HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-05-20, Page 12On the greens
by Carolanne poi9
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according to his wife Margaret who
indicates that a television aerial never got
hooked up for some' time• while Sam was
working on his project.
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Al2 — THE HURON EXPOSITOR, MAY 20, 1081
offer
Just a few short years ago
Andy North, Bruce Lietzke
and Dennis Walters were
tied for the lead in a major-
intercollegiate champion-
ship, Andy North and Bruce
Lietzke are now weal known
names to those w ho follow
P.G.A. golf. Comparatively.
few golfers would know who
Dennis. Waiters is.
I will introduce you here to
a golfer whose courage and
determination have become
an Inspiration to golfers, all
over. Like Lietzke and North.
Walters always had dreams
of pia). ing on the P.G. A.
tour. Like Lietzke and North.,
he had a bright amateur and
college golf career. and won
many tournaments. Unlike
Lietzke and North, Walters
became the victim of a freak
golf cart accident that left
him paralyzed from the waist
down.
When the doctors told
De0ais that lie would never
walk', again., • they were aisa
Saying that he' a ould never
golf *gain, Well -just What-
does a „young and talented
golfer do when his only
:dreams are shattered in such
a fashion? As Dennis said..at
first you punch walls and
throw things, and then you
either let the situation beat
you or you beat the situation.
Well, it's easy to guess
who beat whom in this fight.
Denitis decided he w ould still
play the game he loved and,
began hitting balls from his
wheelchair. He tounci he
could still hit the hall straight
although the distance was
considerably 'shorter. It was
a beginning! No how to get
out onto the course? One
night while sitting in a bar,
some friends noticed Dennis'
freedom of movement while
on a swivel sAtool. Before
long, he had a swivel chair
attached to his motorized
golf cart. Now he could get
out on the course and start
.playing.
imagine the • triOrat)on
Dennis fell his first .few
months on the course.., trying
to learn the game over
again: Perseverence paid off.
and soon Dennis developed a
system and style that ena-
bled him to. pliy the game
with a great deal of skill. The
swivel chair allows him the
freedom to turn and plant his
feet on the fairway. A seal
belt prevents .him from fall-
ing to the ground. With the
swivel seat Dennis is able to
complete a full golf swing.,,
He now hits the ball about
225 yards down the middle.
When it comes to hitting out
of traps or putting. Dennis
hoists' hintself out of the car
on crutches, balances on one
crutch, hits and wedges and
putts one handed. Since the
accident, Dennis has devel-
oped his skills well enough to
play his home course in an
even par 72!
Now Dennis Walters is
becoming well known to golf-
ers and fans all' over. No,
he's not winning tourna-
ments on the tour. He's
giving unique clinics- and
demonstrations. He shows
people just what courage and-
determination can mean to a
disabled person. When Den-
nis Walters hits a ball 225
yards down the middle you
can het, people stand op 'and
applaud.
Whet) 1. first deckled:
something about diS.,
.74)104 gelferS:.1.
14400.q.,41.411.lint the tiyhl"
ea 040- Golf AsSnfiation
WO -'14d. ,0:04t).''hits,f0pyltrd.
Dennis WalleW OOKY:'i°
Since thew I have heard of
some other disabled golfers
who did not let their handi-
cap prevent them from enjoy-
ing golf.
Charlie Boswell was a
talented golfer before going
off to war where he lost his
-sight. After his injury. Char-
lie continued to play his
favourite game with the assi-
stance of friends who would
line him up and tell him the
distance to the pin. Charlie
fired rounds that would make
most of us beam with joy.
In last month's Golf Digest
there was a picture of Larry
Fournier, a golfer who was
crippled by polio at 10
months old. Fournier is a
successful businessman and
father • of 3. He has a golf
handicap of 12 and is a new
member of the National Eas-
ter Seal Sports Council.
I'm .sure there are many
more disabled golfers who
manage to enjoy their sport.
With 1981 designated as the
„. International Year for the
Disabled. we'll become more
aware of these golfers. On
Tuesday. July 28 the practice
round of the Canadian Open
will be underway at Oen
Abbey in Oakville. The
R.C.G.A. will have special
facilities available for disa-
bled golf fans. who would like
to watch' the• practice gonna.)
44missiet to the practice
round will be free tt?
physically. 464b,,10,
R,c,9;A. 4000 gveyytmc to
be'. able fQ enjoy this:-,great
Pale- •
Wel last week at the
course our 2nd Men's night
was cancelled' due to Incle-
ment weather (and that's
putting it mildly). However.
men's night is on again this
evening so come out and join
in the fun.
Monday night our ladies
will be hosting the Exeter
club both on the course and
upstairs in the clubhouse. Be
sure to,eonie 0Ut'aselost: to 0
On. as •P9sSillie 50 Wit!' 41/41,,
OW the Exeter '44ics .a
$inte. •For More infer;
matron. about .ladieS and
nOey,-,nights, call the pro
," • •
• Don't forzetIO Sign.,upler
snatch play unctkecOn mind
the.- Upcoming, „Midsurotner
Madness-M1xed. Two Hail on
Saturday June 6.
Here's determi ed
WE'LL
ti
HOME-BUILT PLANE — Sam Sweeney of Brussels has become
well-known to the hews Media through his latest invention, a two-seater •
plane, which now awaits' an inspection before
Sam• can take to the skies for a test flight.
Sweeney plane
DEBBIE BANNEY
Now that the plane is built, it's time to
get down to 'more mundane matters like
work around the house, or at least it is for
Sam Sweeney of Brussels who has
attracted the attention, of news media such
as the K-W Record and Global TV with his
latest invention.
It's been about two years last November,
since Sam started building the two-seater
plane which he recently completed and
only an inspector's visit is necessary before,
he can take off into the wild blue yonder. .
Although it's supposed to be possible to
build the plane in 1000 man hours, San)
figures it took him roughly 2000, but that
he could probably build another one in
1000. This is supposed' to be the fastest
homebuilt plane there is.
The plane, which comes in a kit, is made
by desigliers who set up, distributors but
Sam says, "you really manufacture most of
it yourself.
"You buy die engine, landing gear and
instruments--the rest you pretty well make.
The plane is made up of styrofoam and
fibreglass. Where it needs the strength.
you just have mote layers of fibreglass,"
he said. It has a G-load (stress) of an
acrobatic airplane which is quite a bit
higher than an ordinary airplane, although
it is not designed to do aerobatics.
The plane reaches a top speed of about
100 miles an hour and a stall speed as high.
Sam is now waiting for an inspector.
Inspections were ritade twice while he was
building the 'plane and it if passes the final
inspection, now that the building of it is
complete. Sam will have to apply for a
flight permit to test-fly it.
Sam saw the design of this two-seater
plane at Oshkosh, Wisconsin„w,hieh tailds
an International flying show every year.
One of the reasons he decided to build the
plane is that it was cheap to • operate, irq,
didn't seem td take that long to build -and
it's economical.
"It wasn't for the look of it. When you
can fly about 200 miles on Ave gallons of
gas, that'S economical," he said.
Other planes he has flown include a
Cessna 112 'and a 150. He said when you
own a factory built airplane, you have to
have it all gone over by inspectors.
"This way you do your own mainte lance
and the insurance is quite a bit less," he
said.
Asked where he plans to go with his new
invention, Sam says, "First we've got to
see whether it flys. You have to fly 50 hours
solo and you're not supposed to go more
than 25 miles from home for the first 50
hours."
There can be no passengers in it until
after that.
"It takes quite a while to get 50 hours of
flying time, so we possibly won't get
anyplace this year."
When that 50 hours is up though, Sam
says he wouldn't mind flying out west with
it and he would also like to get to Oshkosh
in the International Fly-in. He said four
yea s age here were only two of this type
of airplane at the show. Three years ago
there wcie t2. two years ago there were 24
and last year there were 52 but Sam says
there arc hundreds of them flying in .1
States, There is only one he knows of thkr
is flying in Canada.
Sam will be taking his plane to Goderich
for its test flight because it needs a long
runway.
And what Will he he be doing while he
waits for the inspector?. "Finishing up
some things that need to be done,"