I grew up in Hueytown, Alabama, just outside of Birmingham, where family and community values were always at the center of life.
As a kid, I dabbled in football, but it never quite fit me. Sports weren’t my path in school, and I didn’t think much about athletics at the time.
After high school, curiosity pulled me toward something different: golf. One day I bought a beat-up set of clubs for $20 and headed to the driving range.
From the very first swing, I was hooked. Unlike other sports that end after a season, golf never stops. It has a wraparound calendar, with tournaments happening year-round, and that fascinated me.
Even more, I loved that golf was really a battle against yourself. I often describe it as playing chess with Mother Nature — you have to adjust your game plan to whatever conditions you’re dealt: cold, heat, wind, or rain.
While golf became my passion, barbering became my profession. For more than 30 years, I’ve been cutting hair in my community, and I still love the craft.
These days, I enjoy a “semi-retired” lifestyle — working three and a half days a week at the barbershop, then spending the rest of my time on golf. I also work two days a week at Ross Bridge Golf Course and practice at home on my simulator, no matter the weather.
Golf has also given me the chance to give back. I coach new golfers and serve with First Tee Birmingham, a program that teaches kids life skills through golf. I work with 12- and 13-year-olds at Highland Park Golf Course, not far from the hospital, and it’s been a blessing to see them discover the game. More than that, I see them learning honesty, respect, and helping others—and in return, they often teach me life lessons too.
Earlier this year, my golf journey was almost derailed. On March 1, I was in a motorcycle accident that tore my ACL, MCL, meniscus, and severely sprained my LCL in my left knee. I knew I needed the best surgeon possible, so I chose Dr. Lyle Cain at Andrews Sports Medicine.
At my first appointment, I asked Dr. Cain a big question: "Could he help me return in time for a four-day Father’s Day golf tournament in Nashville?" Dr. Cain told me it might be possible — if I was fully committed to rehab.
On March 18, Dr. Cain performed my knee surgery. To my surprise, I experienced very little pain afterward—just some discomfort. From that moment on, I gave everything to physical therapy and held myself to doing my exercises at home.
Whenever I felt like quitting, I told my therapists to remind me of my goal. There was one particularly tough day when I was struggling mentally, but my therapist looked at me and said, “You’re a golfer. Stay focused on that.” Those words flipped a switch in me.
My left knee is my pivot knee in golf, so this recovery meant everything. I’ll never forget a follow-up visit when Dr. Cain cleared me to start swinging again. I went straight to the driving range, took it easy, and realized: I was truly back.
Just a few months later, I was back playing rounds of golf on the course. Not only did I make it to that Father’s Day tournament—I won first place. Two days later, I placed second in another event.
Today, I feel great. I’m still doing physical therapy to stay strong, but I play without pain. My handicap is currently an eight, and now that I’m at full speed again, I’m working on lowering it even more.
Beyond my own journey, I’m grateful for the chance to inspire others. I’ve already shared my story with friends, neighbors, and fellow golfers, and I recommend Dr. Cain to anyone facing a knee injury
Through this experience, I’ve learned that with the right care, determination, and faith, setbacks don’t have to define you. For me, barbering has been a career, golf has been a passion, and recovery has been a victory. Thanks to Dr. Cain and Andrews Sports Medicine, I’m back doing what I love most—playing the game that never ends.
