Who Is Bob Geismar?

Bob GeismarI was a 15 handicapper for most of my life and now I am an 8. How did I do it you might ask? Let me start by sharing with you what I did not do.

I did not take lessons nor did I buy the latest new clubs every year. I did not use practice gadgets and training aids. Finally, I did not spend one minute at the range banging buckets of balls.

As a whole, I believe golfers become brainwashed into thinking that the swing is the thing and you must always be trying to perfect the swing, when in real life, that does not drop strokes nor make you happier or have more enjoyment on the course. I started writing down on paper a totally different approach to the game, focusing exclusively on those elements that I could control, which I will show you is virtually everything!

My method was coming to fruition when out of the blue I was stricken with a life-threatening disease in the late fall of 2005. My body was shutting down. My kidneys and lungs were not functioning. Doctor after doctor could not figure out why an otherwise healthy 52 year old man was suddenly dying.

Until one wonderful doctor stayed up all night observing me and diagnosed the issue. I still remember him flying in my intensive care room with a huge smile on his face. He told me I had an auto-immune system disease called Churg-Strauss syndrome – an incurable but treatable form of a broader disease group called Vasculitis. It is a very rare disease that only around 300-500 Americans get annually. Churg-Strauss is characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels, both veins and arteries, which cuts off the proper blood flow to the affected organ(s) – in my case, the kidneys and lungs. If not treated properly, it is fatal.

Luckily, I was given the proper treatments and medicines and I was on the road to recovery. Churg-strauss, however, left me with extreme permanent nerve damage in my hands and feet because the blood flow was not adequate in those areas for a period of time. My left hand was essentially paralyzed and I could not move it at all. It caused my left arm to actually wither and shrink in size. I went to two specialists who both confirmed, much to my dismay, that I probably would never be able to play golf again.

I was devastated and after several days of deep depression, I was desperate to find someone who had my disease to commiserate with. Via the internet, I was able to find and speak with a woman who’s daughter had my disease. Through the power of empathy, she in one long (four hour) phone conversation lifted my spirits. She said that she did not know if I could ever play golf again, but she understood what I was feeling and she would be there for me. I needed her empathetic ear and we have kept in touch ever since and always will. She saved my soul. My wife, kids, other family members and friends could give me sympathy, but she gave me empathy. Empathy is a true power!

I was determined to prove the doctors wrong and more importantly, prove to myself that I could do something remarkable. I had a 7-iron in my family room and every day I would put it in my hand and every day it would fall to the floor. I went through extensive occupational therapy for over a year and slowly regained function in my left hand. One day the 7-iron did not fall to the floor. I knew I had a chance!

I put a date on the calendar – April 16, 2007 – when I decided that I would play golf again. I do not remember why I picked that day but I believe setting goals helps achieve them. April 16th came. I was not sure if I really could play. I went to the golf course with one of my sons, teed up on #1 and promptly striped my first drive right down the middle. I looked at my son, he looked at me, and we were both amazed if not astonished. I knew at that moment I could not be stopped. I shot an 85 that day!

Fast-forward and I am now playing the best golf of my life. Even with nerve damage in both hands and feet and legs that cramp up often, I break 80 all the time from the tips (6900 yards+). And I have so much fun, it should be illegal.

I appreciate playing golf as much as anyone ever could. It was taken away from me and I got it back. Even three-putting from 10 feet is tolerable now. I get excited every time I drive to the course. I feel like a kid in a candy store. Each tee shot is a Milky Way, each iron shot is a peppermint stick and the greens, well they are the Tootsie Roll!

I want to share how becoming a better golfer and dropping strokes off your game is simply not that hard and will lead to your overall enjoyment of the game like never before. Seriously, if I can do it, you can.

Through the immense power of empathy and my proven process, we will build you the pathway to lower scores. It will be the most fun you have ever experienced on the golf course. Take the journey with me and I promise you will never look back!

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