Calgary Golfer Has Sights Set On Tourney, Helping Others
- Details
- Category: Inside Golf
- Published: 2021-09-15
By GORD MONTGOMERY, Inside Golf
CALGARY, Alberta — Back in the summer of 2017 Kyle Miller made headlines in the golf world as the first player with cerebral palsy to tee it up in a PGA-sanctioned event, when he took part in the ATB Financial Classic in Calgary. He’s now repeating that journey but to him the fact he’s playing, and hoping to win, actually plays second fiddle to his ultimate goal — showing others with a disability what can be done no matter what life throws at you.
Speaking from Calgary, where he’s been honing his game for this year’s PGA TOUR Canada event to again be hosted at Country Hills G&CC, Miller agreed that first time in the spotlight will help him in his second go-around.
“Obviously, being able to play a course in tournament conditions the first time will be a lot different than this time around. I know what to expect a lot more this time around. And, I’m also in a lot better shape game-wise and health-wise.”
The Calgary golf pro, who is in the tourney on a sponsor’s exemption, noted he’s been playing more golf and some strength and weight gains will help him cope with the stress and physical demands of possibly playing 72 holes. Even though he has a disability he will be expected to walk in each of his rounds. But he feels he can now bring what’s needed to the course to succeed in the professional golf game. At the same time though, he realizes he is a symbol of hope for others with cerebral palsy, both in his appearance at the Calgary tourney and through a recently released book he penned that he hopes inspires others.
Book Copies Generated Through The Unique Perspective Movement Will Be Distributed To Shriners Hospital For Children Locations. The Movement Has The Goal Of Generating 1,000 Book Copies For Each Hospital Location. The Shriners Hospital For Children Has Over 100 Locations Worldwide.
In teeing it up on the Tour again, Miller noted, “If I can do it many others can look at what I’v been able to do to make things happen or achieve. It’s also why I wrote the book, Unique Perspective: Keys In Realizing True Potential, to be able to offer some direct insight on my mindset on how I’m able to create things to happen and also to dig a little deeper into the example of what can be achieved.”
“The book has been in me since I was a kid. I always knew I was going to become an author and I always knew I was going to put an initiative forward,” which is part and parcel of him self-publishing this particular work. Miller hopes to have the book sold in lots, varying in sizes of 10, 25, 50 and 100 copies, which will then be donated to hospitals and passed along to patients with a similar disability as his.
“This book directly benefits the Shriners Hospitals for Children organization. The books purchased will be donated to the hospitals for the patients to receive during treatment or as a going home gift.”
Miller noted that while this book deals with a specific handicap, it in fact goes beyond that.
“I think it’s a good read for everybody. You know, the whole concept of realizing true potential and that goes for everyone in life. Many times we take things for granted but on the other hand for those that don’t have as much going for them, or opportunities, that’s where you take whatever cards you were dealt into the best situation you can.”
While he didn’t make the cut in his first such tournament a few years back, Miller has higher hopes this time out. “In 2017 I definitely didn’t perform on the golf course the way I wanted. It’s going to be much easier to do better than that. I just feel like this will be a good opportunity to have my own personal redemption on the track,” and through that, and the sale and distribution of his book, Miller hopes there can well be better days ahead for many. The tournament begins on September 16.
To order his book which will be donated to hospitals in Canada and the U.S., (the first copies go to hospitals in Montreal, Spokane and Tampa) go to his website at uniqueperspectivemovement.com. The books sell at $9.99 each and for those that choose to support this cause by making a purchase, they will receive an autographed copy.
“I’m looking to raise 10,000 books to be donated to hospitals,” he said when asked about his hopes for the tournament, showing his care here is about others more so than himself. “As far as the golf, I’m confident that will take care of itself.”