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Bob Wilson Reaches Out
By Meredy Fullen  Robert C. "Bob" Wilson, who was rendered a
bilateral transtibial amputee in a 1974 accident aboard the
aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk, could be perceived as being a
salty, curt, and outspoken character. While these may well be valid
and typical traits of a man of his age and life experience, he is
also a kind-hearted, generous, dedicated, and extremely modest
individual, as witnessed by those who know him through the National
Amputee Golf Association (NAGA).
Bob, an avid golfer before losing his legs, joined NAGA in 1979,
where he has spent 26 seasons both helping and watching the
organization grow. Bob has served two terms as the executive
director of NAGA, the first from 1986 to 1995, and his current term
since 2000.
Besides his duties as executive director of NAGA, Bob developed
First Swing Golf Clinics several years ago to instruct physical
therapists and O&P practitioners, as well as others, in
teaching persons with physical challenges the game of golf. The
first half of each First Swing Clinic focuses on teaching potential
instructors the basics of the game while standing on one leg,
sitting in a wheelchair, or using only one hand, giving
participants an appreciation for the demands they will face as they
teach others.
The second half of the clinic is devoted to allowing the newly
trained instructors the opportunity to teach persons with physical
disabilities while under the guidance of NAGA instructors. Because
of the training involved in First Swing Clinics, practitioners and
therapists are eligible for continuing education credits from their
certifying bodies.
Aiding War Amputees
Bob humbly admits, "If I can help just one amputee to a better
life through participation in golf, that fact alone just makes my
day!" In fact, demonstrating his belief in the mission of NAGA and
First Swing, Bob has been spending time at the Walter Reed Hospital
and Andrews Air Force Base, where last year he held a one-day
modified version of First Swing for healthcare personnel providing
rehabilitation for the many injured soldiers returning home from
Iraq. "We now have hundreds of amputees among the US soldiers
coming home from the Iraqi War. I consider it my calling to share
with them what I have learned from my experience as an amputee and
veteran, as well as the tools that First Swing will provide them in
their rehabilitation," he explains.
NAGA Provides Inspiration
Last year The EDGE reported that NAGA was featured by
internationally known corporate trainer David McNally in his latest
film, If I Were Brave (September 2004). When asked about
his participation in the video, Bob, as is typical, downplayed his
role and the value of his onscreen commentary. However,
acknowledging the usefulness of such a video, Bob said, "This film
can be whatever anyone wants it to be. The stories told by each
person appearing in the video are less about the fact that they are
all amputees, than it is about their abilities to overcome what
appeared to be insurmountable obstacles. I heard one of the golfers
sum it up quite well when he said 'If I had had a film like this to
view when I lost my leg, so much of my fear would have evaporated
and I could have saved so much time.' When you think of the
magnitude of his comment, there is nothing more that I can add that
would make this video's usefulness across many platforms any
clearer."
 According to Bob, 180 golfers participated in the
2004 NAGA National Championship at Boulder Creek Golf Club in Las
Vegas, Nevada. While these numbers are huge, they are hardly
reflective of the number of amputee golfers in the NAGA database.
Records show that there are 2,021 US amputee golfers and a little
over 600 internationally.
Registration for the 2005 57th Annual NAGA National
Championship, to be held in conjunction with the 7th Annual
Robinson Cup Invitational Matches, closed July 5. The event is
slated for August 23-26 at the Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale,
New York. Entries were once again capped at 180 golfers. This year
NAGA arranged for a block of rooms at the Hilton Long
Island/Huntington for players and observers. Practice rounds are
being held on Sunday and Monday, August 21-22, with player and NAGA
member meetings being held on Sunday evening.
For more information about this year's National
Championship, contact Marty Ebel, tournament chair, at
978.443.9337; e-mail: msebel@yahoo.com
Anyone interested in hosting or attending a First Swing
Clinic or in joining NAGA should contact Bob Wilson at
800.633.6242; email: b1naga@aol.com, or visit the website at www.nagagolf.org 
Table Of Contents - August 2005
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