Ken Green, Champions Tour

mainuh

One year ago this past August my Dr.'s and I decided that it was time to amputate my left leg.
While it was a life change for my wife and I, at the end of the day its not been a big deal.

I returned to the golf course about two weeks after I was fitted for my "starter" prosthetic... ;-)
We live in Surfside Beach (think Myrtle) and the temperatures here can border on tropical for long stretches - 95+.
So - my biggest problem playing golf in these temperatures is that my "leg" sweats quite a bit inside the sleeve that connects me to the prosthetic leg.

Its been a huge pain in the ass taking everything apart, toweling everything off and then having to repeat every four holes. When I am walking it sounds like a toilet is being plunged.

I read that Ken Green, ex PGA, now Champions Tour has a "fake" leg as well.
Since Googleing "golf", "prosthetic" yielded basically nothing I found that Ken had a Facebook page and posted his email address so I wrote him a note asking how he manages playing 18 holes on the Champions Tour.

Son of a bitch if If I don't get an email today from him asking me a half dozen questions, gives me a quick fix / suggestion and gives me his phone number so that he can give me more information.

I'm not sure if I'll call him back but I will pepper him with questions in an email.

I just wanted to share this as we hear so much bad news these days and to reach out to someone who plays our sport on a professional level and have them engage you is just something that you don't hear about often.

Anyway, thanks Ken Green

rob

mcavoy

Great story Rob and nice of Ken to get back to you. His is a great story. Best of luck in adapting your game!

PA-PLAYA

I echo mcavoy's sentiments!

And I can relate to your perspiration issues... especially living in a place that for several weeks during the summer can be miserably hot and humid. We always traveled to Myrtle during the mid-July part of the summer, we'd take the kids down there and spend a week. We'd leave the timeshare at 8:00 in the morning to go get breakfast and as soon as you walked outside it would already be like walking into an oven. Some days, I would tee off at 0630 and be completely drenched in sweat by the 4th hole. It was very uncomfortable to say the least.

Hopefully Ken can share some of his experiences with you and help you find a solution.
And I say this with all sincerity - I admire your great attitude!

Release

Man ! It's been awhile since I paid attention to that name.
Last time I was reading an article about him jumped into water to save his dog from an alligator .
Had no idea he had such horrible tough life after the accident and the lost of his son.

A nice person to take the time to reach back to you.

This was the Ken I remembered, a rebel of some sort.

image /assets/images/0-64-Po4ad6eemvrIMNea.jpg

mainuh

Thanks guys - don't feel bad for me though...every time you see a young person in a hospital bed, wheelchair just remember that saying - "There but for the grace of God go I " ;-)

rob
ps - I just installed 400 sq.ft. of Pergo flooring and 6" baseboard and toe in our living room a month ago.

mainuh

Ken is actually one town away from where we lived and he played out of Richter Park golf course as a young man.
I have several friends from there who were friends with him, however I only knew of him via the Danbury News Times and later on Golf mags.

rob

Release

I looked at his pictures from after the car accident online, He took a licking alright.

Tremendous determination and hard work, for him to be able to bounce back and play competition golf .

I used to think of him as a cocky rebel. He's got my respect for sure.

You might call him up to chat a little and perhaps have a round of 18 and plus the 19.

Typhoon

Very cool story. Nice to see people reaching out like that to help othwrs.

Sneakylong

We had a guy at our club (worked in the Pro Shop) who lost a leg in a military training accident (jumping from a plane). Long story short. He was a lefty and ~ a 4 capper who was invited to play in the Outback Pro-Am in Tampa, Florida (TPC in Lutz) a few years ago.

Playing in a practice round with some of the Champion Tour guys he impressed them so much he ended up quitting his job and was sponsored by some of the Champion Tour guys to work on his game full time at the David Leadbetter Academy at Champions Gate near Disney.

Told the story to some of us one day of him practicing next to Michelle Wie and out comes Gary Player with a check for $500.00 dollars in his name.

I don't think he ever made it, but it's a great story. Last I saw of him his prosthetic leg was sponsored by Adams Golf (cool logo and all). Previously he had a Titleist sponsored leg.

I'm sure their (the Champions Tour guys) interest in him was well appreciated regardless.

Typhoon

Sneakylong

Pretty cool ....foot wedge sponsored by Adams Golf!

letthebigdogshunt

Rob glad to see you are still doing well. My advice would be to call him and talk to him. I would think he would be glad to talk to a kindred spirit. He has gone through what you are now going through and I am sure he would love to help you in any way that he can. I am sure you don't want to impose on him yet he would not have offered if he did not want to talk to you. Good luck and let us know how things turn out with him. Gus

Bangoman

Rob...you never mentioned that to me?

This Friday I go into surgery on my foot and it doesn't look all that good, Rob

Release

Bangoman

Best of luck Bangoman.

swinnea

Bangoman Good luck, Steve.

mainuh

Bangoman
Steve,lets talk before Friday

rob

PA-PLAYA

Wishing you the best, Bango. Keep the faith.

fatshot

Wow....great story! Congrats to you for not letting this major setback keep you from playing the game.
Best of luck and keep at it!

sdandrea1

That is awesome - nice for a pro to reach out like that. Very cool. Great to hear you staying in the game too!

LBlack14

Call the Man!!