Golf is a very challenging game.

It can be especially difficult when you try to play with painful joints and limbs.

Success stories were abundant at the sixth annual Orthopaedic Associates of Saratoga golf tournament Monday at McGregor Links.

More than 50 surgically repaired golfers, with everything from artificial hips to knees and shoulders, participated in the nine-hole scramble along with doctors William Byrt and George Silver.

“I had as much fun as the patients being out there,” Silver said. “Golf is a great sport and our patients can get back to doing things that enjoy, but were limited from doing in the past.”

Silver had heard about similar tournaments in Florida and California and wanted to do something here. The response has been overwhelmingly positive with the number of new golfers increasing each year and an abundance of returnees.

“I was sitting around with the golfers after the tourney and catching up with people,” Silver said. “Everyone had a good day. All of the golf wasn’t good, but it was a good day.”

In addition to the golf, there was also an informative session that was run by Dr. Lawrence Fein this year. Fein talked to the patients about new advances in knee repair among other things.

“The principle is to put your ‘Best Foot Forward.’ It’s about doing things you like doing, but without the pain,” Silver said.

According to Silver, hip and knee replacements are the most common surgeries nationally with shoulder replacement a distant third.

“Lifestyle can affect people’s health with problems like arthritis and osteoporosis, but a lot of it is genetics,” Silver said. “It’s the wear and tear of joints.”

Silver said that arthritis can get so severe that simply going to the store or even crossing the room can be the biggest chore.

“There's an increasing demand among younger patients wanting to have surgery because the implants last longer and they don’t want to give up doing what they love to do,” Silver said.

The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREAF) is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge concerning the prevention and treatment of conditions affecting the musculoskeletal and related systems and the maintenance of the general physical well being of the individual.

The objectives of the foundation are exclusively to foster, promote, support, augment, develop and encourage investigation into the causes, cure and prevention of illnesses, injuries and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system.

Orthopaedic Associates

of Saratoga golf tournament

Front 9 winners: Brien Hanehan, Ernest Hoover, Joseph Bruso, Bill Stanley. Back 9 winners: Sal Ambrosio, George Silver, Pete Serino, Glen Allen

Front 9 second place: Alyson Reising, Peter Brennan, Hugo DeMartino. Back 9 second place: Dennis Engrath, Bill Farstad, Owen Mosher, Eric DeGrechie

Front 9 third place: Marvin Block, Dennis Conway, Bill Ennis, Patricia Coonradt. Back 9 third place: Dan Tallman, Bob Cehowski, Dale Hammond, Clark Watson

Longest drive (Women - No. 1): Peggy Lounsbury. Longest drive (Men - No. 1): George Silver

Longest drive (Women - No. 12): Patricia Coonradt. Longest drive (Men - No. 10): Ernest Hoover

Closest to pin (No. 5): William Byrt. Closest to pin (No. 18): Bill Farstad