Cerebral Palsy Won’t Stop Golfer Payton Rohrhoff
By Tom Lang
Payton Rohrhoff of Hartland showed up early in life, being born 10 weeks earlier than doctors expected.
She’s not sure her premature birth led to contracting Cerebral Palsy or not, but her life-long physical condition certainly did not keep her from showing up early in junior golf.
Cerebral Palsy caused her right leg to be shorter, and it retains less muscle mass than her left leg – which adds to the challenge of a right-handed golfer that needs to push off with their right side for maximum power.
The high school junior has held Hartland’s No. 1 position since she came in as a freshman. More importantly, she leads not just her team – but influences others in the sport and in life – by showing how a difficult physical impediment should never stop you from being kind, brave, enduring and a hard worker to be successful reaching your dreams.
When I heard about Payton and all her achievements, I had to see this young lady in person. So, I joined her and her coach for 9 holes at Dunham Hills on the first day of high school tryouts in August.
Anyone watching Payton play can clearly see her limp as she walks with an unusual gait that might look like she’s in constant pain – but they also experience her genuinely kind spirit, her great golf skills and knowledge, her maturity, her Christian faith and her bubbling personality (to name just a few positives). Such factors aren’t often found in one person, particularly in teenagers who are still maturing.
Perhaps a fellow competitor and now great friend, All-State golfer Cam Baker from state champion Northville, says it best:
“My first time playing with Payton was three years ago in the GAM Jr. Stroke play event,” Baker shared. “Her positive attitude, half-glass full personality was contagious. Not only was she an awesome golfer, but she loved the game and it showed through that entire day.
“I have learned so much watching her play and spending time with her. She has taught me to always smile and to never take things for granted. She is constantly working on getting better and stronger. Payton is the true definition of a go-getter that doesn’t let anything stop her from achieving her dreams.”
Payton’s achievements include placing in the top 25 of last fall’s girls Div. 1 state finals – having made the tournament as an individual. This summer, she won her fourth consecutive Women’s Member Championship at Forest Dunes – which included a hole in one on The Loop’s 5th hole. As a sophomore last fall, she earned D1 all-state honorable mention, and she’s the reigning Livingston Co. Girls’ Golfer of the Year.
Payton said she’s had at least two surgeries to help give her a more normal life. She also wears a 1-inch heel lift in her right shoe.
“The one (surgery) I had when I was 4-years-old was pretty small (in scope) but then I grew a bunch so they had to do it again (at age 12), but it was a lot more complicated,” she described. “It was a heal cord lengthening, an extension, because I used to walk straight up on my toe. So, they got me more flat footed.
“Cerebral Palsy is in your brain. You’re born with it. A lot of people are in wheelchairs, or it affects half their body. With some people it affects both their legs. A lot of people it’s one leg and one arm. For me it’s just my right leg.”
She agreed she has a milder case of Cerebral Palsy compared to others, and the surgeries have truly helped give her some degree of normalcy. She’s never been wheelchair bound, but didn’t walk until she was almost two years old, which was an indictor something wasn’t right.
“My balance on my left leg is definitely better, and my right calf has always been smaller since I had surgery in sixth grade, but I’m going to a strength trainer and I think that’s helped both sides,” she added. “But I definitely use my left side more than my right.”
Payton told me that while other sports she tried didn’t work out, she can walk the golf course with anyone and could do 36 holes in one day if needed, but that isn’t typical until college golf, which she would like to achieve one day.
Her Hartland coach, Ethan Hawker, agrees Payton can reach any goal she wants.
“She’s an amazing golfer, for any coach,” he said. “She’s a dream. She loves the game. She puts in the time. She’s the kind of teammate that any coach would want. Team culture is a big deal for Hatland. We want to win, don’t get me wrong. But having a group of girls that support each other, that’s what it’s all about.
“Payton defines that every day. She has from the very beginning. She’s the kind of leader I want, and she’s really good at golf. She’s smart, with a golf IQ better than any girl I’ve had before.”
Due to her right leg impairment, “I don’t hit it crazy far,” she told me. “I have worked a ton on hitting it further (with a strength coach), but I defiantly could work more on that, especially before I go into college.”
Payton said her short game at this point is her best feature in golf. The great golf IQ doesn’t hurt at all, however.
Payton’s biggest support system is her parents, and her younger sister Morgan, who also plays on the Hartland golf team. They’ve been integral in supporting Payton every step of the way.
What Others Think:
What strikes me about Payton is she doesn’t worry about what others think of her physical challenges. In fact, most of the time she only feels support from other teenagers, in the same way she wants to be an encouragement to others.
“I’ve made so many friends through golf,” she told me. “I’ve met my best friend through this sport. There’s so many great people always there to support me and encourage me to do my best.”
Likewise, she doesn’t hear many whispers from others about ‘what’s wrong with her?’
“But I think my parents hear more of the questions than I do,” she said. “I think other people’s parents ask. Some girls ask me directly, but I think it’s more the parents that notice than the athletes do.
“I just want to use it as something to help me to do what I can to encourage other people. Before, I tried to hide it, but now I think I can definitely encourage people and help them keep working to do their best, no matter what. That started the most when I got to high school. That really showed me that this sport is for me.”
Cam Baker’s father, Casey Baker, quickly observed how Payton positively affects young people like his daughter.
“I immediately noticed her positive attitude and infectious smile,” he said about the first time Payton played in a match with Cam. “Even after bad shots, she would just brush them off and not let it affect her.
"My daughter has become good friends with Payton and she’s been such a positive influence. If Payton can go through life not complaining and just dealing with what she does, then what does Cam have to complain about? Payton is such a uniquely positive influence on my daughter, and so many other young women."
All of which is a hundred times greater than a golf score or a trophy – things that Payton happens to excel at anyway.
