Amputee Golf Charities, Article Mark NAGA

The following is an article assembled by Amputee Golf Charities and submitted to the National Amputee Golf Association for inclusion in their 2006 Annual Magazine. The article includes a letter written by Mike Riley, PGA Professional at Standard Country Club.

Amputee Golf Charities, Shelbyville, Kentucky was created in 2002 for the purpose of hosting the National Amputee Golf Tournament that is held annually in Kentucky. The goal is to generate a positive net cash situation on an annual basis that will be forwarded to the NAGA Scholarship Fund.

Amputee Golf Charities' officers, Board of Directors and volunteers have displayed enormous stewardship of time and energy throughout the community. The results have been so rewarding that I want to share one of the success stories with the NAGA world. Mr. Bob Dodds of the Professional CLUBMAKERS' Society, Louisville, Kentucky is a friend of the Mark Calvert family. Bob wanted to enter Mark for the International Network of Golf's (ING) "Dennis Walters Courage Award" which is awarded annually to a person who has demonstrated courage in overcoming odds to participate and contribute to the game of golf. Mark was successful in receiving this award at the ING Spring Conference held St. Augustine, Florida in May 2005.

The best testament of Mark's courage, character and spirit of the game is a three paragraph letter Bob received from PGA Golf Professional Mike Riley.

Bob Dodds
Professional CLUBMAKERS' Society
70 Persimmon Ridge Drive
Louisville, KY 40245

Dear Bob,

I am writing this letter regarding the nomination of Mark Calvert for the ING's Dennis Walters Courage Award. I started as the Head Golf Professional at Weissinger Hills Golf Course in Shelbyville, Ky in 1997. Of course every golf course has its share of regulars and volunteers that frequent the course on a daily basis. As I became familiar with the locals I certainly took notice of one particular volunteer, Mark Calvert. Mark worked as hard as any of my volunteers even thought he obviously had some condition regarding his legs due to his constant limp. However, this limp did not slow Mark down or dampen his spirits in any way. Being the new guy I didn't want to offend Mark so I asked one of the golf course long time employees what had happened to Mark to cause him to limp. It was at that moment in my life I was educated on the limitless boundaries that amputees have in this world. Mark Calvert has done nothing short of a miracle with his life but what he probably doesn't understand is what he has done for other people's lives. I have never heard a complaint from Mark regarding his legs. The only complaint you will hear from Mark is the lack of strokes he is getting from his fellow competitors. Which by the way, if your ever tee it up with Mark don't fall for his "take it easy on the guy with no legs" trick, he's currently carrying an inflated 13.0 Handicap index.

In my current positions as Head Golf Professional at Standard Country Club, and Secretary of the Kentucky PGA I come across many people with the love for the game. I would be hard pressed to find anyone that exemplifies the true spirit of the game the way Mark Calvert does. Mark Calvert shares his love of the game with others around him. Mark is involved with the Weissinger Hills Golf Association and was instrumental in organizing the 2003-2004 Amputee TPC in Shelbyville. Mark Calvert is a true ambassador of not only amputees but the game of Golf.

Bob, I feel strongly that the ING would be honored to have Mark Calvert's name placed on the Dennis Walters Courage Award and if there is anything I can do to help make this happen please feel free to contact me any time.

Sincerely,
Mike Riley, PGA
Standard Country Club