask is that when you’re about to tee off on the first hole, take a bite of a foot-long dog hot off the grill or even just sleep in for a change…take a few minutes to remember why you’re able to do all of these things. Keep in mind the people who will never be able to experience things like this again. And say a prayer for those who are still away from their families and friends on a day when many of us civilians are gathering with ours. Because if it weren’t for the bravery of a few, life would be different for all.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

Golf Hole From Hell — Sometimes they all feel this way… (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

As much as I love this game, there was a time when I thought about giving it up.

Even though I snapped-out-of-it and rediscovered my passion for golf, others don’t. Why?

Golf is too Hard
Perhaps the most common reason is that golf is simply too hard. But is it too hard or are they just too lazy? Last year, I penned a guest post for a popular golf blog in which I asked if we’re too lazy to get better at golf. Here’s an excerpt:

Practice makes perfect…Or so the saying goes. What that little phrase fails to articulate is how much practice it actually takes to make things perfect. Throw in an impossibly difficult sport like golf and attaining perfection becomes perfectly ridiculous. Now don’t get me wrong, there are a select few who not only have the raw talent to be great at golf, but also have the drive to spend countless hours on the range or putting green practicing…But I’m not one of them. And I surmise not many of you are either. As far as I’m concerned: I’m just too lazy to work that hard at something I’m never going to make a living at in the first place.

Yeah, golf is hard. And some people have the guts to deal with that reality and enjoy golf anyway, while others don’t.

They Hate Golf
So they tried it and hated it – meh, it happens. But how could you possibly hate a game as great as this? Well, I wrote about that also – in fact, I provided 5 reasons why people hate golf. Enjoy.

A Serious Injury
Let’s face it, you would have to be in a good amount of pain to give up on a sport like golf, but it happens. Be it your back, or knees, or in my case, my foot knocked me out for a couple months – there are reasons people are forced to give up this game. Sometimes the pain makes quitting unavoidable, but other times, it can be downright inspirational. And how a returning Vet who lost a leg can take up golf is both inspirational and remarkable. Makes my foot pain look rather pathetic, actually.

They Stink
This is different than golf being too hard. When people quit because the game is too hard, it’s typically because they’ve recently started playing and realize they don’t have the time or patience to get better. But when people quit because they stink, it’s typically because they are pompous asses.

For example, do you know a golf buddy who can’t stand it that you win all the time? You know – they guy who makes everything a competition, but get him out on the golf course and he’s less than stellar? Not being able to live with the fact that he’s not as good as you at something, he quits golf never to return. Now there’s a guy that takes himself way too seriously – and believe me, those people are out there!

They Lose the Will to Golf
What? Well, if you were reading this blog a couple months ago, you would know all about losing the will to golf. When we dig way down into our psyche, we realize that passions can, for one reason or another, simply burn out. There can be several causes for this. In my case, an extended lack in playing time, coupled with a shift in priorities, triggered the feeling that golf was no longer an important part of my life. While I have since come to my senses, I’m sure there are others (perhaps those who were never really passionate about the game in the first place) who will simply walk away from the sport because golf just doesn’t matter all that much.

I certainly hope you never quit golf – especially because you stink, or because it’s too hard. If we writers of the Golf Stinks Blog accomplish anything, it’s to convey you don’t have to be good at something to love it. And I certainly hope you aren’t forced to give it up due to an injury or perhaps worse, lose the will to play altogether. It’s true that golf is not for everyone…but if you love it, you know what keeps you coming back.