Legally Blind Golfer

11 holes in one

Over the years, Whitey has made ten holes-in-one, 3 of those since being declared legally blind.

UPDATE: May 19, 2010 - Whitey made his 11th hole in one today! Witnesses were Don Lanning, Don Ray and Norman Courtney!

Every morning, Whitey and his golden retriever, Miss Hogan, walk up the street to the driving range. He practices every day for at least an hour.

Two or three days a week, he plays golf with his golf buddies. They always seem to have a big time. Of course, I know for a fact that Whitey's golf bag is filled with jokes and tricks!

One of his favorite golf buddies is our son, Randy. Randy won the Carolinas Junior Championship in 1983 and played on the Winthrop University golf team in the late 1980's. The two of them have a wonderful time playing our local course, and are planning a second trip to Scotland next year.

ADDENDUM:
Since I made this lens, I have been asked lots of questions via e-mail and on forums. You want to know how Whitey manages to play golf visually impaired and if Hogan goes to play golf with him.

Hogan does not go on the golf course. She just goes to the driving range. Originally she was to be trained to play golf with Whitey, but to be honest, we just spoiled her too bad! We are not nearly strict enough to train her that seriously. She is a beautiful animal and a very smart dog. (and very spoiled!) I trust her to keep Whitey out of any serious trouble out there -- like unseen cars on the road, strangers, animals. But no, she is not a golf dog really.

It is important to remember that Whitey was a club professional for 14 years. He says he has "muscle memory" and that makes perfect sense to me. He also knows the golf course here at home very well. He was the club professional here when we moved to Rock Hill, and has served on the Greens Committee and worked voluntarily from time to time on the golf course since that time. His golf buddies do help him when they are playing.

When he plays out of town, he does require more assistance from his friends.

Whitey has attended the Masters Golf Tournament for the past 55 years. For the past ten years, the Masters Practice rounds (Par 3) on Wednesday have become a family tradition. He comes home to watch the weekend play on television, so that he can get really really close to the screen or stretch out and listen to the commentators. Every TV in the house is tuned to the Masters.
Early in the morning in the weeks before the Masters and during Masters week, the Masters song is played over and over again! The link to the Masters song is found in the Link list below!

When Jack Nicklaus was on the tour in the 1960's and Whitey was a young club professional, Whitey always gave him a blue tee for good luck before the Masters. Years passed by and Whitey continued to cheer for Jack. I think Whitey will always be Jack's biggest fan! Then in 2007 at the Masters, Jack came over to speak and gave Whitey a golf ball. That was great fun! Thank you, Jack!

And of course, Whitey is a huge fan of Arnold Palmer, too! Just imagine talking to both of these great athletes in the same day!

(Photo courtesy of Erskine College - Thank you, Erskine! -- wonder how many jokes Whitey has told over the years at Erskine events?)

I played one year of minor league baseball (Class D) in 1960 for the Milwaukee (Quad City) Braves and Baltimore Orioles (Bluefield, West Virginia). My favorite professional baseball memories include playing against Henry Aaron in an exhibition game in Bradenton, FL, even though I only grounded out to the pitcher. All the other Braves were there including Red Schondist, Joe Adcock, Eddie Matthews, Bill Bruton, Dale Crandall, Lou Berdette, Warren Spahn.

I was also fortunate enough, as a club pro for eighteen years, to play golf with the following champions: Rocky Thompson, Ed Furgol, Laney Watkins, David Graham, Bobby Galloway, Burt Yancey, Randy Adams, Homero Blancas (the last golfer to shoot 55 in an 18 hole college golf tournament), Ivan Gantz, Vinny Giles, Roger Watson, Jerry Barber.

I have played over 350 golf courses in my lifetime. My top eleven are listed below. Vote for your favorite.

We use a strip of white tape on Whitey's golf clubs. The tape is placed across the head of the club, with the number of the club written on it in bold ink. We use Bold Black Sharpie pens.

Whitey manages a hole-in-one club and often directs local charity golf events. He uses 5x8 blank index cards and writes names and numbers on the cards with 2020 pens.

He can make over 100 telephone calls in a day -- I have seen him do that! He uses a regular touch tone telephone to dial numbers. Also, our local telephone company provides free directory assistance for the blind. A wonderful service to provide!

We just recently discovered an easy to use mobile phone and will be
experimenting with the Doro HandleEasy326i mobile phone. Check back here often for a report on this product!

We buy only one kind of dark socks and one kind of golf socks. Mating socks is no longer an issue! and Whitey wears velcro fastening shoes!

Propet Men's Cool Lite Strap Walking Shoe

We always purchase solid neutral colors of shorts and slacks. That way, all of his golf shirts match anything he wears.

And of course, Whitey has a talking watch.

New Giant lensmaster Joan4 shares her special inspirational someone with the world on her heartwarming Legally Blind Golfer lens. The lens tells the story of her husband, Whitey, a former golf professional whose determination to continue playing golf after being diagnosed as legally blind is nothing short of amazing. The lens also shares helpful tips and products that can be useful to other legally blind people.

Reading her lens made me realize what a wonderful gift Joan4 had given her husband by sharing his special story with the world by way of Squidoo and it inspired me to share the following idea with all of you.

Why not create a few inspirational tribute lenses to give as gifts to you own family and friends this holiday season?

Tell Mom why she was so special to you and include a few photos of the two of you from days gone by.

Show Dad how much you learned from him in a lens containing some of his favorite tips, advice, and maybe a few photos of the two of you fishing, camping, exploring, whatever!

Tell the world why your friend is the best friend ever!

The ideas are endless!

You could present the Squidoo.com lens' url address to your special inspirational someone in a card along with a note stating that all of the proceeds from the lens will be donated to their favorite charity.

Giving the gift of a personal lens might only cost you a little time but I'm betting the receiver will find it priceless!

BLIND - Sometimes I wonder - Playing golf with Whitey will soon have you wondering...is the man really legally blind? As former college coach for Winthrop University, I had the pleasure of knowing Whitey while having his son (Randy) play for me. Recently, Randy organized an alumni match inviting back former Winthrop golfers; I was honored to also play (with Whitey). After the first four or five holes, it suddenly dawned on me, Whitey was reading the putts for all of us. He obviously has every inch of every green at the Rock Hill Country Club memorized. Whitey has also assisted the Rock Hill Optimist Club each year with our annual golf tournament. He acquires many of the teams as well as prizes for both awards and the auction we hold after the tournament. No one says no to Whitey, unless of course you don't need your putts read.
By: Tom Webb





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