Saturday, February 8, 2025
39.3 F
Roseville

Golf Instructor Keeps Swinging at 78

At the age of 78 and on the surface, at least, Ed Koepp seems to have gone through life effortlessly and has accomplished much.

For example, he shot his age in golf twice last year, has been a licensed psychologist and social worker, and still works as a U.S. Golf Teachers Federation certified golf instructor. Yet below the surface, throughout life, he has had to endure many physical ailments and pains that perhaps should be limiting his abilities today far more than they have.

“First, I had three accidents over a period of time,” said Koepp in a telephone interview. “The first was in 1963, which involved a head-on collision that damaged all my lower back muscles. Twenty years later, I was on a bicycle and a fellow on a motorcycle struck me from behind. So I re-injured my back. Then about ten years ago, I was inside a building, and a person in a vehicle outside the building lost control and his entire vehicle entered the building and struck me, carrying me towards a wall. That did even more damage to my back.”

While in the hospital after the first accident, in addition, Koepp learned through x-rays that all along through life he had been living with a genetic spinal deformity. He was missing part of his lower spine, which had caused scoliosis and explained the persistent, lifelong back pain he had felt even before the accident.

He said, “I had pain all throughout growing up because of the spine and had quite a jolt after seeing the x-rays the first time. I’d worked in construction and done a lot of heavy lifting that was challenging and painful.”

Adding to the list above, Koepp currently has Dupuytren’s contracture, which is causing the fourth and fifth fingers on one hand to curl inward toward the palm and has affected his golf grip. In recent years, he also has had several heart attacks, prostate cancer, gall bladder surgery, and three eye operations.

He advised people recently acquiring a disability: “If something was fun before you became disabled or injured, you should give yourself the opportunity to continue doing those things, even though the way you do them might be different (and require adaptation). The things that used to be fun can still be fun. I’ve given many golf lessons to people who have had knee and back injuries.”



Brighter Side

Trending

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

All American Sweeping Co. in Roseville

All American Sweeping's objective is to provide personalized customer service with an emphasis on professionalism, communication, responsiveness and quality at a fair price

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier this weekend

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

Lowest Gas Prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to push higher above the $4 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County. Roseville consistently remains the low price leader while Rocklin and Lincoln residents consistently pay higher energy costs across the board.

Topics

Roseville Today Super Bowl party picks for Eagles and Chiefs game

Roseville, Calif.- This Sunday at the Superdome in New Orleans, the Philadelphia take on the Chiefs in Super Bowl 59. A super-sized rematch and unofficial national holiday of $8 million dollar commercials, food and drink and a little football.

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin

Quarry Oaks Apartments in Rocklin, Calif.

All American Sweeping Co. in Roseville

All American Sweeping's objective is to provide personalized customer service with an emphasis on professionalism, communication, responsiveness and quality at a fair price

Roseville welcomes US Quadball West Coast National Qualifier this weekend

Roseville, Calif. - Quadball, an action-packed sport that evolved from the Harry Potter novels, will hold its only West Coast national qualifier Saturday, Feb. 8, and Sunday, Feb. 9 at Maidu Regional Park in Roseville.

Lowest Gas Prices in Roseville, Rocklin, & Lincoln

Roseville, Calif. - Gas prices continue to push higher above the $4 per gallon mark at many locations around South Placer County. Roseville consistently remains the low price leader while Rocklin and Lincoln residents consistently pay higher energy costs across the board.

Beryozka – European Market in Rocklin

Beryozka European Market in Rocklin, Calif.

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville

El Burrito Taqueria in Roseville. Our goal is to provide a fantastic experience for our guests. We use the best ingredients to create all of our authentic Mexican dishes.

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy

As we age, we approach the "pausal" years. For women, it's known as Menopause. For men, it's known as Andropause. During these transitional times in life, it's as if the sex glands go into retirement and there can be a lot of changes,

Related Articles

Local Spotlight

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center emphasizes the use of prevention and natural therapeutics

Sacramento Naturopathic Medical Center is a professional primary care natural medicine committed to helping all people reach their full potential – mind, body and spirit.

NorCal Solar and Gutter Cleaning in Roseville: Keeping Your Home Safe and Efficient

Roseville, Calif. - NorCal Solar and Gutter Cleaning, founded in 2019 by Brian Rykhlyuk shortly after graduating from Roseville High School, has quickly become a trusted name in the community for gutter cleaning and solar panel maintenance services.

Roseville Sheet Metal serving community’s heating and air needs for over 70 years

Roseville, Calif. - At Roseville Sheet Metal, we’re proud of our years of service to the Roseville area and look forward to helping you with your air conditioning and heating needs.