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Mack McEachin | Epilepsy & Golf

@seizingfairways

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Epilepsy has changed my life, and golf has given me something to chase.⛳️
Finding purpose one round a time🏌️‍♂️
Epilepsy Awareness - West Palm Beach💜

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This is crucial to getting to know me. I have been struggling with medically resistant epilepsy since August of 2021. I decided this January to go to Cleveland to the Cleveland clinic to see if I could get more answers. I never expected to leave Cleveland without all my brain, but that’s what they did. They removed around a 4cm portion of my right temporal lobe, and it has impacted my golf game greatly. It has also given me a new outlook on the game. I want to enjoy my time golfing with friends, so I don’t get so obsessed with the number on the card like I use to. I now just make sure I’m calm, and a person that’s fun to golf with. Golf at its heard is a sport, and it’s one you get to choose how seriously you take it. For me it’s most important to be grateful that I’m able to just get to the course and play. We’ll worry about lowering that score when I learn to live this new way of life, but one thing I won’t do is stop golfing.
#epilepsy #golfaddict #lobectomy #goodvibes taken in Cleveland Clinic by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

This was my very first swing 3 months post surgery, and one thing I can say is I was ecstatic with it. Golfing to me isn’t about being the best golfer out there. It’s about being the best golfer you can be regardless of the odds stacking against you. It takes repetition, and grit, and it takes confidence to be a golfer. Those things can be stripped of you sometimes by the slightest things, much less major changes. I think being kind to yourself can be one of the hardest parts of golf. What do you think is the hardest part of golf?
#lobectomy #golf #epilepsy #dontgiveuponyourself taken in West Palm Beach, Florida by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

I never planned on epilepsy becoming part of my identity, but it has changed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. I do not want to be known for epilepsy, but as someone who has epilepsy, and was able to overcome it to help others. I had around 4 CM of my brain removed January of 2026 with a right temporal lobectomy. This whole year has been learning new things, and getting use to this new way of life. I have no plans for this account, just to see where it takes me. Same as life does.💜

Golf has become one of the things that keeps me moving forward. It gives me something to work at when I am unable to work, something to look forward to every week, and somewhere I can just be myself with friends for a few hours outside.

I am starting “Seizing Fairways” to share what living with epilepsy actually looks like—the good days, the bad days, the seizures, the frustration, and hopefully a lot of golf in between.

If sharing my experience can help even one person with epilepsy feel a little less alone, this account will be worth the world to me.

I am also blessed to be married to @hairbysophiejackson who has to be mentioned. Her standing by my side is what has made all of this easier. Taking me to tee times, to practice, and so much more. It is so different when you cannot drive due to epilepsy. The friends I golf with go out of their ways to make sure I get to and from the course. That is one of the biggest struggles I deal with golf, and also playing with friends gives me the confidence to play. I know I am safe when I am with them. There are silver linings to this disease. Learning to ask for help has lead me to some of the greatest friendships I would have never had.

Golf is unlike any sport I have ever played. It is outside, and it gets you and your friends together outside. It’s rare to spend 4hrs with someone the older you get, but golf has helped me get to spend time with loved ones, and meet new ones along the way. It’s a sport, but it’s deeper than that it is an experience with friends. This experience can almost feel like you’re just outside playing with friends like a kid again.

Here’s to finding the fairway. 💜⛳️ taken in Pga National the Champ by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

What a weekend!

I got to experience my 3rd year married to my incredible wife, and then I shot my lowest round since brain surgery in January last Thursday. I also achieved 9 years of sobriety this week, but that’s never what I like to focus on. This journey has been nothing short of that though. A journey that so many friends and family have been on with me.
I started the year off with the removal of about 4cm of my right temporal lobe in January, as many of you already know. That affected my swing and stability so incredibly much. It took 4 months to get back out on the course in general, and the first few rounds I played I thought I would never break 100 again.
I never want to get ahead of myself, and I really only am given one day at a time. That’s why I try to never think something will be the same forever. That’s not how life works. Things always change regardless of if you’re ready or not, so it’s best to always be ready for the worst and wish for the best. It also is important to always remain positive when thinking of a future you, because I know I haven’t always thought that way about future Mack. I do not know what tomorrow will bring, so I try my hardest to enjoy the moment today.
I do know that I will try my hardest today to prevent a seizure tomorrow while enjoying my day today. I will hydrate, eat the proper nutrition, take my medications on time, and I will get the proper rest and sleep I need for the week. Nothing is easy for anyone, but with epilepsy things are just a tad bit harder.
I would not be here without so many of you. The countless amount of rides my friends have given me to and from the course. The many times family has come to stay with me when I have been incapacitated to where I can’t do much.
I am very grateful for today, and I am grateful for my life regardless the flaws in it, but I am blessed most of the flaws are out of my control. That’s where acceptance and gratitude carry me through life, as well as the support I get from so many close friends and family.
#family #epilepsyawareness💜 #golf #marriage #friendsforever taken in Delray Beach, Florida by @seizingfairways

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5 days ago

What a wife to what a life. I’ve been blessed enough to have hit my 3rd year married to the woman of my dreams. Some people say they’re married to their best friend, but I feel like I married a woman who has become so much more than my best friend.

For such a short marriage we have had to overcome so many obstacles, and none of them were because of either of us. This third year of marriage has been the absolute hardest year of my life. I don’t know what I would have done without such a strong, loving, but to always stay steadfast in her beliefs of a woman as my wife.

This last year has definitely been the hardest due to my right temporal lobectomy. It’s been a year full of sickness, fights, hugs, cuddling, support, but always at the core there has been a fountain of love.

I have been far from the perfect partner, but I don’t think that’s the goal in marriage. No one is perfect, but it’s the willingness to try to be that person that matters. To me the goal of a marriage is to be who you are, and to always allow your partner to flourish independently. I’ve found someone who lets me be me, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted.

To many more years together, and to many more beautiful days that outshine the dark ones, but on the darkest of days I know we’ll have each other.

So much love to my beautiful wife. The last picture just sums us up! @hairbysophiejackson 🫶🧡

#loved #happyaniversary❤️ #life taken in Delray Beach, Florida by @seizingfairways

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8 days ago

Maybe I wasn’t able to get a round in this weekend, but the memories from last Sunday are unforgettable.

I have to remind myself that I don’t always have to play to have a good weekend. It’s hard for me to rest and sit one out, but this week that’s what my body was telling me to do.

Golf isn’t just mental—especially in the summer heat. Sometimes saving your body today means avoiding a major setback that could keep you off the course even longer.

Best of luck to everyone who makes it out today. Make sure to stay hydrated and most of all enjoy the round, stay safe, and make sure to seize that fairway. ⛳️ #restday #golf #epilepsyawareness #happiness by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

The designed beauty of a golf course to keep nature within a growing landscape always amazes me.
#nature #outside #happyplace #golf #golfaddict taken in Gleneagles Country Club by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

What a week was had this week! I had a conversation about maybe driving a car again eventually with my neurologist. I played two rounds this week, and one was a 92 the other a 93. I use to not even be able to get a real drive going when first coming back missing part of my brain. It makes me dizzy at times, but this last week something connected. I’ve been back to golf for about 4/5 months since my right temporal lobectomy. This week’s the first I was able to keep score. 80’s here we come! I really cannot thank my friends enough for golfing with me, taking me to and from courses, and just being willing to jump if I had a seizure. This disease sucks, but it brings out some of the best in people. I’m closer to people I’d never imagine. I can’t wait to see who else I meet and get a round in with along the way!
#golf #epilepsy #westpalm #nevergiveup #anythingspossible by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago

What a long weekend we had! Spent with family in the mountains and 0 golf was played. Not even putt putt, and yet it was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time. It’s refreshing to take a weekend off golf and just focus on life, and not so much on being a golfer.

I love my brother and sister in law to death, and was thrilled to see their new house! It’s an amazing accomplishment to own a house nowadays, and they’ve got a good one. Happy to have stayed there. I’m so glad my wife was able to come as well! She’s been so busy with work, but she added so much love to the trip!

On another note this was the first trip I went on without needing a rescue medication, or having a single seizure. It’s been almost 10 months since my surgery, and now 10 months without a blackout seizure, and lately no minor seizures or aura symptoms at all. I never thought this would be possible, and I can’t imagine where I will end up.

#epilepsyawareness💜 #love #family #colorado #travels taken in Littleton, Colorado by @seizingfairways

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12 days ago

Such a beautiful course, and have been blessed to get to play it so much this summer. The staff, the members, and everyone overall is just so welcoming. You don’t always find that at a country club as nice as Gleneagles, but here everyone made me feel as if I was one of them. Here’s to many more rounds to instagramless Kim! #fun #golf #friendship #EnjoyingTheGame #grateful taken in Gleneagles Country Club by @seizingfairways

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a month ago

Welcome to South Park!

What an awesome dinner and a show. Being a life long fan of South Park it was something else! They really nailed it over there. Amazing food, service, and a show!

I love to golf, but I have to learn when to say I need a break, and this weekends starting off as a great break. I was invited to golf this trip, but sometimes you got to put the clubs up and focus on family.

Thanks to my brother and his amazing wife for hosting us!💜

#SouthPark #Denver #casabonita #FamilyTime #travels taken in Casa Bonita Restaurant by @seizingfairways

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15 days ago

Yesterday was an amazing day of golf, and I broke a milestone I wasn’t sure I was ever going to break again. I broke 100! I haven’t done that in 8 months since having my brain surgery. Before I was in the 90’s pretty consistently, but after 90% of my drives I would top and just drop with my friends.

One of the many things I’ve learned on the journey is to be kind to myself. I haven’t kept legit score until yesterday. I wanted to just work on getting a grasp on how my body was going to respond to the lobectomy and the side effects. I still plan on doing that the rest of the year. Keep score, but work on just getting back into a rhythm and routine over anything.

There’s so many people that have helped me along this journey it’s insane. The smallest things, just mean the most to me being disabled. I have no goal for where I want to be as a golfer in golf scoring wise, but obviously as low as possible. All I know is I want to be a golfer no matter what. Even if it’s just to ride and get some fresh air and get a few hits in at the least! Also yes that is all sweat but the white part of my shirt. SoFlo summers are no joke!🤣🤷‍♂️
#epilepsyawareness💜 #golf #enjoythejourney #hope #friendship taken in Gleneagles Country Club by @seizingfairways

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2 months ago