I am a paraplegic and have been playing golf from a seated position since 1991. I am a mechanical engineer, which I think has helped me analyze equipment and even build new gear as needed.

Adapted Golf Cars

The first golf cart I played from was an old EZ-Go three-wheeled cart adapted with a swivel seat with the help of friends (it's impossible to overstate the importance of good friends). After that, I worked with my county park authority to adapt a vehicle for use at each of their public golf courses. I have also worked with one of the manufacturers of single-rider adapted golf carts, performing extensive pre-market testing.

It's important to have a solid base to swing from that will get you safely around the golf course along with your clubs and other golf stuff. I do not believe that playing from my wheelchair is a viable option because I would be dependent on others to get around the golf course and it would wear me out physically. Playing golf with me would be a burden to my foursome. And depending on the golf course, playing from a wheelchair is just plan dangerous.

There are now a number of single-rider adapted golf cars. Some have swivel seats, which are essential for someone who plays for the seated position. Others have a stationary seat which is sufficient for a golfer that needs to drive to his or her ball, but can play standing up. See the Carts section for more.

Golf Clubs

I am not a golf instructor, but I do know that the club must be flat on the ground at impact. See your local golf professional to be fitted properly. The problem faced by someone playing in the seated position is that clubs are generally manufactured in a more upright position, so the toe of the club is sticking up in the air at impact. This means that most clubs that you buy at your local golf shop don't fit! Your options are to buy forged golf clubs and get a club fitter to bend them to the proper lie angle, or use of the shelf cast clubs that do not fit you properly. Another option is to work with RTS Golf, a company that custom fits cast clubs to the proper angle using an angled insert between the shaft and club head. You can reach Victor Kibalchich at 440-960-2004. I have done both of the above and after more than 10 years of experimenting I use the RTS clubs. The performance is simply best for me.

Totin' Bonz makes clubs that are cast at a very flat lie for the seated golfer. This sounds perfect, as the clubs look nice and are weighted well for the seated golfer, including flexible shafts. The driver is nice and has a very large head. However, the irons are cast too flat for me (about 42 degrees, vs. 51 degrees for my 7-iron). The manufacturer told me that I could bend the clubs but my club fitter snapped the iron after bending it only 1 degree. They could be perfect for you, however. Contact them at: