Two holes in one? Is a Parkinson’s cure next?

In 2006, at the age of 57, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a chronic, progressive, neurological disease. That year I retired to enjoy the fruits of over 40 years of work. Like all people who receive life-changing news, I was devastated, but I was fortunate that I had a wise wife. Cecily reacted to the news in an unexpected way. Her response was “Thank God it is not something that is going to kill you in 90 days. We can deal with this.” Retirement offered many opportunities to do things you really never had done before. One of those was golf. I had played golf on a very sporadic basis during my life, but not in a way to have a golf swing. Over the years my game has improved, but I knew that I would only be a mid-handicap player due to rigidity, a major symptom of Parkinson’s, and the hourly fluctuation of symptoms caused by the short efficacy of the medications. Despite the challenges, golf along with other exercise seemed to slow the progression of the disease. It is every golfer’s dream to make a hole in one. So on May 6, 2013, I was ecstatic to achieve that dream. Of course I celebrated and then went back to playing golf. I was different then before because now I knew I could make a hole in one on any par 3, because I had done it. Being an optimist didn’t hurt either.On September 14, 2014, I was fortunate to make my second hole in one.

Again it was a time for celebration. Both holes in one were made on my home two courses at Lake Ashton, but they were on separate courses.Eight days later on September 22nd we reached the first par 3, my golfing partners were giving me a hard time about since I had gotten a hole in one the week before, why don’t you just do it again. Laughing I stepped up to the ball and hit it. To my surprise it was a good shot, and to our surprise it went in the hole.Two holes in one in eight days.The odds of that happening are astronomical, even for a player who doesn’t have Parkinson’s.I reflected on the accomplishment and tried to put in context. I have spent the last eight years living with Parkinson’s and preaching to all that will listen to keep active, positive and fight the fight. You never know what you can accomplish when you try.Maybe next Monday they will find a cure for Parkinson’s.