Growing up, Wyman Carey was a great athlete with a passion for sport, and specifically baseball. He even spent a few summers playing with a Minor League team in Denver. As he moved into retirement, Carey chose a community in Sun City Hentley, Ill., where the neighborhood focus was on recreation, and he became very involved in both softball and fishing. Unfortunately, four years ago, Carey was in a serious car accident which resulted in a rare spinal cord injury. He no longer was able to take part in those sports which had brought him so much joy. Eager to find a new type of recreational activity, a neighbor phoned Carey last year and invited him to join a one-armed game of golf. Throughout 2006, Carey fell in love with the game and was able to receive instruction from the individuals at RevelationGolf, Inc., in Illinois. Recently, the Resource Center caught up with Carey to find out what sparked his interest in the game.

RC: When did you develop a passion for the game?

WC: Last year a neighbor and I started playing one-armed golf. It started out being very frustrating but also was very challenging. And that's when I first really got involved with golf; it provided something to me which had recreational fun, and I really, really have enjoyed playing.

RC: Describe your best moment on the golf course.

WC: My best moment on the golf course was sinking a 30 foot putt. I started out playing golf and I was horrible, and by the end of the year I progressed to terrible. And hopefully this year, with the help from the people at RevelationGolf, I will improve to bad (laughs). Once I made that putt, I knew I could really do it again.

RC: Describe your worst moment on the golf course.

WC: My worst moment was when I first tried to hit a golf ball. It certainly went astray, and there were a lot of people watching.

RC: What physical and mental obstacles do you have to overcome when you play?

WC: I don't have any mental obstacles. The physical ones are primarily those that are concerned with the disability that I have. The type of injury I have is a very rare spinal cord injury, but I do have the function of walking. So it's basically the one-arm playing, and the basic limitations of the injury itself. I want to be the best one-armed golfer in Sun City.

RC: What advice would you give to a person with a disability who wanted to learn how to play?

WC: Go and do it! Try and locate individuals who are knowledgeable in working with people with disabilities, because they are very helpful and they provide a lot of encouragement. It can be a lot of fun - even if you're not using two arms.