Amputee golfs at Future Masters

Born without a right knee or quadricep muscle, Ricky Moore’s leg was amputated when he was 3 years old.

“When we saw the psychologist, they said he could go either way — would either be mad at the world, or excel,” his father, Rick Moore said.
“Fortunately for us, he’s an honor roll student and dedicated to golf. He feels there’s nothing he can’t do.”

The 16-year-old Moore gets more than a few looks as he approaches the golf tee this week at the 60th Annual Press Thornton Future Masters at the Dothan Country Club.

With his silver titanium artificial leg, he understands the attention.

Moore despises any pity.

The ultra-competitive Moore can stroke the golf ball just as far as the others, and his every intention is to win when he walks onto the golf course.

“To be honest, I absolutely hate it when I shoot 75 and someone says that’s not bad,” Moore said. “I’ve shot under par. I’m here to win.”

Moore tried other sports growing up. He earned a brown belt in Karate and played T-ball and football.

It was only four years ago Moore tried golf because he was bored. He fell in love with the sport.

“One day I took him over to Walmart and bought him a kid’s golf set,” his father said. “We went over to a driving range to hit a few.

“He took to it like there was no tomorrow.”

Moore lettered on the Millcreek High School golf team in Dacula, Ga., the last two years. This is his first year to play competitive golf tournaments around the southeast.

To compensate for a lack of lower body strength, Moore works out almost daily on his upper body.

“Every golfer here pushes off their right side, and I don’t,” Moore said. “When I swing, I can hit it 270 to 280 off the tee, but it comes from my upper strength.”

The biggest challenge for Moore learning to golf was to keep his balance during the swing. His artificial leg moves by his hip movements.

“I would fall over when I first started playing,” Moore said. “I’ve had to modify my swing a lot.”

Endurance was also a problem when Moore first started playing.

“That was probably one of the most important things I’ve had to overcome,” Moore said of tiring during the round. “My first year of playing tournament golf my dad caddied for me, and I couldn’t hardly get through 18.

“Now I walk on a treadmill every day and I do not get tired out there.”

Moore said he felt the pressure a bit of playing in the Future Masters for the first time, and was disappointed in his first round 78.

“I felt the tension in my body,” Moore said. “I felt like a robot all day. I love the course. If I play decent, 69 to 73 is my range.
“I think I can play much better.”