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More Than A Game

Mark Pinson/Highlands Today

Maggie Weder prepares to hit her tee shot on the first hole during the 54th annual Harder Hall Women's Invitational Golf Tournament.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: January 13, 2009

SEBRING - Maggie Weder's mere presence elicits a genuine flood of affection from everyone she meets.

The lady golfer, who was in town for the Harder Hall Women's Invitational over the weekend, was met by smiles and hugs when she teed off on the first hole on Thursday before drilling a nice drive down the fairway.

But it's not long drives that Weder is after whenever she is on the course.

"I'm after birdies and a lot of them," said Weder.

What most people don't know is that Weder has suffered from multiple sclerosis for the past 18 years and has dedicated her life to making a difference in those that are less fortunate.

"I'm here to fight for people that can't fight for themselves," Weder said. "I've seen first hand the good it does when someone decides to help.

"You look at a mother with MS who can't hold her small children. Her husband couldn't take dealing with her disease and the kids and he walks out. This money will help her get treatment and hopefully get her life back so she enjoys the time she has with her kids."

She is quick to tell anyone what the game of golf has given her since she picked up those clubs.

"Golf saved my life," said Weder, who is a former United States Marine drill instructor. "I couldn't get a spoon in my mouth and I thought my life was over, but a neurologist suggested I take up golf. I thought he was crazy, but I was able to regain my motor functions. I was amazed that I was able to retrain my muscles and hit the ball."

Soon, Weder was hitting drives harder and harder, but then came the task of learning to putt, which became a huge obstacle for this once proud Marine.

"I really don't have any touch and putting is all about touch, so I had to learn to take a degree or two of power off my shots so my putts would drop," Weder said. "I was so blessed when I made my first putt. I couldn't believe it. I was 35 years old and I couldn't even write my name one day and the next I'm sinking putts and playing golf.

"My confidence was at an all-time high."

Golf Is Easy, Life Is Hard

Weder's motto is a simple one but one that hits to the heart of anyone she meets.

"Golf is easy. Life is hard." is the saying that sticks with Weder ever since she picked up the golf clubs and taught herself to play back in 1997.

Weder is asked so many times to speak about how she's overcome her struggles to the younger group of golfers and is still amazed at the things that the younger generation worries over.

"I see so many girls at the different tournaments getting frustrated and stressing out on the silliest of things. They are blinded by success and being the best. I always tell them that this is just a game. There are more things that will challenge you in life. Golf is easy."

Back On The Course

After years of rehabilitation and finally taking up golf, Weder gave up the game of golf after a setback. She told herself that she wouldn't play another round until she was asked to play in a tournament to raise money for the Gimbel Center in New Jersey.

"I told then "No" numerous times," Weder said. "I had given up, not only on golf, but myself. I was ready to give up my life. How can I fight something I can't cure? But I went on a trip to the tournament and I was in awe of the center and also what I could contribute.

"I was back on the course."

It was then that Weder founded Golfin 4 MS, which is her own charity that gives to needy patients of MS that can't afford treatment on their own.

Weder finds any tournament she can enter and people pledge a certain amount for every birdie or eagle that is on her scorecard at the end of any tournament.

The catch is that Weder MUST finish the round and sign her scorecard, which isn't as easy at it sounds to a player with MS.

"I've been to the point where I've played 11 or 12 holes and I'm feeling so fatigued that I can barely move my legs that I want to quit," Weder said. "But I can't quit and it takes everything I have to finish the next six holes and sign that card."

The past year has seen her fatigue level increase and the challenges in finishing tournaments have become harder and harder.

"I remember I was playing in a qualifying tournament in North Carolina for a spot to move on to the championships in Tulsa. I hit a ball in the water and for the first time I said out loud "I quit." Weder said. "The thing about quitting is that it becomes really easy after the first time you do it, so I forced myself to continue.

"On the very next hole, I hit a hole-in-one. I raised a lot of money on that one hole because people pledge more for that rare feat. If I had quit, I wouldn't have raised that money.

"I then finished the round and made the final spot to go to Tulsa and finished with two birdies and a hole-in-one."

Forever A Friend

Weder travels around the country and the world playing in tournaments on the grace of friends using airline miles or hotel nights. Every dime she raises goes to Golfin 4 MS.

During her travels, Weder has compiled a "life list" of moments that she says that she wants to complete before she has lived her life. From playing against Morgan Pressel to being invited to the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship on The Old Course at St. Andrews in Scotland back in 2006, Weder has fulfilled numerous entries in her life list and says that her Scotland trip is the highlight.

"That was an amazing year for me because I sat next to and talked with Ernie Els and Retief Goosen," Weder said. "They all welcomed me with open arms and are friends forever.

"I meet so many people on my travels and they all become friends forever. I'm not going to be doing this for very much longer, but I hope that one of those friends will keep Golfin 4 MS going long after I'm gone."

For more information on obtaining a pledge sheet or to make a donation e-mail or CHAMP4MS@aol.com or GOLFINFORMS@aol.com

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com.

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