CINCINNATI — Over the years, sports organizations have become more inclusive and adaptive to ensure people with disabilities can play along. 

But even sports like golf can be challenging for someone with a disability. That's especially the case for Marc Van Rafelghem, who has been golfing for more than 30 years. 

What You Need To Know

  • Marc Van Rafelghem has been golfing for more than 30 years

  • Van Rafelghem has a neurological disorder called Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia, which makes it difficult for him to stand

  • But thanks to the single passenger cart, he is able to adjust his seat to help him get in a golfing stance

  • The golf carts can be found at Great Parks of Hamilton County golf courses

“I thought I’d try my hand at golf,” said Van Rafelghem. “It was difficult in the beginning because I’ve played at first standing up with a cane to keep my balance.”

Van Rafelghem relies on this single passenger cart to help him navigate across the course. That’s because he was born with a neurological disorder called hereditary spastic paraplegia. It started taking a toll on his body at age 8.

“Started dragging my feet, had trouble keeping my balance, a lot of spasticity in my legs and it progressively got worse,” he said. 

But he’s never let his disability get in the way. He’s played all kinds of adaptive sports all his life. Golf, he said, helps keep him in shape.

“The main thing with playing golf is that I need to exercise my legs so they stay strong enough to keep them stable even though I can’t fully stand on them,” he said. 

For years, Van Rafelghem has either golfed with his cane or while in his wheel chair. But it wasn’t until he was introduced to the single passenger cart that he was able to fully immerse himself into the sport.

“I have the ability to more or less stand while I play,” he said. “I’m not from a seated position, and when you sit in a wheelchair or a chair in a seated position, it’s hard to swing the club because your knees kind of get in the way.”

Great Parks of Hamilton County currently has eight of those carts available at most their golf courses. 

“It’s kind of shame when you go to different states on vacation where they are quote on quote the Mecca you can’t find them,” he said. 

It is his wish that more golf courses across the country start investing in these carts, and he said he’s grateful for places like great parks where he does have the opportunity to play.

“It’s great that Great Parks has as many carts available as they do and programs for people with disabilities and veterans,” he said.