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Not Only Does He Play, He Teaches
- Freelance Writer
- Oct 24
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 25
A Candid Interview with Marty Turcios
The first thing you'll learn about Marty Turcios is that he doesn’t do a lot of small talk. But he isn't shy to discuss his philosophy on playing by your own rules—a philosophy forged in the fires of his own personal struggles. In this remarkably candid, seven-minute interview, Marty Turcios lays his entire life on the table: the massive challenges he turned into wins, the lessons that required him to rewrite the rule book, and a revelation you’ve likely never heard from a golf instructor.
Through what he calls Therapeutic Golf, a specialized form of recreational therapy, Marty teaches that golf is far more than a sport. Marty argues that golf can become a bridge between therapy and real-world living.
Marty’s own journey is a testament to this philosophy: from being underestimated to becoming an instructor who empowers others to find their strength.
One on One with Marty
Interviewer: Marty, thanks for taking the time to share your story. I want to start with a headline from a newspaper back in 1994: “Golfer not only plays, he teaches.” What was that moment like for you?
Marty: That article came out after a friend tipped off a sportswriter. Suddenly I was being described in a way that seemed to surprise people. The irony was that most people were shocked to see me play golf at all, let alone teach it. The other irony was, I had already been teaching long before that article—back in grade school, actually.
Interviewer: You were teaching golf in grade school? How did that happen?
Marty: I was in sixth grade at a private school for students with orthopedic disabilities. One day during recess, I grabbed a couple of clubs and started showing my best friend how to hold one. My teacher overheard and called out, “Marty, that’s not the right grip!” I joked back, “I didn’t know you played golf!” She admitted she didn’t—her dad did.
That moment stuck with me. It showed how easily people assume that if they can’t do something, I can’t either. That realization was the start of a long uphill journey.
Interviewer: You’ve described that as an “uphill journey.” Was that personal, professional, or both?
Marty: Both, really. My school years were filled with challenges. I struggled academically and was placed in the lowest-performing high school in the district because my parents were told I “probably wouldn’t make it” anywhere else. Expectations were low. It felt like people didn’t expect—or want—me to succeed. That belief was something I had to overcome repeatedly.
Interviewer: Yet you went on to earn both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. What changed?
Marty: Ironically, those high school years became some of the best of my life. I made friends who helped me study, and in return, I taught them golf. I got involved in sports as an equipment manager and assistant coach, lettering in football, basketball, and baseball. I realized I had a lot more to offer than others thought. Those experiences taught me how to adapt, how to work hard, and how to thrive—all skills that eventually got me into college.
Interviewer: Did that same connection through golf continue into college?
Marty: Yes, but when I went to college, the challenges multiplied. Nothing in my past had prepared me for 15 credit hours, competition, or the pace of a world that wasn’t designed for me. I felt in over my head until my major professor sat me down. He told me I had the potential to make an impact in the field of Recreation Therapy. He was tough on me, but that was when my education finally began to make sense.
Interviewer: What about Recreation Therapy resonated with you?
Marty: Recreation Therapy blends elements of physical and occupational therapy with adaptive physical education—but it’s more than that. Its real purpose is self-actualization. It’s about helping people develop a mindset that’s self-directed, not confined by clinical expectations or other people’s limitations. Recreation Therapy uses leisure to promote growth and independence; to reclaim control of one’s life. That idea matched perfectly with how I live my life.
Interviewer: When you say the purpose is self-actualization, are you referring to human potential?
Marty: Exactly. The journey toward self-actualization begins when you realize your full potential and start living up to it. For me, that journey started in grade school, even though I didn’t recognize it then. My struggles, and how I chose to respond to them, became the foundation of everything I teach now.
Interviewer: You’ve been candid about the challenges along the way. What were some of those later struggles?
Marty: After college, I worked at the San Francisco Recreation Center for the Handicapped. I expected to be teaching, but instead, I spent my days cleaning up. Frustration set in. Around that same time, I began competing in the National Games for Cerebral Palsy and was “discovered” by a coach for the California team.
For a while, it was exciting — I played in charity tournaments, met new people, and saw possibilities. But slowly, I started feeling like I was being showcased for fundraising rather than respected for my ability. My ego took over, and alcohol became my way of coping. Eventually, it almost ended my life.
Interviewer: How did you recover from that?
Marty: Recovery took time. I moved back near my family and started the slow process of rebuilding. Within two years, I had my first car, a sense of independence, and a purpose again. I found myself back at the driving range, rediscovering the purpose that golf had always given me.
Then I got a call that would change everything: a job offer to teach golf at Fremont Adult School. It would be my first official position as an instructor.
Interviewer: What was that first teaching experience like?
Marty: You can imagine the looks I got walking into a classroom full of able-bodied adults — a guy with visible mobility and speech challenges, there to teach them. I could feel the skepticism in the air.
But seven weeks later, those same people and I had become teammates. Their transformation was from doubt to confidence. Mine was from a recovering alcoholic to a professional golf instructor. It changed my life.
Interviewer: Eventually, you went on to start your own nonprofit. What motivated that step?
Marty: As my experience grew, I began helping to develop therapeutic recreation programs for rehab centers and academic institutions. Over time, organizations started asking me to help create local golf programs for people with disabilities.
But too often, I saw programs focused more on fundraising than on real outcomes. In some cases, participants were left with unqualified staff. It felt more like daycare than therapy.
I wanted to build something where people could genuinely develop independence and self-confidence through golf.
Interviewer: What does that look like in practice—what’s the core of what you teach?
Marty: My approach, which I call Therapeutic Golf, goes beyond teaching people how to hit the ball. I want to teach them how to go golfing. That includes how to book a tee time and arrange transportation, to understanding course etiquette and using adaptive equipment. Many people with disabilities have never been taught those steps.
It takes time, and the clinics help build self-confidence. When a participant is ready to play on a real course, I take them, cover their cost, and play alongside them. I want them to feel what independence looks like—that’s when they’re truly learning how to golf on their own terms. Ultimately, I think that golf can become a bridge between therapy and real-world living.
Interviewer: Have you seen people go on to become independent golfers? And do they still come to your clinics?
Marty: Today, many of my students play independently with friends or family. Some still return to my clinics for refreshers, others just send me updates about their latest rounds. Watching that growth never gets old.
Interviewer: Would you call that mission accomplished?
Marty: In some ways it is. But the mission is bigger than that. Feeling empowered to enjoy golf on their own terms and fostering independence is what I can help with. My hope is that they carry that same independence into other parts of their life, as I have.
Interviewer: That makes sense. You have a lived understanding of self-actualization as both a therapeutic and personal concept.
Marty: Yes. Golf has helped me realize my own potential—what I can do. It gave me the confidence to move forward through challenges in other areas of my life. That’s what self-actualization means to me. It’s not just a textbook idea; it’s something I’ve lived. It’s about recognizing your potential and having the confidence to take steps forward.
Interviewer: That’s a great message—not only for people with disabilities but also for golf instructors and students in therapeutic disciplines.
Marty: Well, golf has always been more than a sport to me. The message is in between what we see as challenges and opportunities, between what others expect and what you know you can achieve. The key is understanding that you are more capable than the world expects.
For recreation therapy students, I think this work is an example of what self-actualization looks like in practice. And for able-bodied golf instructors teaching adaptive golf, I hope they remember this isn’t just about instruction—it’s also transformation.
About Marty Turcios
Marty Turcios, MS, is the Founder and Executive Director of Marty Turcios Therapeutic Golf, a nonprofit organization offering free therapeutic golf clinics for people of all ages with physical, cognitive, and sensory disabilities. A professional golf instructor with more than 50 years of experience, Marty has devoted his life to helping others discover the therapeutic and transformative power of golf.
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This BLOG was written for educational purposes. For more information, please reach out to support@therapeuticgolfclinic.com
