FRANKLIN, Mass. — Nolan Engelhardt has a simple way of describing his birth injury.

“I walk a little funny,” the Nashoba Regional senior wrote in his college essay, “and my arm sticks out a little more than usual.”

What sticks out most about Engelhardt, however, is his golf game. Even if his journey to becoming one of the best junior golfers in Central Mass. wasn't as simple.

“He learned resilience very early on and I think that helped him on the golf course,” said his mother, Kate. “That foundation has kept building.”

“He wants to be one of the best,” said his father, Jason. “I'm really proud of him.”

‘Never knew any different’

Nolan Engelhardt was born with Erb's palsy.

In his college essay, the 17-year-old from Lancaster described it as a form of paralysis and weakness in his left arm. It's a birth injury caused by damage to a network of nerves near the neck.

“It's something I've dealt with my entire life,” Engelhardt wrote, “and still do.”

At three months old, Engelhardt finally had “the tiniest muscle twitch” of his left shoulder. A neurologist told his parents it was the worst case of Erb's palsy they'd ever seen.

“We were relentless with him, and he never gave us a hard time,” his mom said. “He just rolled with everything, just like his typical personality. We didn't even know if he'd hold a golf club.”

“Or play sports in general,” his dad added.

Every motor development was a big accomplishment for Engelhardt growing up. His mom used to wrap his right arm in an ACE bandage to ensure Engelhardt would use his left arm. The process was gradual. Strapping a golf bag over his left shoulder is still a nuisance. So is touching his belly button.

“It was just a normal part of our life,” his mother said. “Just stimulating that left side as much as we could.”

“Growing up with it, it was kind of annoying. It was an extra chore,” Engelhardt admitted. “But I never knew any different.”

Engelhardt was also born with a genetic condition called hereditary multiple exostoses— where benign tumors grow from the surface of bones near growth plates. He's endured 16 surgeries in total.

“He's overcome quite a few challenges,” his mother said.

“I didn't let it define me or use it as an excuse,” Engelhardt said. “I used it as motiviation to work as hard as I could to be the best golfer and person I could possibly be.”

‘Why am I different?’

To open his college essay, Engelhardt shared a childhood memory of his mom getting him ready to go to the gym.

The youngster didn't want to leave the house. He was worried other people would stare at him. So, Engelhardt asked his mom, “Why am I different?” and she assured him that he could do anything the other kids could do.

“Those words resonated with me throughout my whole life,” Engelhardt wrote, “and I'll never forget them.”

After overcoming those initial fears, the gym — Unified Health and Performance in Lancaster — became a haven for Engelhardt.

The owner of the gym, Brendan Aylward, who graduated from Nashoba in 2011 and played golf there, has worked with Engelhardt since the talented golfer was in fourth grade.

“I have a picture of him when he was 10 mopping the floors,” Aylward said. “I see a much more confident individual (nowadays).”

Aylward has since hired Engelhardt to work for him. Engelhardt volunteers with group classes that help people with mental or physical disabilities. He even has a key to the gym.

“He's meant a lot to me,” Aylward said. “He's earned every bit of success that he has, and it's really great to see him develop over the years both as an athlete and a person.

“I couldn't be happier for him. He's going to do a lot of great things.”

‘Wouldn't change a thing’

While the gym serves as a safe space for Engelhardt, the golf course is like a second home.

Growing up, Engelhardt woke up around 5 a.m. to play Twin Springs Golf Course in Bolton (which has since closed) with his dad.

“Once we finished, we'd go inside and pay on the way out,” Engelhardt said. “Then, I'd go to school.”

Last fall, Engelhardt, who described his golf swing as “funky” due to limitations with his left arm, earned co-match medalist honors at the Division 2 Central sectional thanks to a 1-over par round of 72 at the Heritage Country Club in Charlton.

In June, before the start of his final school year at Nashoba, Engelhardt set the course record (66) at Stow Acres Country Club in Stow (South Course) and won a New England PGA Jr Elite tournament. Two months later, he broke his own record with an 11-under par round of 61 at the same course.

Engelhardt was named the 2026 Boys Elite Tour Player of the Year by the NEPGA Junior Tour.

“Nolan, to me, is a big-game hunter,” Nashoba golf coach Bob Keene said. “He has always played the best in the biggest events.”

On Oct. 20, Engelhardt carded a 7-over par 79 to finish runner-up in the Division 2 Central championship at Blissful Meadows Golf Club in Uxbridge. His second-place finish earned him the chance to compete at the Div. 2 state championship as an individual.

And in his last match representing Nashoba Monday, Engelhardt shot an 82 at Franklin Country Club.

Engelhardt finished the fall with a scoring average of 37.5 strokes (per 9 holes) across 18 total matches. He won match medalist (low score) honors in seven of them.

The soon-to-be two-time T&G All-Star represented the Wolves well as their lone senior this season.

“You can take inspiration from him,” Nashoba junior Andrew Balewicz said. “It just shows his resilience. He goes through all of this and he's still a hell of a golfer.”

“He’s confident. He’s powerful. He’s really improved his short game tremendously this year, which has showed up a lot in his results,” Keene said. “He’s maybe the best captain that I’ve had since I’ve started.”

From not knowing if he'd every play golf, to becoming one of the best junior golfers in the area, Nolan Engelhardt's journey on and off the course wasn't simple.

It's one that was paved by resiliency.

“It tears me up," his mother said. “It's mind-blowing to see what he had and what we were told and what he's doing. I'm so proud of him.”

“I wouldn't change a thing, to be honest,” Engelhardt said. “I think everything I've gone through has made me who I am and I love who I am. I wouldn't have the same gratitude and selflessness and willingness to help others if I didn't have to battle it myself or go through it myself. And now I can help other people who are in a similar spot as me.”