FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) - Don Lanham was back on the links Thursday afternoon.
Lanham has a disability that keeps him from having the ability to walk the course, but a new golf cart has changed that. Turnstone and the Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Department have teamed up to provide the new cart that allows people with disabilities to resume their golfing or take a “swing” at a new hobby.
The new adaptive cart is modified so the rear seat can turn in 360 degrees with infinite stops. The height is adjustable so children as well as adults can use it. It offers one-handed steering, with either hand, and an adjustable restraint system to provide stability for the golfer while swinging and moving. It has a wraparound bar for easy access and positioning. The cart is the first of its kind in Fort Wayne.
“We would love to be able to have a cart like this at every course in Fort Wayne,” Kenna Davis, communication specialist for Turnstone, told The News-Sentinel (https://bit.ly/1p0kpD9 ).
Turnstone and the Parks Department were able to make the purchase with the help of a grant from the National Alliance for Accessible Golf. They also purchased adaptive golf clubs.
“They can now golf with able-bodied people. It’s more inclusive for people with disabilities,” said Tina Costa, director of adaptive sports and recreation at Turnstone.
The cart will also be used during the Lifetime Sports Academy this summer so that kids with disabilities can come out and learn how to play golf too. The cart made its debut at the disAbilities Expo on May 10, where people were able to try it out.
Thursday afternoon at the golf course, Turnstone and the Parks Department, along with some clients from Turnstone, were testing the cart on the driving range. Chris Salas, a client and avid wheelchair basketball player, was all smiles when he drove his ball all the way to the green.
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Information from: The News-Sentinel, https://www.news-sentinel.com/ns
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