Both Ramon Padilla and Jake Keesler are U.S. Army veterans who love to play golf. But it hasn't been easy for either one. Padilla is missing his left arm and Keesler lost both legs from an improvised explosive device (IED) blast.
"The IED went off right directly underneath my gunners hatch and kind of pulverized my legs,” said Keesler.
So TaylorMade Golf and the west coast organization known as "Operation Game On," are helping returning troops, like Kessler, along the road to recovery.
Founder Tony Perez said golf provides a way to rehabilitate troops who are injured.
"It helps them in that they now focus on something different than their injuries and it also builds their confidence level, their character,” explained Perez.
Sensors that are placed on key points of the body allow the TaylorMade Performance Labs to analyze both the golfer and the ball.
Then motion cameras capture a 3D image of what the golfer looks like during their swing and tells them what they are doing wrong.
Padilla made his own specific activities arm attachment that allows him to play golf. He said golf is helping him not only physically, but mentally.
"It lets you think, it lets you process. And I think that is helping me especially with my PTSD and my traumatic brain injury. It's helping my brain grow,” Padilla said.
TaylorMade is giving both wounded warriors a complete set of clubs.
Keesler said those clubs will help him encourage others the next time he plays.
"When you are out on the golf course and playing with some of the wounded guys and seeing what it's doing for them. It really motivates me to be able to get out there and help these guys and try to give back to them,” Keesler said.
You can help raise money for the associations that use golf to veterans as rehabilitation.
TaylorMade Golf is selling stars and stripes "heart" hats with part of the proceeds going to Operation Game On and Salute Military Golf Association.
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