Feb. 23, 2006
CLEVELAND - Dan Prokopchak scored a hole-in-one earlier this month -- and he wasn't even on a golf course. A coach in the Cleveland Sight Center's blind golf program, Prokopchak had read about the Cleveland State's John Telich Sr. Golf Technology Center and came up with an idea to link some of his students with members of the Viking golf team.
The resulting golf clinic was a win-win situation for all involved.
On a recent Saturday morning, the Telich Center in the Physical Education Building hosted about a dozen golfers from the Sight Center. The golfers, their coaches and Cleveland State student-athletes took turns on the putting green and at a pair of hitting stalls.
"It was a challenge because I couldn't just show someone with my hands, I had to clearly express myself with words," said senior civil engineering major and three-time All-Horizon League selection Kristen Obush. "It was neat to see their enthusiasm. Every single one of them was happy to be there and didn't want to leave."
Senior Steve Weir, a sport management major who won the 2005 Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship, had previously worked with some of the golfers and was quick to echo Obush's sentiments.
"They thoroughly enjoy playing the game and don't take it for granted. They have so much fun doing something that's so difficult even for someone with 20/20 vision," he said. "Working with them has made me a better teacher because I really have to adapt to each individual style since everyone learns differently."
Rick Polburn was one of the golfers who took advantage of the unique clinic.
"I golf because it's fun and challenging and I like to be able to play well even without sight," he says. "I really enjoyed the golf clinic, and everyone I talked to had a great time as well. It seemed like the Cleveland State golfers were as interested in learning about us as we were about getting to golf and work on our game."
The golf clinic was such a rousing success that another three-hour clinic has been scheduled for March 4. "I think these clinics will give our team a greater appreciation for what they have not only as golfers, but as sighted individuals," says coach Tom Porten.
Adds Greg McGrath, manager of camping and recreation at the Sight Center, "We are thrilled with the continuing opportunity to offer golfers with vision impairments exposure to this excellent practice facility at Cleveland State."
On July 28, Polburn will host his 12th Annual Polburn Golf Challenge at St. Denis Golf Course in Chardon. All proceeds benefit the Cleveland Sight Center. Coach Porten has been a member of the winning team three of the last four years.
"This tournament is a way for me to give back to the Sight Center and spread the word that there are visually challenged people out there enjoying life to its fullest every day," says Polburn.
This article appeared in the Feb. 21, 2006 edition of CSU's OnCampus publication.
