MEET ANDY MILFS ACCOMPLISHED GOLFER

BY DEBRA BADER

Andy’s fun-loving personality is exhibited beyond sports. One of his peers from his day center described him as “funny and has very good manners.” Another one said, “He’s a good friend because he likes to help us.

Reserved personality, acute onlooker, and non-verbal communicator but very expressive are just a few descriptors of Special Olympics Marion County South’s own, Andy Milfs. Perhaps it has been these qualities that have helped him succeed as one of the best golfers in the organization. Challenged with partial deafness and Down syndrome, Andy loves to participate in activities with his peers. He has played several sports offered through Special Olympics such as T-ball, basketball, and bowling, but it is golf where he found his niche. Andy has been participating in Special Olympics Unified Golf with his father for nearly thirty years. As a unified duo, they have won first, second, and third place ribbons in sectional tournaments. In the state tournaments they have won Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

Andy started out golfing along with his dad like any other typical son. Dad says he gave his son clubs cut down for his height just like other fathers do. Then he took Andy along with him to par three golf courses where they played a two man scramble format. Scramble format is where both players shoot from the tee and choose the better shot. They both shoot from the furthest shot and continue until the ball is holed. In the beginning, Andy only contributed a few shots on the putting green. Currently, he contributes over forty percent of the shots in their scramble. And, he often pars a hole on all of his own shots! Last year in their two man scramble league, Andy hit a shot from 106 yards out and holed the shot for an Eagle. An Eagle is two shots under par!

Learning to drive the golf cart was seemingly more challenging for Andy. In the beginning dad says there was no modulation of the throttle. It was either zero or petal to the metal! Learning to drive was a thrilling experience for both father and son. In his first year of driving the golf cart, Andy started full throttle into a left turn as dad was leaning down to pick up a ball. His dad literally went head over heels out of the cart. Over the years, Andy has hit trees, a bridge, and driven off a two foot drop into a dry creek bed in Tucson, Arizona. However, Andy observes his surroundings and has learned from his mistakes. He now controls the throttle and brake with skill. Today, Andy can be seen calmly escorting others in a golf cart, staying on the cart lane, with a big smile on his face. When the Senior PGA tour played at the Brickyard Crossing Golf Course, Andy and his dad followed Juan “Chi-Chi” Rodriquez around the course. “Chi-Chi”, who was known for his flamboyant playing style, often celebrated a great shot with his famous “sword dance.” On hole thirteen, Chi-Chi Rodriguez took the time to talk to Andy and gave him a cold bottle of water out of his golf cart. He also signed Andy’s golf glove and hat in the autograph area. On hole fourteen, ChiChi chipped in for an Eagle from about forty yards out and did his “sword dance.” Andy loved it! From that day on, he does his own version of the “sword dance” whenever he sinks a long putt. Since Andy has become such an avid golfer and loves to dance, he does the “sword dance” nearly every week.

Andy’s fun-loving personality is exhibited beyond sports. One of his peers from his day center described him as “funny and has very good manners.” Another one said,

“He’s a good friend because he likes to help us.” The staff said, “Andy is incredibly caring and always supportive of those around him. He has a great sense of humor and brings so much positive energy to wherever he goes. He is a pure joy to be around.” Another caretaker said, “Andy is always willing to go the extra mile. He is always there to lend a hand to a peer or to help out staff. He is energetic, respectful, and all around great guy.”

Mr. Milfs advises others in the special needs community who want to give golf a try to get their athlete to play in a scramble format or in the Unified Golf alternate shot format. This way they will enjoy success right away as part of a team score. He highly recommends Otte Family Golf in Greenwood as a great place to start learning. The owner and staff there are very supportive of Special Olympics and their par three course is short. Otte Family Golf is a great place for beginners.

It should be known that Otte Family Golf considers persons with special needs as Very Important People, therefore, qualifying them for their very own a V.I.P. pass to come play free of charge.