Anthony Netto, a wheelchair golfer and founder of the Stand Up and Play Foundation, showed how the thrill of playing golf doesn't have to end when a golfer loses the use his limb.
Taking part in this weekend's Sixth Annual DAV Golf Scramble sponsored by Patterson Auto Group, Netto, a Wounded Warrior born in South Africa, demonstrated the Paramobile, a creation he and some friends developed to allow disabled golfers to stand and swing at the golf ball.
"When applied therapeutically," according to the Foundation, "the sport of golf has been proven to encourage a person’s will, build self confidence, and provide a channel to break through this vicious circle. Although golf is still viewed by most as an elite sport, when properly applied, it can serve as a very successfully method of rehabilitation."
Saturday morning's cold wind didn't deter Netto and participant Jim Jordan from showing other golfers how the Paramobile works.
"Especially for the wheelchair bound and those suffering from amputation, golf provides a physiologically useful therapeutic method to train and strengthen weakened limbs," the Foundation states on its website. Even those with severely impaired vision or the blind can benefit from the therapeutic advantages of golf due to the fact that the ball rests on the ground, and the player must act but does not need to react.
The golf scramble benefits the Disabled American Veterans, allowing the organization to fund the purchase of much-needed medical equipment and other items for disabled veterans.
The winning team at DAV Golf Scramble were Jim Love, Joel Jiminez, Al Gurule, Max Whitworth and Jim Melton.
A dedicated supporter of the DAV, Tom Cartiledge fitted Netto with a pair of custom Olsen-Stelzer boots Friday afternoon.