My name is Grace Anne Braxton. I got interested in golf by watching professionals at golf tournaments on TV.
I had a wonderful time in Berlin, Germany for the World Games. We spent five days with the team at the host towns of Bremen and Bremerhaven and enjoyed the experience and meeting the people and being there as a team. I thought that Germany did a great job.
The course was tough and had 103 bunkers. It was called the “Faldo Course” at Bad Saarow. I was in fourth place going into the last day. I came from 9 and 12 shots back and shot an 81 to get second place. I made my first eagle in the Special Olympics World Games and four birdies that day. I am very happy with my Silver Medal.
My brother Bill was my caddy, but I have other people helping me out on occasion. His role as my caddy was to tell me what club I should hit at each hole, to help me read the greens and keep me dry when it was raining or hot. It was great to have my brother Bill as my caddy.
The one hard thing about competition was that we had to get up every morning at 5:30 am, eat breakfast, meet in the lobby and take the bus from the hub to the golf course which was half an hour away from Berlin.
As soon as I got back from Berlin, I played in a golf tournament the next day! The day after that, I rested and tried to get back to a normal routine. I had a week-and-a-half after Berlin to get ready to go to Pinehurst, North Carolina for the USGA (United States Golf Association) Adaptive Open. Throughout that week-and-a-half, I was playing golf and practicing a lot on my short game and also had my local newspaper do an interview on me.
Playing in the Adaptive Open was a lot of fun to see people with different abilities and how they play the game of golf. The USGA Adaptive Open has both men and women with different disabilities. I like playing in this one because I get to see my friends who I have met over the years. This tournament is part of the USGA tournament schedule. The disabilities that are included in this are short stature, leg, vision, arm, multiple limb, neurological and intellectual impairment and all playing golf and having a great time with each other.
When I am not playing or practicing golf, I do a lot of walking in my spare time.
I was very happy and honored to represent the Virginia State Golf Association, my hometown, my Country Club and, of course, Special Olympics Virginia.
