Maggie Weder is an decorated armed forces officer, a retired US Marine Corps veteran. She lives with multiple sclerosis since being diagnosed in 1991. She started playing golf as therapy in 1997 and it has given her a chance to keep living every day. The only life she was willing to give was hers for her country, but in 1991 that all ended. After serving almost 15 years on active duty, she was set aside on a temporary medical retirement and was permanently retired from US Marine Corps in 1997.
She is a lifetime member of the DAV, the Disable Veteran's organization, and is considered by her former Commanding Officers to be one of the finest Marines to have served with in their tours of duties. She started her career as an enlisted legal services specialist and received a commission to Warrant Officer after 12 years. Her commission was received at the Marine Barracks, 8th and I St, Washington, D.C. during a rehearsal for the famed Friday night parade.
She had served as a Drill Instructor at Parris Island during the late 70's and is responsible for the initiation of the Physical Conditioning Platoon, a second chance for recruits who struggle in basic training. Her awards include 2 Navy Commendation Medals, other personal commendations and unit awards. She was consider among the elite and was a top athlete when her career was altered and then ultimately cut short. She played at golf but never in competition, but she did represent them in all other sports, golf was never her passion, the Marine Corps was her life.
After years of rehabilitation and determination I found golf at the suggestion of a doctor, it would perhaps enhance or help me regain my motor functions. Every day for months I would practice, I had a golf magazine pull out of Moe Norman's swing sequence, I studied it and adapted the motion to my physical limitations. These are the only lessons I have been given, reading a golf article and practicing. After years of teaching myself to play golf, I had a set back and refused to play another round. In 2004, I was at the end of my battle and ready to give up, my phone rang. The director of the Gimbel Center, a MS Comprehensive Care Center was asking to become involved in their charity golf tournament, I refused. After continued persistence by a friend just to go and see what it was about, I went. My friend knew I was giving up, it was then I knew that I had given up and my friends were gathering to search for any means necessary to keep my alive.
I returned from the trip, renewed and had to give something back to this center. People were excited and "in awe" of how I hit a golf ball and far it would go. I had raised over $1,000.00 hitting charity drives on one hole. My thank you to them, I came home and started "GOLFIN 4 MS".
Golfin 4 MS is me playing any tournament I can find to enter. Once I have played the round, I must finish and sign the scorecard. If there are any birdies or eagles on the card it is put into the pledge total. Individuals pledge a certain amount for every birdie or eagle I make during the round. But, there is a catch I have to finish the round and sign the card for the score to be included in the pledge total. I could shoot 90 with a birdie and this is what makes me not quit at any point during the round. I have been asked to quit by my playing partners who see I am struggling an any given day. I cannot, I have rounds that I was approaching a 90 score, but I had one birdie, so I had to finish to receive the pledge. I am currently a 1 handicap, I can play to a 20 at any moment, because this disease strikes without warning and you are helpless. You must adapt and move on during the round, I do just that, it is after all just a game.
Anyone who participates is making me live, making play, making a reason for me to continue on in a fight I cannot see. But, the donations are going to a center which will assist those who do not have the means to pay for their "fight". The Gimbel Center assists those with or without insurance, this disease is costly and I am fortunate. I served my country and was willing to give my life for these freedoms, now I serve those who cannot afford to live day to day.
In 2004, I raised over $4,000.00 for the center, making 91 birdies in 25 tournaments. In 2005, I raised over $14,000.00, making 71 birdies and 1 eagle. This increase is in part due some very special donations at a tournament where I met Mr. Norman before he passed away. Any amount you pledge will sent to the Gimbel Center, I receive no stipends in the assistance of this charity, I pay my own tournament fees, all donations are forwarded to the MS Center.
I have designed my own wristbands, they glow in the dark with embossed lettering, GOLFIN 4 MS. There is light at the end of this tunnel and with this on my wrist it helps me find my way to live for just one more day. If you wish to have one, or a few, the only place to obtain one is thru me. I want to keep a personal touch with anyone who donates, it gives me another face to remember why I am strill fighting. Help me to continue to help others by pledging for one tournament or the entire golf season in 2007. I have been scheduled to play over 20 events across the nation, I am a "amatuer golfer", not a professional. I recieve no paycheck for playing golf, all donations are again, for the MS Center.
The center and the services it provides can be seen at http://www.msccc.org. Also if you wish to see other related stories just search by entering "Maggie Weder".
Playing in over 40 tournaments in the past 2 years, they include the South Atlantic Amateur (SALLY), Harder Hall Women's Invitational, the Doherty/Jones Challenge Cup, Women's International Four-Ball. These tournaments are all the top female amateurs in the field and are the finest tournaments to start every year.
The Sally holds a special spot to me and I will always enter as long as I can walk, it's where I met Mr. Norman. The members at Oceanside CC have embraced me as one of their own and continue to be the largest contributor to the Golf 4 MS. The personal encouragement they give me is what takes through out the remainder of the year and always thoughtful to remind me of what I can do to help others. One the most inspirational stories that has been written was by Sean Kernan, a staff writer who wrote how my Hero help me to change my swing and my life. (poc sean.kernan@news-jrnl.com )
The Doherty/Jones Cup in my first year 2005 was my most memorable, I made it through to the semi finals against Ms. Morgan Pressel. I may have lost the match, but I completed part of my "life list", to play against the best player, just once in my golfing career. This past year a golf week writer during the Doherty caught me on the driving range in the dark. I was still having fun by trying to figure out how far the ball was going in the twilight. Beth Ann Baldry, wrote an "Unexpected Inspiration", she is one of the best people to talk to, kind and very considerate to understand that I do not always speak very well. I usually slur, and am slow to speak, very distracted in conversations when I am end of a tournament day. Her story was so well written that I have had comments sent to me, you should send them to her, she did a "inspirational" job, (poc www.golfweek.com ). Her columns are in the Our Take section of the magazine.
During the spring and summer months, the largest number of tournaments are played, the heat is hardest competitor for me to face. The State Tournament, local USGA Qualifiers, participated in the USGA Mid-AM in 2004, and was selected to the USGA State Team in 2005. Represented the NC Women in the South East Women's Team Competition for the past 4 years. This team competition is 5 states, with 9 team members playing in a three day format of best ball, alternate shot and singles matches. This tournament allows a Ryder Cup version for the top women amateurs in Southern states to compete each year. One of my favorites was participating the Golf Channel's Viewers Cup during the past years. During a tournament round at Pinehurst, I was interviewed by Mr. Vince, that was aired on the Golf Channel Golf Central 7/30/05. www.tgc.com .
The Natural Golf company, magazine@naturalgolf.com , the individuals that read stories and knew the history of Moe Norman, did not know how he change my life. I had the privilege to spend time with Moe and thank him for saving my life with his way of swinging, this memory will be with me forever in my heart. The company heard my story and have taken me in as one of their own, as a "Natural Golfer", I cannot thank them enough for their thoughtfulness. Every one who struggles, or even as I do to just stand up, should adapt certain natural philosophies so we all can continue to play golf.
2006 was a special year, I traveled for the first to Scotland and played at the home of golf. The trip was unexpected and a surprise to myself, a 48th birthday in Scotland, playing the Old Course. I met many special people and still remain in contact with them, they say I inspire them. They gave me memories to go on, so I can return someday and play in the Ladies British Mid-Am again. To my travel companions, thank you, to the Wood Family, I cannot thank you enough for your thoughts and encouragement to play on. I played in the Women's British Mid-Am at the Nairn Golf Club in Scotland. My playing companions paid for the birdies I made during the tournament and for the birdies their friends made, the donation was unexpected. I also met the Stirling University Ladies Golf Team, some of the most respectful young women for the game of golf. Memories to keep me moving on and entering one more tournament.
During the past few years I have struggled to understand how to fight something I cannot see. I have met hundreds of people who are inspired by my heart and struggle to just play a game. It is just a game, but it saved my life, my quality of life. I have risen every day to only wait to see what is working and what will I fight today. My vision, my legs going in different directions, my hands struggling to even pick up my beloved coffee. Anger, frustration, the why me phase, yes all have come to me and gone, but they do return and you move through it, around it, over it, and maybe under it. I have a hard time understanding or listening to what we cannot do, tell yourself what can I do, then just try. Not trying is failure, so you have failed before you started, Golf 4 MS was started to try and make me get up and face the day. There was a time, and there still are days when I fail to see me winning the battle, I use golf to experience people. People who do care, strangers who had me checks because they have a loved one who has given up. I fight for those who need someone to help them understand, and let us try to give them the proper medical attention or medicines to help them in their day to day struggles. As MS wreaks havoc on your body, it's only fair that the strangers I am trying to help can have the same treatment I am receiving. There is very special person in all of us, "for those who say it cannot be done, you should not interrupt the person doing it".
John Daly once told me I was his hero, I never knew why, he is one of my "life list" completion. I played l8 holes with Mr. Daly and that memory is still keeping me going, thank you John. He said for serving my country and volunteering to give my life for the freedom he has, I am a hero. I am no hero, I am someone trying to make a difference in people. The strangers I help will become friends, I some day will be gone but I hope that "Golfin 4 MS" will continue with a friend.
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