“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others. “- Albert Schweitzer. Marty was born with severe cerebral palsy and a passion for golf. He is not only an avid player but also has been teaching golf for many years. He founded Therapeutic Golf Foundation in 2009 with a mission of teaching golf as therapy for the disabled at no cost. Through his foundation, Marty compassionately teaches golf as therapy to veterans with traumatic brain Injuries and to others with special needs with a goal of enriching their lives. His foundation has received the Platinum level of transparency from the Guidestar Charity Ratings.

How did you get interested in golf? What challenges did you face and how did you train yourself?M: My uncle and my dad were practicing on a putting green at a local park and I tried to putt the ball and I hit it in the hole. Sometime after that my dad cut down an old wooded shafted golf club to my size when I was about 7 years old. I taught myself to hit a golf ball in the back yard and I was fortunate to live across the street from the Mira Vista Country Club in El Cerrito, California.
I taught myself how to hit a golf ball and then when my family finally joined the country club I was able to take lessons at about age 11 or 12.
The challenges I faced then are pretty much the same challenges I face today. People can’t believe what I can do until they see it. When people did finally see my skill level they wanted to help me out and then take credit for my lifetime of work. Another challenge back then was to sneak out on the golf course during the slow hours and play a couple of holes at Mira Vista when my family were not members.

How and when did you start Marty Turcios’ Therapeutic Golf Foundation? How is the special needs community benefiting from this foundation?M: I actually developed the non-profit 20 years after I began teaching as a way to be able to raise money to offset the costs of the ongoing program already in place that had increasing expenses due to the increasing number of participants.
We provide medically relevant therapeutic recreation, utilizing golf, on a near daily basis to any severely disabled person in the entire CSRA area around Augusta Georgia at no cost to the individuals who are disabled nor their families using the latest high-tech equipment. We also assist our participants in acquiring whatever adaptations necessary for them to continue playing golf independently.

Which one of your achievements is closest to you heart and why?M: Although I am not published I developed a leisure educational model for self-directed leisure based on principles of recreation and therapy coinciding with my golf experience.

Who is your favorite golfer? Which of his/her quality do you like the most?M:  This is a question that I have contemplated for a number of years. Knowing that someday I would be asked this question! I grew up watching Jack Nicholas and Arnold Palmer who were my favorites as a youth. As far of favorites today I love to watch Rickie Fowler, Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia. My all-time favorite would have to be me!

Quality I like the most about these players
• Jack Nicholas: True gentleman of the game
• Arnold Palmer: True gentleman of the game, also he wrote to me.
• Rickie Fowler: Brings an image of the “homie” to the golf game, which I really love. Rickie grew up near when I got my Bachelor’s Degree, in the Central Valley of California.
• Phil Mickelson: Brings a presence of excellence while having demons of his own that he has to overcome. He has arthritis and he’s a SouthPaw. I would like to know him better.
• Sergio Garcia: Continues to teach me why you should not get emotional over golf!

What kind of challenges did you face during school days? How did you overcome those challenges?M: I went to a small private school for children with orthopedic disabilities for grammar and junior high. I was the smallest kid with cerebral palsy and was forced to wear braces and a helmet. I was constantly picked on and underestimated.
I overcame my challenges by my willingness to survive. It was not until I got into recovery that I learned that my biggest problem was that I was expected to conform to everybody else’s expectations. I quit trying to conform. In graduate school I discovered that conformity is one of the greatest barriers to personal growth. Of course I graduated with honors.

What are your other hobbies?M: I enjoy camping, fishing, gourmet meals, college football and I have several pets, including a dog named Mimi WooWoo.

What is your favorite place to visit? What do you like about that place?M: Yosemite! Yosemite has a very spiritual atmosphere.

What do you like to do when you are with your family/friends?M: Play golf, eat, play poker, watch football, show off my dog!

What tips/advice do you have for those in our community who are interested in trying out golf?M:  First of all, they can contact us by going to our website, www.therapeuticgolfclinic.com, and I can help them get started learning how to play golf and I can help with any ability. I can also connect them to adaptive golf opportunities in any area of the world.

Any special message for our community?M: We can always use help and support through volunteers, fund raising and donations. I’m also looking for corporate sponsors so I can offer them advertising opportunities that will benefit golf therapy.