Shame on Them: Surviving My Childhood

I lived a life of extremes...When my life was good, it was great, and when it was bad, it was horrific. As a child, I suffered every form of abuse. I blamed myself while I fought for a better life. I yearned for normalcy as my family became more dysfunctional and dangerous. At age twelve, I was crippled by my insatiable desire for adulation. Full of rage, I ran away from hockey, although supremely talented. Then, I discovered golf. I was instantly deemed a natural. On the practice range, I developed what many considered the best swing in the world, but on the course, my demons resurfaced.Despite my emotional struggles, I had several miraculous experiences as a golfer. At fifteen, I won a longest-drive competition against professional golfers by 50 yards. At seventeen, I turned pro and spent a year frequently practicing with Jack Forche who many consider the greatest golfer of all time. Tragically, I continued to struggle emotionally, so I sold my golf clubs and ran away to live as a Beatnik in NYC. Later, I made another extreme decision to join the Army where I threatened to commit suicide: I spent six months in a mental institution. Then, four years away from the game, I entered the Kendal Open where I competed against the greatest golfers in the world. With a five-shot lead and nine holes to play... I lived a life of extremes.