Original Article can be found here – http://www.abc2news.com/news/region/baltimore-city/the-baltimore-station-uses-golf-therapy-to-help-in-the-recovery-process-for-its-homeless-veterans

BALTIMORE – The game of golf requires patience, concentration, coordination and even more patience.  The frustrating aspect of the sport is exactly what makes it ideal in helping homeless veterans recovering from addiction.

When Bernard first thought about golf, he thought it was, “a boring old man’s sport.”  Then he enrolled in the golf therapy program through the Baltimore Station, and his opinion about the sport is slowly changing.

“It requires a lot of patience and great humility,” he said.  “You learn you are no longer the great I Am.”

Bernard is one of more than a dozen men who come to the Clifton Park golf course each week to improve their golf skills.  They all stay at The Baltimore Station, which helps homeless veterans recovering from chronic substance abuse.

“The skills they learn through golf they can use in their everyday lives,” said Kim Callari, director of Development and Communications at the Baltimore Station.  “They can learn how to deal with their anger and frustration because golf can be a very frustrating game.”

Chris Carpenter started the program four years ago.  He knows first-hand what the men are going through because he graduated from a similar program in 2008.

“I can gauge how I’m doing through them and these guys can be inspired by what they see.”

The guys have fun learning a new skill and building friendships, but Bernard says don’t expect to see them in the Majors anytime soon.