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Getting up and down consistently from around the green is critical to improving your golf game, no matter what level of player you are. The three basic shots you need to know are high lob or flop shot, medium pitch and low chips. Master these three short game shots and see that handicap tumble.
Short game tip: The high lob or flop

This shot can seem intimidating for the average player, because it's easy to hit heavy or thin. It's all about proper technique: Start by placing the ball forward in your stance, open the clubface and address the ball with your hands a bit behind it. Next, on the takeaway, break your wrists fully on the backswing and keep your hands slightly behind the ball so they can release through impact.
Short game tip: Medium pitch shot

Place the ball in the middle of your stance and have your hands directly over the ball. Break your wrists slightly on the takeaway as you bring your arms to waist height. From this position feel as though your right hand is throwing a ball underhand to the follow through (right handed golfers).

Short game tip: Low chip shot

For the low pitch shot play the ball off your back toe and allow your hands to lean slightly forward at address. Make a short backswing with little or no wrist hinge and keep the club low to the ground on the follow-through.



Everyone wants to drive farther that is from the tee area! How can you achieve greater distance with the swing you have? Simple, tee the golf ball higher. The goal is not to hit under the ball, but "sweep" it off the tee smoothly and then make your finish.

When solid contact is made, shots hit above the middle of the face will fly higher and travel farther than shots hit below the center of the face. The reason? Contacting the ball above the center increases the height and reduces spin on the ball, which increases the carry.

Here is how to do this: Imagine you are using a striped range ball, or set the logo facing the clubface. Then, set your club on the ground and make sure at least half of the stripe or logo is above the top of the driver. You are now ready to make a clean "sweep" through the ball. You can practice this on the driving range by setting up five or six tees about three to four inches away from each other in line. You have your club set right if after contact with the tee it flips out of the ground and you did not take any dirt with it!


Remember as well that when you are driving into wind to tee the ball lower to obtain maximum distance. Never try to get "under" the ball-you will end up popping the ball about seventy-five yards straight up! Finally, always pause at the top of your backswing making sure ninety percent of your weight has been transferred to your right side and then "sweep" through to your finish.


Dexter Yarbrough Info :
By having a practice routine for the short game you will be better equipped to handle most surprises on the golf course!

First, SURVEY the area and decide the lie of the ball, terrain and conditions.

Secondly, PICTURE the shot you want to make and the "spot" on the green where you need the ball to land to end up at the pin.


Next, REHEARSE your intended swing to remind your muscles of what they need to execute.

Lastly, EXECUTE the swing that was rehearsed.

After the appropriate shot has been made, EVALUATE the result. If it was a good shot, then store it in your memory bank; if not-then practice an immediate swing correction.

Dexter Yarbrough Chicago

Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”



The goal in golf is to shoot the lowest score possible while enjoying your day on the links. There are many ways to improve your scores: Golf instruction, new equipment and exercise top the list. One certainty, though, is you should not be working on swing mechanics during a round.

Golfers should hone their swing mechanics, chipping, sand play and putting at the practice area. On the course, golfers should focus on course management, the strategy behind each shot, regardless of skill level. Work on improving how you think your way around the course and you will see lower scores.
Course management: Driving

Off the tee, decide the appropriate line of play off the tee. If there is trouble on the left side of the fairway - water, sand trap, trees or out of bounds - tee off on that side; always, always tee off on the side where the trouble is. This will have you lining up and playing away from the hazards.


Try a driver with more loft. Most average golfers think a lower loft driver will increase their distance. Increased loft will help reduce hooking and slicing and lead to longer, straighter drives. (Try a 10.5 lofted driver.) On narrow driving holes consider teeing off with a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron. Use the club you have the most confidence in and you will find more fairways and have fewer penalty shots.
Course management: Irons

On iron shots, break the green into four quadrants: front-left, front-right, back-left and back-right. Play your iron shots into the quadrant that is the safest area on the green to hit. Seeing the flagstick on the green doesn't mean you have to aim at it.

Many pros like to practice by having their caddies remove the flags from the greens so they concentrate on hitting shots toward the safe part, or middle of the green. I've even tried this with my students during playing lessons. It always helps them hit more greens in regulation.
Course management: Pitching and chipping

Rule No. 1 in chipping and pitching is to imagine a circle around the hole; then try to put your ball into that circle. Depending on your skill level, give yourself a target circle you can hit consistently. Make the target smaller as your short game improves.
Course management: Putting

The five-foot putting drill will improve your scores faster than any other area of your game. See how many putts you sink from five feet by hitting balls from four sides of the cup. Now move the balls out to six feet. Continue this drill until you reach 10 feet. When you miss a putt return to the five-foot range and start over.


Dexter Yarbrough Comments :
Yes, there truly is a "secret" of golf. Good players know it, and use it almost subconsciously. The Golfing Machine, by Homer Kelley, describes this "secret" as "clubhead lag" and cites that "It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation, and always present."

What is lag? We've all heard this term, but few know what it means. Lag can be defined as "trailing" or "following" - this means that the clubhead behind the hands coming into Impact.

In this article we will focus on "clubhead lag" and its importance to the golf swing. Clubhead lag is simple because every club is designed to lean forward, the grip end ahead of the clubhead. When an iron is soled correctly, with both the leading and trailing edges on the ground, you will see that the shaft leans forward. If soled incorrectly, the shaft will lean either backward or too far forward. When a club shaft leans too far forward, the clubface loses its correct loft but better to err on the side of too much forward lean.


Clubhead lag is also elusive as it is not only the hands leading the club head, it's also the bending of the club shaft during start down. The initial force of the hands moving toward the ground bends the club shaft.

According to Kelley, "clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration, assuring dependable control of distance - any amount of deceleration during the down stoke dissipates clubhead lag."

Therefore, constant acceleration is needed to ensure a lagging clubhead through impact. So the old "low and slow" is a horrible mistake if you want acceleration in your game.

A prime example of a correctly lagging clubhead would occur when a tour player hits a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the flag and that they are going to hit a 6-iron. A 6-iron! A lot of players would love to hit their driver that far!

In every good swing at the moment of Impact the club shaft is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball and clubface, effectively turning the 6-iron into a 5- or 4-iron.

When the club shaft is stressed and constant acceleration is used, the player gains control of the height and distance of all their clubs. Once this technique is properly applied, it becomes indispensable. The player can then rely on his ability to use the proper amount of lag pressure at any time.

The average player arrives at impact with the hands behind the ball and the club shaft leaning backward. This effectively adds loft and turns that 6-iron into a 7- or 8-iron.

If you play golf with someone that is always complaining that their irons all go the same distance, that player has a backward leaning club shaft. Do what I do, if they tell you their irons are all going the same distance, tell them to just carry one club then!

Clubhead lag is always present once the down stroke has begun. Good players use steady acceleration. Poor players over-accelerate, the hands reaching maximum speed before impact, thus losing the "lag". According to Kelley, "any over-acceleration or pushing away of the club will eliminate the lag, never to be re-attained for that shot."

Therefore, resist any attempt at throwing the hands at the ball or "flicking" the wrists near impact. Remember - the hands lead and the clubhead trails.

Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain clubhead lag.

What does "lag" feel like? It feels exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through impact.

In this drill (figures 4 and 5), I used a towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on the ground, just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball.

This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club, but this time rotate your hips, sternum and the trailing shoulder toward right field. You will notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.

For the next drill (figures 6 and 7), you can simply take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down, you will "feel" like the rope stays on the shoulder as you take your hands directly downward to the ball, or at the "aiming point."

This is called, "rope handle technique" in The Golfing Machine. As you can see here, the "end" of the rope is "lagging" my hands.

A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust, which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.

The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try moving the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a "quitting" motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward.

For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or impact bag like the one shown in figures 10 and 11. Take the club back to waist height with the club shaft parallel to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply rotate the hips, sternum, and right shoulder. This will bring the hands and body to impact position and the club will be lagging!


Dexter Yarbrough Sports
During every round of golf there are always a few holes where extra power is needed to attack the hole. When you want to reach back for that little extra distance, here are a few golf tips Byron Nelson gave me years ago.

Byron told me when coming to a hole where he needed some extra distance, he moved a couple of inches closer to the ball at address. His thinking was when you swing harder, you tend to pull the club in toward your body as you are going through the hitting area.

Second, he choked down about an inch on the grip as he felt he could generate more speed during his swing by choking down a little bit.


Finally, he felt these two changes helped him maintain control of his swing, which allowed him to play these longer drives from the fairway.

Byron felt his consistent driving of the golf ball was what set him up for success. During his streak of winning 11 tournaments in a row, he only remembered missing one fairway during that time. I'm sure that's why they named the Iron Byron machine after him, as he was always in the fairway and long when he needed to be.

Try these tips and add some extra distance when you need it.


Dexter Yarbrough Chicago
Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”


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Contact Dexter Yarbrough

Getting up and down consistently from around the green is critical to improving your golf game, no matter what level of player you are. The three basic shots you need to know are high lob or flop shot, medium pitch and low chips. Master these three short game shots and see that handicap tumble.
Short game tip: The high lob or flop

This shot can seem intimidating for the average player, because it's easy to hit heavy or thin. It's all about proper technique: Start by placing the ball forward in your stance, open the clubface and address the ball with your hands a bit behind it. Next, on the takeaway, break your wrists fully on the backswing and keep your hands slightly behind the ball so they can release through impact.
Short game tip: Medium pitch shot

Place the ball in the middle of your stance and have your hands directly over the ball. Break your wrists slightly on the takeaway as you bring your arms to waist height. From this position feel as though your right hand is throwing a ball underhand to the follow through (right handed golfers).

Short game tip: Low chip shot

For the low pitch shot play the ball off your back toe and allow your hands to lean slightly forward at address. Make a short backswing with little or no wrist hinge and keep the club low to the ground on the follow-through.



Everyone wants to drive farther that is from the tee area! How can you achieve greater distance with the swing you have? Simple, tee the golf ball higher. The goal is not to hit under the ball, but "sweep" it off the tee smoothly and then make your finish.

When solid contact is made, shots hit above the middle of the face will fly higher and travel farther than shots hit below the center of the face. The reason? Contacting the ball above the center increases the height and reduces spin on the ball, which increases the carry.

Here is how to do this: Imagine you are using a striped range ball, or set the logo facing the clubface. Then, set your club on the ground and make sure at least half of the stripe or logo is above the top of the driver. You are now ready to make a clean "sweep" through the ball. You can practice this on the driving range by setting up five or six tees about three to four inches away from each other in line. You have your club set right if after contact with the tee it flips out of the ground and you did not take any dirt with it!


Remember as well that when you are driving into wind to tee the ball lower to obtain maximum distance. Never try to get "under" the ball-you will end up popping the ball about seventy-five yards straight up! Finally, always pause at the top of your backswing making sure ninety percent of your weight has been transferred to your right side and then "sweep" through to your finish.


Dexter Yarbrough Info :
By having a practice routine for the short game you will be better equipped to handle most surprises on the golf course!

First, SURVEY the area and decide the lie of the ball, terrain and conditions.

Secondly, PICTURE the shot you want to make and the "spot" on the green where you need the ball to land to end up at the pin.


Next, REHEARSE your intended swing to remind your muscles of what they need to execute.

Lastly, EXECUTE the swing that was rehearsed.

After the appropriate shot has been made, EVALUATE the result. If it was a good shot, then store it in your memory bank; if not-then practice an immediate swing correction.

Dexter Yarbrough Chicago

Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”



The goal in golf is to shoot the lowest score possible while enjoying your day on the links. There are many ways to improve your scores: Golf instruction, new equipment and exercise top the list. One certainty, though, is you should not be working on swing mechanics during a round.

Golfers should hone their swing mechanics, chipping, sand play and putting at the practice area. On the course, golfers should focus on course management, the strategy behind each shot, regardless of skill level. Work on improving how you think your way around the course and you will see lower scores.
Course management: Driving

Off the tee, decide the appropriate line of play off the tee. If there is trouble on the left side of the fairway - water, sand trap, trees or out of bounds - tee off on that side; always, always tee off on the side where the trouble is. This will have you lining up and playing away from the hazards.


Try a driver with more loft. Most average golfers think a lower loft driver will increase their distance. Increased loft will help reduce hooking and slicing and lead to longer, straighter drives. (Try a 10.5 lofted driver.) On narrow driving holes consider teeing off with a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron. Use the club you have the most confidence in and you will find more fairways and have fewer penalty shots.
Course management: Irons

On iron shots, break the green into four quadrants: front-left, front-right, back-left and back-right. Play your iron shots into the quadrant that is the safest area on the green to hit. Seeing the flagstick on the green doesn't mean you have to aim at it.

Many pros like to practice by having their caddies remove the flags from the greens so they concentrate on hitting shots toward the safe part, or middle of the green. I've even tried this with my students during playing lessons. It always helps them hit more greens in regulation.
Course management: Pitching and chipping

Rule No. 1 in chipping and pitching is to imagine a circle around the hole; then try to put your ball into that circle. Depending on your skill level, give yourself a target circle you can hit consistently. Make the target smaller as your short game improves.
Course management: Putting

The five-foot putting drill will improve your scores faster than any other area of your game. See how many putts you sink from five feet by hitting balls from four sides of the cup. Now move the balls out to six feet. Continue this drill until you reach 10 feet. When you miss a putt return to the five-foot range and start over.


Dexter Yarbrough Comments :
Yes, there truly is a "secret" of golf. Good players know it, and use it almost subconsciously. The Golfing Machine, by Homer Kelley, describes this "secret" as "clubhead lag" and cites that "It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation, and always present."

What is lag? We've all heard this term, but few know what it means. Lag can be defined as "trailing" or "following" - this means that the clubhead behind the hands coming into Impact.

In this article we will focus on "clubhead lag" and its importance to the golf swing. Clubhead lag is simple because every club is designed to lean forward, the grip end ahead of the clubhead. When an iron is soled correctly, with both the leading and trailing edges on the ground, you will see that the shaft leans forward. If soled incorrectly, the shaft will lean either backward or too far forward. When a club shaft leans too far forward, the clubface loses its correct loft but better to err on the side of too much forward lean.


Clubhead lag is also elusive as it is not only the hands leading the club head, it's also the bending of the club shaft during start down. The initial force of the hands moving toward the ground bends the club shaft.

According to Kelley, "clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration, assuring dependable control of distance - any amount of deceleration during the down stoke dissipates clubhead lag."

Therefore, constant acceleration is needed to ensure a lagging clubhead through impact. So the old "low and slow" is a horrible mistake if you want acceleration in your game.

A prime example of a correctly lagging clubhead would occur when a tour player hits a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the flag and that they are going to hit a 6-iron. A 6-iron! A lot of players would love to hit their driver that far!

In every good swing at the moment of Impact the club shaft is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball and clubface, effectively turning the 6-iron into a 5- or 4-iron.

When the club shaft is stressed and constant acceleration is used, the player gains control of the height and distance of all their clubs. Once this technique is properly applied, it becomes indispensable. The player can then rely on his ability to use the proper amount of lag pressure at any time.

The average player arrives at impact with the hands behind the ball and the club shaft leaning backward. This effectively adds loft and turns that 6-iron into a 7- or 8-iron.

If you play golf with someone that is always complaining that their irons all go the same distance, that player has a backward leaning club shaft. Do what I do, if they tell you their irons are all going the same distance, tell them to just carry one club then!

Clubhead lag is always present once the down stroke has begun. Good players use steady acceleration. Poor players over-accelerate, the hands reaching maximum speed before impact, thus losing the "lag". According to Kelley, "any over-acceleration or pushing away of the club will eliminate the lag, never to be re-attained for that shot."

Therefore, resist any attempt at throwing the hands at the ball or "flicking" the wrists near impact. Remember - the hands lead and the clubhead trails.

Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain clubhead lag.

What does "lag" feel like? It feels exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through impact.

In this drill (figures 4 and 5), I used a towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on the ground, just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball.

This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club, but this time rotate your hips, sternum and the trailing shoulder toward right field. You will notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.

For the next drill (figures 6 and 7), you can simply take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down, you will "feel" like the rope stays on the shoulder as you take your hands directly downward to the ball, or at the "aiming point."

This is called, "rope handle technique" in The Golfing Machine. As you can see here, the "end" of the rope is "lagging" my hands.

A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust, which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.

The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try moving the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a "quitting" motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward.

For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or impact bag like the one shown in figures 10 and 11. Take the club back to waist height with the club shaft parallel to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply rotate the hips, sternum, and right shoulder. This will bring the hands and body to impact position and the club will be lagging!


Dexter Yarbrough Sports
During every round of golf there are always a few holes where extra power is needed to attack the hole. When you want to reach back for that little extra distance, here are a few golf tips Byron Nelson gave me years ago.

Byron told me when coming to a hole where he needed some extra distance, he moved a couple of inches closer to the ball at address. His thinking was when you swing harder, you tend to pull the club in toward your body as you are going through the hitting area.

Second, he choked down about an inch on the grip as he felt he could generate more speed during his swing by choking down a little bit.


Finally, he felt these two changes helped him maintain control of his swing, which allowed him to play these longer drives from the fairway.

Byron felt his consistent driving of the golf ball was what set him up for success. During his streak of winning 11 tournaments in a row, he only remembered missing one fairway during that time. I'm sure that's why they named the Iron Byron machine after him, as he was always in the fairway and long when he needed to be.

Try these tips and add some extra distance when you need it.


Dexter Yarbrough Chicago
Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”


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Getting up and down consistently from around the green is critical to improving your golf game, no matter what level of player you are. The three basic shots you need to know are high lob or flop shot, medium pitch and low chips. Master these three short game shots and see that handicap tumble.
Short game tip: The high lob or flop

This shot can seem intimidating for the average player, because it's easy to hit heavy or thin. It's all about proper technique: Start by placing the ball forward in your stance, open the clubface and address the ball with your hands a bit behind it. Next, on the takeaway, break your wrists fully on the backswing and keep your hands slightly behind the ball so they can release through impact.
Short game tip: Medium pitch shot

Place the ball in the middle of your stance and have your hands directly over the ball. Break your wrists slightly on the takeaway as you bring your arms to waist height. From this position feel as though your right hand is throwing a ball underhand to the follow through (right handed golfers).

Short game tip: Low chip shot

For the low pitch shot play the ball off your back toe and allow your hands to lean slightly forward at address. Make a short backswing with little or no wrist hinge and keep the club low to the ground on the follow-through.



Everyone wants to drive farther that is from the tee area! How can you achieve greater distance with the swing you have? Simple, tee the golf ball higher. The goal is not to hit under the ball, but "sweep" it off the tee smoothly and then make your finish.

When solid contact is made, shots hit above the middle of the face will fly higher and travel farther than shots hit below the center of the face. The reason? Contacting the ball above the center increases the height and reduces spin on the ball, which increases the carry.

Here is how to do this: Imagine you are using a striped range ball, or set the logo facing the clubface. Then, set your club on the ground and make sure at least half of the stripe or logo is above the top of the driver. You are now ready to make a clean "sweep" through the ball. You can practice this on the driving range by setting up five or six tees about three to four inches away from each other in line. You have your club set right if after contact with the tee it flips out of the ground and you did not take any dirt with it!


Remember as well that when you are driving into wind to tee the ball lower to obtain maximum distance. Never try to get "under" the ball-you will end up popping the ball about seventy-five yards straight up! Finally, always pause at the top of your backswing making sure ninety percent of your weight has been transferred to your right side and then "sweep" through to your finish.


Dexter Yarbrough Info :
By having a practice routine for the short game you will be better equipped to handle most surprises on the golf course!

First, SURVEY the area and decide the lie of the ball, terrain and conditions.

Secondly, PICTURE the shot you want to make and the "spot" on the green where you need the ball to land to end up at the pin.


Next, REHEARSE your intended swing to remind your muscles of what they need to execute.

Lastly, EXECUTE the swing that was rehearsed.

After the appropriate shot has been made, EVALUATE the result. If it was a good shot, then store it in your memory bank; if not-then practice an immediate swing correction.

Dexter Yarbrough Chicago

Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”



The goal in golf is to shoot the lowest score possible while enjoying your day on the links. There are many ways to improve your scores: Golf instruction, new equipment and exercise top the list. One certainty, though, is you should not be working on swing mechanics during a round.

Golfers should hone their swing mechanics, chipping, sand play and putting at the practice area. On the course, golfers should focus on course management, the strategy behind each shot, regardless of skill level. Work on improving how you think your way around the course and you will see lower scores.
Course management: Driving

Off the tee, decide the appropriate line of play off the tee. If there is trouble on the left side of the fairway - water, sand trap, trees or out of bounds - tee off on that side; always, always tee off on the side where the trouble is. This will have you lining up and playing away from the hazards.


Try a driver with more loft. Most average golfers think a lower loft driver will increase their distance. Increased loft will help reduce hooking and slicing and lead to longer, straighter drives. (Try a 10.5 lofted driver.) On narrow driving holes consider teeing off with a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron. Use the club you have the most confidence in and you will find more fairways and have fewer penalty shots.
Course management: Irons

On iron shots, break the green into four quadrants: front-left, front-right, back-left and back-right. Play your iron shots into the quadrant that is the safest area on the green to hit. Seeing the flagstick on the green doesn't mean you have to aim at it.

Many pros like to practice by having their caddies remove the flags from the greens so they concentrate on hitting shots toward the safe part, or middle of the green. I've even tried this with my students during playing lessons. It always helps them hit more greens in regulation.
Course management: Pitching and chipping

Rule No. 1 in chipping and pitching is to imagine a circle around the hole; then try to put your ball into that circle. Depending on your skill level, give yourself a target circle you can hit consistently. Make the target smaller as your short game improves.
Course management: Putting

The five-foot putting drill will improve your scores faster than any other area of your game. See how many putts you sink from five feet by hitting balls from four sides of the cup. Now move the balls out to six feet. Continue this drill until you reach 10 feet. When you miss a putt return to the five-foot range and start over.


Dexter Yarbrough Comments :
Yes, there truly is a "secret" of golf. Good players know it, and use it almost subconsciously. The Golfing Machine, by Homer Kelley, describes this "secret" as "clubhead lag" and cites that "It is simple, elusive, indispensable, without substitute or compensation, and always present."

What is lag? We've all heard this term, but few know what it means. Lag can be defined as "trailing" or "following" - this means that the clubhead behind the hands coming into Impact.

In this article we will focus on "clubhead lag" and its importance to the golf swing. Clubhead lag is simple because every club is designed to lean forward, the grip end ahead of the clubhead. When an iron is soled correctly, with both the leading and trailing edges on the ground, you will see that the shaft leans forward. If soled incorrectly, the shaft will lean either backward or too far forward. When a club shaft leans too far forward, the clubface loses its correct loft but better to err on the side of too much forward lean.


Clubhead lag is also elusive as it is not only the hands leading the club head, it's also the bending of the club shaft during start down. The initial force of the hands moving toward the ground bends the club shaft.

According to Kelley, "clubhead lag promotes even and steady acceleration, assuring dependable control of distance - any amount of deceleration during the down stoke dissipates clubhead lag."

Therefore, constant acceleration is needed to ensure a lagging clubhead through impact. So the old "low and slow" is a horrible mistake if you want acceleration in your game.

A prime example of a correctly lagging clubhead would occur when a tour player hits a shot. As the player starts their pre-shot the announcer tells us that the player has 193 yards to the flag and that they are going to hit a 6-iron. A 6-iron! A lot of players would love to hit their driver that far!

In every good swing at the moment of Impact the club shaft is leaning forward (toward the target). The hands are in front of the ball and clubface, effectively turning the 6-iron into a 5- or 4-iron.

When the club shaft is stressed and constant acceleration is used, the player gains control of the height and distance of all their clubs. Once this technique is properly applied, it becomes indispensable. The player can then rely on his ability to use the proper amount of lag pressure at any time.

The average player arrives at impact with the hands behind the ball and the club shaft leaning backward. This effectively adds loft and turns that 6-iron into a 7- or 8-iron.

If you play golf with someone that is always complaining that their irons all go the same distance, that player has a backward leaning club shaft. Do what I do, if they tell you their irons are all going the same distance, tell them to just carry one club then!

Clubhead lag is always present once the down stroke has begun. Good players use steady acceleration. Poor players over-accelerate, the hands reaching maximum speed before impact, thus losing the "lag". According to Kelley, "any over-acceleration or pushing away of the club will eliminate the lag, never to be re-attained for that shot."

Therefore, resist any attempt at throwing the hands at the ball or "flicking" the wrists near impact. Remember - the hands lead and the clubhead trails.

Here are some drills to feel, establish, and maintain clubhead lag.

What does "lag" feel like? It feels exactly like dragging a wet heavy string mop through impact.

In this drill (figures 4 and 5), I used a towel. Wrap the towel around the hosel of your club and place the clubhead on the ground, just outside of your trailing foot. Now try to use just your wrists to take the clubface to the ball.

This move is difficult at best and the shaft will be leaning backward. Now replace the club, but this time rotate your hips, sternum and the trailing shoulder toward right field. You will notice a distinct sensation of dragging and a heavy pressure through the ball.

For the next drill (figures 6 and 7), you can simply take a piece of rope and hold it like a club. Go the top of the swing and allow the rope to rest on the top of your right shoulder. As you start down, you will "feel" like the rope stays on the shoulder as you take your hands directly downward to the ball, or at the "aiming point."

This is called, "rope handle technique" in The Golfing Machine. As you can see here, the "end" of the rope is "lagging" my hands.

A properly lagging clubhead produces a strong downward thrust, which adds distance, trajectory, and consistency.

The majority of golfers do just the opposite. They try moving the clubhead with the wrists. This produces a "quitting" motion and the club moves upward toward Impact instead of downward.

For a great drill use a duffel bag, pillow or impact bag like the one shown in figures 10 and 11. Take the club back to waist height with the club shaft parallel to the target line and horizontal to the ground. Now simply rotate the hips, sternum, and right shoulder. This will bring the hands and body to impact position and the club will be lagging!


Dexter Yarbrough Sports
During every round of golf there are always a few holes where extra power is needed to attack the hole. When you want to reach back for that little extra distance, here are a few golf tips Byron Nelson gave me years ago.

Byron told me when coming to a hole where he needed some extra distance, he moved a couple of inches closer to the ball at address. His thinking was when you swing harder, you tend to pull the club in toward your body as you are going through the hitting area.

Second, he choked down about an inch on the grip as he felt he could generate more speed during his swing by choking down a little bit.


Finally, he felt these two changes helped him maintain control of his swing, which allowed him to play these longer drives from the fairway.

Byron felt his consistent driving of the golf ball was what set him up for success. During his streak of winning 11 tournaments in a row, he only remembered missing one fairway during that time. I'm sure that's why they named the Iron Byron machine after him, as he was always in the fairway and long when he needed to be.

Try these tips and add some extra distance when you need it.


Dexter Yarbrough Chicago
Bob Wilson is a member of the Manchester Golf Club in Bedford, N.H. He is a 12-handicap who has been golfing for 47 years, the last three decades of which, without the use of his legs from the knees down.

Wilson is a bilateral amputee as the result of an accident while serving in the U.S. Navy. He is also the executive director of the National Amputee Golf Association (NAGA), editor of Amputee Golfer magazine, and founder, lead instructor, and coordinator of the First Swing Program, which teaches golf to the physically challenged.


For golfers who think the sport is plenty hard enough, even with four working limbs, Wilson’s story sounds remarkable. As it turns out, however, there is a sizable subsection of golfers today who have overcome mobility issues in order to play the game they love.
Inspirational stories

No reliable statistics exist as to the number of people with disabilities who play golf, but according to Wilson, a PGA survey indicated that 24 percent of golfers are not playing due to “injury.” And according to John Hikel, owner of Total Access Golf, a distributor for SoloRider single-rider golf cars especially (but not solely) designed for players with mobility limitations, 22 percent of paralyzed veterans express an interest in playing the game.

Hikel can provide innumerable stories of inspiration and awe from his years of working and playing with disabled golfers. “I watched a golf tournament for amputees several years ago,” he recalls, “and was absolutely amazed at the ability of people with some severe amputations to play the game. I saw a man with one arm and only three fingers, and prosthetics for both legs, hit a 200-yard drive down the middle of the fairway, and hit his second shot on the green. Many golfers with no disability cannot do that!”

Martin Ebel, a Massachusetts attorney, was injured in 1983 and lost both of his legs above the knee. Like Bob Wilson, Ebel values golf as more than just a pastime. “For me, golf is the one thing that I still enjoy as I did before my accident, and playing makes me feel like I am not disabled,” he says. “I know this is true of many amputees – we simply do not feel disabled on the course when we are making golf shots and enjoying the camaraderie of the game.”

Unfortunately, disabled (and senior golfers who have lost mobility) find course access to be a major barrier to their participation in the sport. “On the course we face lots of resistance from the golf industry,” says Ebel. “Generally, golf facilities are not particularly accessible to people with disabilities and unfortunately there are people that take advantage of the accommodations that some golf courses do offer, even though they do not need the accommodations.”
Complying with the law

The Americans With Disabilites Act (ADA) covers public and semi-private golf courses, ensuring that such facilities be accessible to the disabled. Nevertheless, adherence to the law has come only grudgingly.

As reported on the SoloRider website, a landmark 2002 settlement in Indianapolis unambiguously established the rights of disabled golfers. In the settlement the city of Indianapolis agreed with the U.S. Department of Justice “to make necessary changes at all twelve of their municipal golf courses to comply with the requirements of Title II of the American Disability Act (ADA).”

John Hikel, who as a distributor of SoloRider golf cars has an obvious stake in the issue, points out “Most golf courses are either not accessible or do not have a single rider golf car that meets the needs of many disabled people.” He stresses that the ADA “specifically defines golf courses as places of public accommodation.”

Hikel advises golfers with disabilities to be persistent, and to know their rights. “Some people may encounter a golf course that is not accessible and does not welcome a person with a disability,” he explains. “We suggest that the disabled person try to talk with the owner…and encourage them to make accommodation. If refused after sincere and reasonable effort, contact the USGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, SoloRider, and/or local government organizations concerned with discrimination. Hopefully, without civil action, the golf industry will become fully accessible sooner rather than later.”

In addition to the courts, the ruling bodies of golf have also recently moved to embrace disabled golfers. In 1984, Bob Wilson worked to change the decision of golf (14-3/15) regarding artificial devices. According to Wilson, “My lengthy dissertations with (then USGA Executive Director) P. J. Boatwright focused on retention of amputees in the game. Maybe that was the underlying reason for the recent publication of the ‘Modification of the Rules of Golf’ by the USGA and the R&A, which encompasses all forms of disabilities.”
Advances, accessibility, and acceptance

Making a course accessible means more than installing wheelchair ramps into the clubhouse. It also means allowing single-rider carts, such as the SoloRider, onto courses. According to Hikel and SoloRider users such as Martin Ebel and Bob Wilson, course owners and greenkeepers have to overcome a number of prejudices and fears before they embrace these carts.

First and foremost among these concerns are cost and damage to the course. With respect to cost, Hikel points out that “Compliance with the law is far less expensive than a lawsuit, and besides, it's the right thing to do."

With respect to potential damage to the course, new, well-designed auxiliary aids such as the SoloRider feature wide tires and weight distribution schemes that leave imprints on the greens no more sever than those left by golf shoes. As such, the carts are safer for both the course and the golfers than traditional options.

Martin Ebel relates how the new cart technology has helped him enjoy the game: “When I first started playing golf after my accident, I used a wheelchair. The narrow tires were hard on the greens, so I did not putt to avoid damaging them. There were also difficulties in getting from shot to shot in a wheelchair. Eventually, I, like many disabled golfers, began using a three-wheeled scooter to play golf.

"While better than a wheelchair for hitting the ball and not damaging the course, the scooter was not particularly stable. I would regularly fall out of the scooter or tip it over.” Ebel was eager to try the adaptive single-rider cars like the SoloRider when they hit the market. He credits the SoloRider for providing him access to courses, as well as adding ten yards to his shots.

Finally, disabled golfers also have to overcome the preconceptions of able-bodied golfers. Ebel stresses that “Most of us (at least members of the NAGA) also cannot stand slow play. We much prefer four hour rounds to six hour rounds and are painfully aware that we are seen (usually inaccurately) as the cause of slow play.”

Pat McDonald, a parapalegic from the mid-chest down who carries a 1.7 handicap index and teaches golf to other disabled golfers, describes the reactions of able-bodied golfers who watch him swing for the first time as usually “all good.” Nevertheless he says, “They’re shocked when I’m on the green in two and they’re still pitching up.” McDonald adds, “There have been a handful of times when I joined up with a threesome, and by the 13th or 14th hole, one disappears. I ask where he’s gone, and they say he’s quit. Why? Because a guy in a wheelchair is kicking his butt.”

Bob Wilson offers the best way to think about golfers with disabilities: ”We are all golfers who play against the golf course, not each other. If playing the game simply means ‘hitting the ball,’ then there is no difference between us.”


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