The 74th National Amputee Golf Association Adaptive Championship and Senior Championship was held at Sun City’s Whisper Creek Golf Course. Participants arrived on Sunday, August 20, to meet and practice on the course. The tournament concluded on Wednesday, August 23 with an awards ceremony, followed by dinner at Jameson’s.
Nancy Towers, one of six women who participated in the event, said, “It’s a wonderful event getting together, we inspire each other. There are more opportunities for us, The United States Adaptive Golf Alliance (USAGA), has formed the Women’s Para-Golf Committee (WPGC), a committee that is growing; giving opportunities for the inclusion of women with disabilities in the game of golf.”
Craig Van Kessel, a disabled vet best known as Captain America, said, “It’s an inspiration to see all these participants come here and not only do their best but have a great time.”
The participants came from all over the United States. Bobby Henline from Kentucky not only plays golf but, is a stand-up comedian known as “The Well-Done Comedian.”
Henline said, “On my fourth tour in Iraq, an IED exploded under my Humvee.” Henline is also an actor. “I have been to a few movies, including Sophie and The Rising Sun.”
Henline also does motivational speaking to a wide range of audiences, especially injured veterans and burn victims.
Sarah Larson from Wisconsin, dressed in pink, including pink golf tees in her hair, did not feel she had her best game. She said “I will play better tomorrow. People will forget their scores but they will remember the experience.”
There were some trailers in the parking lot, and one of them belonged to Deryck Jernigan who provides the ‘solorRider” to the golfers who need it. Jernigan said, “SoloRider is a single-rider golf car featuring a patented stand-up seat. The vehicle’s electric seat gives the golfer the ability to position themselves in the desired hitting position and then to return more easily to the seating and driving position after they’ve played their shot.”
The other trailer was there to help the athletes with any adjustments they may need with their prostheses. Mike Bugg, the owner of Orthotech Prosthetics & Orthotics said, “We have over 40 years’ experience. We are able to manufacture prostheses right here in the trailer. You can watch it made. It takes four to six hours.”
Kathy Sauvola, Prosthetic Patient Liaison at Orthotech said, “We are here to keep amputees on the golf course and our services are completely complimentary.”
Don and Donna Zommer also attended the tournament. In 2001, Don founded the Midwestern Amputee Golf Association (MWAGA). Donna said, “Don became an amputee in 1962 after an industrial accident. He started playing golf in 1995. The group consists of individuals who have experienced and overcome the loss of a limb or limbs and want to play golf. But along with that comes friendship and a lot of fun.”
Their daughter, Denise Pierse interviewed a number of the members asking how they lost their limb, what they went through, and what they did with their lives. Donna said, “The book is called Life Without Limb.”
In the book Don, her father is quoted as, “If God would give me my hand back but would require me to give up the friends I have made through amputee golf, I would say no way.”
The book is available can be ordered through Riesen’s Website, www.riesenphotography.com
Dominic Flood, General Manager of Whisper Creek said, “This is the first time we have hosted the event. It is an honor to have it here.”
