Who needs to see to play golf? Teen proves he doesn't
9:13 a.m. Wednesday, August 13, 2008
"Yes, that's the drive of the day," said 15-year-old Matt Cooper on a recent golfing trip.
Matt knew it was a good drive by the sound it made. You'd never know by looking at his swing that he's blind.
"3 would be the age I was diagnosed as being blind," he said.
Doctors discovered a brain tumor was causing Matt to lose his eyesight. They removed 80 percent of the tumor, and Matt is receiving chemo to control it.
His family moved to North Carolina to be near the Duke Medical Center.
"I went to a clinic for junior blind golfers. That's when I really started getting into it," he said.
That's where he met his coach, Frank Maynard.
"He's got a great swing and a positive attitude, which is helpful on a golf course," Maynard said.
Matt's never seen a golf swing, so he depends on his other senses. his coach lines him up -- giving him an audible cue for direction -- and sets his club. Then Matt then has to feel his way through the swing. Balance is the toughest part without sight.
"The hardest thing to overcome is learning it more by feel," Matt said.
On the greens, Matt's dad, Daniel, taps the flag stick in the hole so Matt can get a sense of the distance before he putts.
"Thats the one advantage. I'm not worrying about following it," he said.
His parents couldn't be more proud.
"He's made the best at what he was dealt. I think he'll do well and keep going," Daniel said.
"We always say he may be blind, but he's sees way more than any of us see," Wendy, Matt's mom, said.
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