This edition of Golf Writer Andy Reistetter's exclusive "Meet Golfers the Write Way" series features someone you may not have heard of (yet) but surely will someday soon. Jarrad Kogos is a golfer unlike any you have met. Playing golf with him is a fun and inspiring experience. As a person he would like to "HUG" you and in so doing bring a lot of folks like himself to the game of golf. If you have lost perspective in life or on the golf course come along and play a round with Jarrad. One of the most interesting and passionate golfer and person you will ever meet.
I first met Jarrad as he walked along the practice range at TPC Sawgrass. It was last fall during the Nationwide Tour's Winn Dixie Jacksonville Open on Dye's Valley Course. At the same time we met James Bond, an amputee that runs "Amputee Talk Shop". Bond, like the one in the movies had a high tech remote gismo. This one sets the knee bend angle on his titanium Computer-Leg. That's "C-Leg" for short. He let me tap his artificial leg and play a little with the remote. James Bond is a golf nut and it seems like an advantage to a golfer to have your right knee angle consistent throughout the backswing. Jarrad was a little different but not much different. With Bond you could see what was that was different with him. With Jarrad, to be able to see what is different you have to take some time, think about it and get to know him a little. I learned a little of Jarrad's story during that October day. At age 12 Asperger's appeared in his life and he became a high functioning autistic young man. After seeing Tiger Woods win THE PLAYERS in 2001 he tried out for the local Fletcher High School golf team. His game improved quickly from shooting an 87 for nine holes to a 47. As his golf scores went down so did his grades at school. The reason his grades went down wasn't because he was playing more golf or goofing off at the golf course. It wasn't something his parents Colleen and Donald could coach him through or simply help their child overcome. Severe headaches, eyes that hurt and bad hiccups were symptoms of what an MRI confirmed. It was a malignant brain tumor that required surgery, radiation and chemotherapy at age 17. "Life, it happens," is what Jarrad said to me when we got together to play golf on a beautiful day in March when "spring has sprung" in Northeast Florida. "How do you pronounce your last name," I asked. "Kogos, like bogus," he responded. He then told me I looked like a lemon in my yellow shirt. He was in orange and commented, "that all we need is two more players wearing red and green and we will be a fruit salad." I really didn't know what to expect playing with an autistic player and someone who survived a brain tumor. He certainly isn't bogus I thought and laughed along with him. He is a smart and funny 24-year old nice guy. I did learn that his balance and eyesight were impaired and that is where I could help him during the round. I drove the cart and he instructed me to drive it right up onto the tee. Level ground is his friend and I thought "oh my gosh this is Dye's Valley, the land of up and down diabolical lies, how will we ever manage?"
Scottish Bagpiper Bill Sloan played a little for us at TPC Sawgrass... maybe the knickers aren't too far out of place!

Jarrad is one of the friendliest and most golf knowledgeable people you will meet hanging around TPC Sawgrass!