Even when he was lying in a hospital bed unable to move his legs, James Gribble was still thinking about golf.
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The self-described "mad golfer" feared he would never be able to play again after he fainted and fell backwards off a bar stool in Africa six years ago.
But Gribble, now a quadriplegic, used his golfing fears as inspiration to establish Empower Golf to ensure people with disabilities could play the game he loves.
Gribble is one of only a few quadriplegic golfers in the world and was in Canberra at the Federal Golf Club earlier this week to host a clinic for people with a range of disabilities.
His aim is to give people hope of playing the sport even when they think they can't.
"I was a mad golfer before my accident and I guess like anyone you lose your passion you're thinking when you're lying in the hospital bed is how do I get back to golf," Gribble said.
"My inspiration always through my rehabilitation was seeing what sport can do for people. Seeing how hard it was for other people to play golf, and how under loved golf was as a disabled sport, that's when I decided to start Empower Golf."
A handful of Canberra golfers were introduced to the ParaGolfer,an all-terrain wheelchair that elevates users into a standing position allowing for a more conventional golf swing, on Tuesday at Empower Golf's inaugural come and try clinic.
Gribble said the wheelchair was suitable for users of all ages and was one of the most the advanced pieces of equipment available.
"The youngest we've had in there is a five-year-old and the oldest is a 100-year-old who actually played in a couple of British Opens when he was young," Gribble said.
"It's just one of the bits of equipment we use but it's obviously the one that facilitates golf for the most physically disabled people."
Gribble is working alongside golf clubs to get more ParaGolfers into sites around Australia and believes golf is the perfect sport for people with disabilities.
"We do have individuals that buy them themselves and then we look at how we can get grants with the government and the golf clubs so they can buy them and have them on sight.
"A golf club is a ready built community that people can get into and enjoy which a lot of people find very difficult after an accident.
"Because of the handicap system someone with a disability can go out and play with anyone, there's not that many disabled sports where you can do that."
