When Jim Crawford's hitting the ball well, Fred Worsley likes to point him at the woods. "I say that joke a lot," Worsley said. "He must be getting tired of it."

Worsley and Crawford, both 80, are long-time neighbours and full-time jokers. Since Crawford lost his vision, Worsley has also been his golf coach, directing him around the course.

Eight years ago, a stroke took away most of the sight in Crawford's right eye. Two years ago, another stroke took the vision in the left.

He didn't think he would golf again. But there was Worsley, dragging him to the course, making jokes and calling out the sand traps.

"The first time was really frustrating," Crawford said. "After three or four times, I stopped worrying about the score and just had fun."

It helped that he knew the fairways like the back of his hand.

Crawford has been golfing since he was 16, splitting his time between Scarborough's Tam O'Shanter Golf Course and the courses in Clearwater, Fla. His best score was 74 for 18 holes. His top score since he lost his sight was 52 for nine.

On Friday, both men were at the Toronto Star Golf & Travel Show in matching Ontario Visually Impaired Golfers jackets. Crawford was named Callaway Golf's "Most Passionate Golfer," which earned him a lesson with David Leadbetter, who has coached Ernie Els, Jesper Parnevik and Michelle Wie.

Leadbetter told Crawford to loosen his grip and let his left arm bend in his back swing. "Brilliant," he said as Crawford hit a ball into the mesh net.

"You're to be admired," Leadbetter said. "No disability is stopping you from playing. You've beaten the odds."

Crawford, who encourages all visually impaired people to give golf a try, said he's just playing the hand God dealt him. "I'm very fortunate to have friends like Fred," he said.

Worsley is quick to point out that Crawford's no slouch, having coached minor hockey for 20 years.

"He always worries about people helping him," he said. "But it's payback time."

After his lesson, Crawford threw a well-worn line at Leadbetter, and Worsley could only laugh, having heard it a few times before.

"I have a tee off at midnight if you'd like to play."