Main Story: After a massive stroke left 90-year-old Navy veteran John Hanser believing he’d never golf again, his wife, Maria, and PGA HOPE instructor Paul Glut helped him return to the course. The adapted game is a far cry from his old rounds, but it has brought back laughter, connection and hope.

By the Numbers
  • John and Maria have been married for 51 years.
  • John spent more than 600 days in physical therapy after his stroke.
  • He returned to golf about two years after the stroke.
Yes, But

John’s recovery has limits: he relies on a motorized wheelchair and is unlikely to take a full swing or play 18 holes. But the program’s value isn’t measured in distance or score; it gives him a way to reconnect with the game and people he missed.

Bottom Line

With Maria’s persistence and Glut’s support, golf became possible again—not as a return to John’s old life, but as a meaningful part of the life he has now.