4 Thursday, August 22, 2024 BATTLE CREEK SHOPPER NEWS http://www.thebattlecreekshopper.com
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Krimmel also noted:
“True, I’m relatively new to this
situation of having the disabilities I
have. It’s only been a couple years.
But as disabled people know, once
you’re disabled, everything changes
in your life.
“But here’s a good change. This
cart gives people an opportunity to
go out there and do something they
maybe only dreamed of doing again.
It’s good for health, circulation and
state of mind. And the only thing I
need help with when playing now is
putting the tee with the ball on top of
it into the ground. I can do it, but it’s
faster if someone else – your golf-
ing partner or partners – lends you a
hand and does it for you.
“But beyond that, I can do every-
thing else on my own.
“And lastly but so importantly,”
said Krimmel, “Binder Park hav-
ing this cart, well, I just can’t thank
the City of Battle Creek and Ron
Osborne enough for everything
they’ve done.”
Matt Krimmel comes through with a down-swing with his driver while hitting
a ball on the practice range at Binder Park Golf Course in B.C. Krimmel is
paralyzed from the chest down, but is able to play golf again thanks to using
BPGC’s new VertaCat golf cart for those with mobility challenges. A fundraiser
golf outing, donations and funds out of city-owned BPGC’s municipal budget
from the City of Battle Creek all helped pay for the $30,000-priced VertaCat
cart that is available for use by all interested. (Shopper News photo by Will Kowalski)Cart Adjustments
And Early-On Usage
Both Osborne and Krimmel said
that basic instructions and basic
information about how to adjust
things on the VertaCat and how to
operate the vehicle that has two tires
in the front and one in the back for
greater stability is something that
took some time.
Explained Osborne:
“The first time we got the cart
in mid-May of this year, we really
didn’t have any instructions to go
with it. And we needed some instruc-
tions, because there are a lot of
adjustments that need to be done. We
worked our way through it and fig-
ured some things out, but we needed
more help. Professional help.
“So,” Osborne said, “we had some-
one from the VertaCat company
that’s based in Minneapolis come
down to give us a hand. That some-
one was Anthony Netto, part owner
of the VertaCat company who is also
a golf professional who is also para-
lyzed. And he’s had tons of experi-
ence with the VertaCat, and he spenttwo whole days with Matt and I,
setting things up. And Anthony also
gave Matt some instruction on how
to approach a ball on the course with
your cart, the best way to swing a
golf club ... and Matt just made great
strides in a short amount of time.
“As a result, we learned how to set
the cart up, how to operate it, even
how to loosen yourself up before you
get the cart on the course and start
swinging.
“The best way I can spell out what
needs to be done, what the process
would be for someone who’s never
been on one of these carts before, to
get to the point where Matt is now
on this cart, would include a number
of points.”
And Osborne then pointed out the
following:
“The first thing a person inter-
ested in trying this cart out is to call
Binder Park here and reserve the cart
to be ready and available for you.
“Second thing would be to have
someone come along and assist you- plus our staff would also help the
person get the cart adjusted to their
body type.
“And the third thing would be to
teach them how to drive the cart,
because it’s not just a regular golf
cart. It has toggle switches which
people don’t use regularly on a golf
cart, and a lot of things to learn like
that. And you don’t want to use the
cart on tough sloping terrains, either.
You’ll need to just pick up your ball
and move it to a flatter area when
slopes and hills come into play. And
the cart will beep if you’re doing
something you shouldn’t be doing on
or with the cart.”
Said Krimmel: “In a way, the
VertaCat kind of drives like my
wheelchair. And just like driving a
wheelchair, there are certain slopes
and terrains you want to avoid.”
Osborne then noted that because
Binder Park Golf Course has a
three-hole practice course as well as
a driving range to go with its three
nine-hole layouts (Preserve, MarshMOBLILITY
Continued from Page 3
See CART on 5