No limits for blind golfer

Although he has played golf for the past three years, it isn’t the only sport he has excelled in: he received provincial colours for bowls for the blind and Eastern Transvaal colours for swimming.

Alexander said he received a new lease on life thanks to golf and he is incredibly passionate about the sport.

After getting provincial colours for bowls in 2002 he chose to pursue golf instead.

“I got my Gauteng colours 12 years ago, but I found golf much more exciting and intriguing,” said Alexander.

The Orange Grove resident said that even after losing his sight when he was involved in a car accident, he was not discouraged to continue enjoying his life – and living.

As to how he stays fit, Alexander has practice sessions every Tuesday morning at the Glendower Golf Club under the Gavan Levenson Academy, where he hones his golf skills.

He said a special method has been designed for him by Levenson. “On each club except the putters, there are two pop rivets: when my thumbs are on the these rivets, the top one is for my left thumb grip and the bottom is for the right thumb [which ensures] my club fare is straight… Once everything is in place he [Levenson] looks around to see if there is no one playing [nearby] because I once hit someone with my swing! He then gives me [the] command, ‘Clear’, after which I respond and proceed to take my back swing into the ball and strike the ball, [thereby] staying in my follow-up position,” he explained.

Alexander has participated in many golf tournaments organised by the Gauteng Disabled Golf Association; he also plays Nintendo Wii Sports under the coaching of Zummy Isenberg, who described Alexander as “incredible” and “a pro in the game”.

Isenberg added, “No blind person in the world could do what Cecil has done. His best score in nine holes is – 6 [six below par], which is fantastic.”