Medina golfer Elliot Morgan overcomes disability to earn varsity spot

Elliot Morgan doesn’t want any special treatment. If he’s going to stand out in a crowd, the Medina junior golfer wants it to be because of his play.

Mark Twain famously referred to golf as “a good walk spoiled.” Morgan would disagree. In fact, the walking is one of the reasons he loves the sport.

Or anything, for that matter.

Morgan was born without a significant portion of his left leg. Some might be slowed down by that. Morgan never let that happen.

“I really never thought about it,” he said of his circumstances. “My parents just supported me as much as they could. My younger self was always wanting to do stuff like other kids. So I just did it. I would say I’m like any old kid. I would say I’m a regular teenager.”

That means hanging out with friends, family or whomever else he can spend time with. It has meant a life of playing sports like his friends — Morgan especially likes baseball, but has dabbled in basketball and football, whatever anyone else was doing.

He has a blade-style prosthetic to help him get around wherever he needs to go. That, of course, includes golf courses.

What he does not have, at least as far as he’s concerned, is a handicap. Unless you’re talking about his golfing index.

In that case, it’s probably pretty low. No numbers are calculated into the final scores in prep golf. What you shoot is what you get. Morgan routinely puts up numbers most amateurs would envy; his best round is a 73 at Fox Meadow Country Club.

All this from a kid who didn’t even take up the game until a couple of years ago.

“I thought I could really work on it a lot and be a high school golfer and play on the team,” Morgan said of why he took up the game. “I started taking lessons and just recently, the summer before my sophomore year, I just really got better and started focusing on the game.”

Making the team at Medina was a long shot for Morgan. Not because of anything about him, but because it’s a long shot for anyone. Among the roughly 1,000 boys who attend Medina High School is a large population of good golfers. Only the strong survive tryouts there.

That’s Morgan, though. Strong, determined, undaunted.

“He just doesn’t quit,” Bees coach Mike Mozingo said. “Relentless would be a good descriptor. He’s got great touch around the greens. He’s close to fearless.”

Morgan knew he was getting pretty good as time went on. Despite that and the hours upon hours of work he put in, he knew everyone else was doing that too. So when he learned he made Medina’s varsity, it was a moment, to be sure.

“It was definitely special,” he said. “Some of those guys are very good. The group that I play with is really amazing. I’m proud of myself for making the team. It’s an accomplishment for me. I’m kind of blessed.”

Perhaps a bit disadvantaged because of his leg, he can “only” drive about 240 or 250 yards off the tee. These days, high school players routinely reach 300.

So while Morgan would outdrive most recreational players, in competition he’s on the short side. A 4.0 student at Medina, he’s more than competent enough on the mental angle to know what he needs to do.

“I have to kind of work with what I have,” he said. “Honestly, my other aspects of my game help me a lot in performing well.”

“I do wish I could hit it far,” he added with a laugh.

Morgan acknowledges he gets looks from people now and then. It would be hard not to notice. Expressions change, though, when he hits the ball.

“Some people are shocked,” he said. “People say it’s amazing I can do that. People will say, ‘That guy’s pretty good.’”

As Mozingo pointed out, Morgan wants no special attention on or off the course. And he doesn’t want — or need — a cart.

“I just play like everyone else does,” he said. “I love walking. It’s one of my favorite things.”