A Childhood Dream Come True

Karen Bukowski's certificate for Harbor
Ridge Golf Course.

For some, passion captures images of relationships. It is a love for something you always wanted to do. For others passion implies an internal drive. For people like Karen Bukowski, passion is everything. It defines her life and her career choice; golf. The 54-year old is a member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and Professional Golf Association.

Bukowski’s passion for golf developed at an early age. “I was kind of a daddy’s girl. And on Saturday mornings my dad would go out for his one round of golf a week and I would be running behind the car going, ‘dad, dad take me with you.’ Back in the day girls didn’t play golf,” Bukowski said.   She says her father didn’t buy into that, he would take her anyway. After going with her father, Bukowski would play golf with the boys in the neighborhood.

Karen Bukowski's business cards.

With many friends insisting she try to become a professional, Bukowski did just that. “I applied to the LPGA, flew out to Phoenix and had to shoot a certain score and if you do you’re in and if you don’t you’re out. I was lucky enough to get in, so I started through that whole process,” Bukowski explained, “now I’m actually a member of the class A member of the LPGA and PGA and I’m certified in instruction for both organizations. So it’s fun.”

Bukowski became an adaptive golf instructor and has worked with many disabled people in her career. Adaptive golf is making any modifications to how the game is learned and played using some form of a modified swing technique, equipment used, and the delivery of instruction. Bukowski’s interest in adaptive golf came from her father. “It was my dad. Seeing how he loved playing the game and because of his age he had to step away from it. I believe golf is universal. You can start at any age and play at any at any age. Just because you acquire a disability, that joy should not be taken away from you. I didn't want anyone to be excluded from the game and I think because those doors were shut for mefor different reasons," Bukowski said, "my dad is now using a walker, he's 90 years old and we havea little jelly beanchip off every year. We put a little net up in the house and we hit the jelly bean into the net. Golf is very inclusive and I'm glad to be apart of that."

Karen Bukowski and Patrick Leighton at the Bayfront

Convention Center event.

Golf is a passion, a passion that captures many images of different relationships. For Bukowski, golf is her passion. For her, passion is everything. It defines her life and her career choice. Bukowski has impacted many people’s lives by teaching them the different skills of golf she has learned. She has made her childhood dream come true. “You’re outside in this beautiful location and you make people happy. You can’t even call it work sometimes,” Bukowski said.