ROSEWOOD golfer Jason Smith is displaying wonderful club spirit and a sense of humour as he deals with his ongoing issues.
Jason is waiting surgery on his right shoulder, adding to his loss of sight in one eye and missing fingers on both hands.
He also experienced two epilepsy attacks in the past but thankfully not in recent times.
Despite having some bad days, Jason continues to support his Rosewood Golf Club friends while hoping to one day return to the greens as a player.
“There’s two Jason Smiths out there – I’m the good-looking one,” he said.
“I don’t mind going out there and seeing all the people at Rosewood.
“I’ve got good mates out there.”
They include Rosewood club champion Jack Wojcicki, who Jason gave a huge hug after the rising player’s recent success.
“He’s a good kid. I had tears in my eyes seeing him win it,” Jason said.
Jason also appreciates the hard work of other Rosewood club achievers like Ronan Morgan, who is this year’s Single Handicapped Match Play champion.
“They are both good lads. They’ve done well so everyone’s looking to keep pushing them along,” he said.
“It’s a good club.”
Rosewood golfer Jason Smith is supporting his club mates while coping with his own challenges. Photo: LYLE RADFORD
Jason has extra motivation to return himself having finished runner-up earlier this year in the net competition at the NSW Inclusive Championships at Coffs Harbour.
That was Jason’s first major tournament before injuring his shoulder and being denied more opportunities.
His goal is to play in more inclusive events when he overcomes his current shoulder problem.
He has been at the Rosewood club “on and off” for seven years after receiving his first golf gear aged about 14.
However, even playing a round these days on the 18 hole course is an achievement for Jason.
He suffered optical nerve damage in his left eye from German Measles as a youngster.
Apart from his restricted sight, he wears special gloves to grip his golf clubs due to some amputated fingers.
“I’m battling on,” he said.
Jason takes all that in his stride, benefiting from the Rosewood club camaraderie and offering his encouragement to other golfers.
“With a bung shoulder I can’t play but [I enjoy] going out there and watching the other players and support them,” he said.
“If you can’t play, you may as well help people.”
Before his shoulder injury, Jason liked taking on the four par 5 holes on the relatively flat Rosewood course.
He was born in Brisbane and grew up in Melbourne through his dad’s RAAF connection.
The family moved to Ipswich in the early 1990s.
When he is able to play again, Jason enjoys the one-on-one challenge of golf.
“You are not playing anyone else, you are playing your scorecard,” he said.
“I like that idea but also the mateship.”