Hello good people. I’ve ordered a few more shirts in different styles just in case you might want to buy another one or two. These are the Golf Performance by Antiqua and are $7 more for me to buy. I’m only telling you this so you know that it’s a little better quality, although the other ones were also very good.

On the Men’s side, I have only 8 in each of 5 styles, L or XL.

For the Ladies, I have 8 in each of 2 styles, S, M, or L.

See the pictures below.

I didn’t want to get out of control, in case I can’t sell them. I’m still going to sell these for a Christmas Special of $50. We will make only $16, but I feel it’s important to use you guys as a step to bigger and better things down the road.  I’m a huge believer that when you sell something, both parties must come away happy or you don’t get many return buyers.

When I start feeling better after this surgery, I intend to really try and get this ball rolling and really make big strides.

I think I told you that I’ve rescued 2 Shepherds, and I must admit that Munch is not happy.  In a spoof out of SNL, the new one jumped our fence and snuck into the house via the back dog door, where I was feeding the usual three. All hell broke loose, my leg was only half on and when the fight broke out I was knocked to the ground and my leg went flying. Now picture me, the old fat one legged dude in the middle of a 3-way brawl. My face was teeth high and I was trying not to lose my face and break up the fight. I would like to say, I was heroic and pulled it off smoothly. Twelve holes later in my arm and body, I guess I was. Good news is they were fine. It happens, and I will just keep trying to blend them.  I didn’t get along with Finchem when I first met him, and look how close we are now. We are not the Brady bunch here. More like the Freddy Krueger family meal plan. Hope you like the shirts and hope you buy some.

RECAP OF MY NEW NIPPER HAVEN SHIRTS:

We have 2 Ladies sytles, pictured together (S– M– L):

#L1: White/Red

#L2: Green/Blue

We have 5 Mens styles (L or XL):

#M1: White with Turquoise/Navy Stripes on sleeve & back

#M2: White with single Dark Blue Stripe on sleeve & shoulder

#M3: Black-Red-Ivory-Brown Stripes (dark)

#M4: Blue & Navy Stripes (dark)

#M5: White-Grey-Yellow Stripes (my favorite)

 = = = = = = HOW TO ORDER XMAS SPECIAL NIPPER CLUB SHIRTS:

BUY VIA PAYPAL:

1. Go to www.paypal.com and log in and click on SEND MONEY.
2. Enter GreensDogHaven@gmail.com in the “TO” box, and $50 into the AMT box.
3. Chg. To PERSONAL/GIFT – waives the Receiver 2.5% PayPal Fee! Click CONTINUE.
4. Enter STYLE & SIZE (ex: L2 M) in the MESSAGE box at the bottom.  Also,  SHIP-ADDRESS (if different from PayPal info), email-address, and phone# in case any questions.

FYI, Paypal is free to the Sender – the Receiver pays a 2.5% Fee.  Great for buying things on Ebay.  Signup Free at www.paypal.com .

OR BUY VIA SENDING $50 CHECK (with STYLE & SIZE) Directly to Ken:

Green’s Dog Haven

11854 Orange Grove Blvd.

W. Palm Beach, FL 33411

ANY Questions, email Ken DIRECTLY at kjg85@pgatour.com

IT ALL STARTED HERE (2/12/11: KG’S BLOG POST #89)…
KG: “Some of you may have read that I’m getting ready to form a Foundation that will benefit dogs. It is my hope to have a place where I can keep around a 100 or 500 so dogs that idiots have abandoned for reasons that are not excusable. I must first raise some money so I can start everything in motion. So you have already guessed that I’m getting ready to hit you in the head.  My KG mantra is when I’m asking for money, I want you to walk away and say damn that KG is doing a good thing and I also received something good out of it, so you in turn will lobby up a friend and the incredible snowball turns into a snowgazilla. . .   I’m alive today because of a dog and it’s time for me to do something good for them. I need to fight through the pain and start living and playing. Be good my fellow animal lovers or just plain lovers of life. I will tell you the story how my dog saved my life soon, no bull!”

= = = = = = = = = = = =
BOTTOM LINE FROM KG:
KG: “Come join us as I start down the path of helping out dogs that are abandoned. Please don’t let me down.  When you join THE NIPPER CLUB, please give your name, email, phone, address, shirt size, hdcp,  I’m really excited about this Foundation for Dogs, so I want you to contact me at ((( kjg85@pgatour.com ))) with your membership agreement.”

= = = = = = HOW TO JOIN THE NIPPER CLUB:
To join The Nipper Club, email KG directly at kjg85@pgatour.com and tell him “I want to join The Nipper Club”, and give him: your name, email, phone, address, SHIRT SIZE & DESIRED COLOR (Carolina-blue, Red, Navy, White – Ladies: WHITE ONLY), and handicap.

Then, mail your $60 check to:
Green’s Dog Haven
11854 Orange Grove Blvd.
W. Palm Beach, FL 33411

OR, SEND IN YOUR $60 VIA PAYPAL:
Go to www.paypal.com and log in and click on SEND MONEY.

1. Enter GreensDogHaven@gmail.com in the “TO” box, and $60 into the AMT box.  NOTE: $60 to join The Nipper Club, but only $40 for All Women until July 24, 2011 – see Ken’s 7/7/11 Blog 113 about the current Special for LADIES ONLY.
2. Chg. To PERSONAL/GIFT – waives the Receiver 2.5% PayPal Fee!!
3. Click CONTINUE.
4. Enter any extra info./notes/comments in the MESSAGE box at the bottom.  If you’re joining the Nipper Club, please say that you want to join The Nipper Club, and enter:  your name & address (if different from PayPal info), email-address, phone#, and handicap.  Also enter your Shirt Size and Desired Color: White, Carolina-blue, Red, or Navy (Ladies: WHITE ONLY).

FYI, Paypal is free to the Sender – the Receiver pays a 2.5% Fee.  Great for buying things on Ebay.  Signup Free at www.paypal.com .

If you’d just like to buy a NIP HAVEN HAT, they are $20.  You can also buy them thru Paypal – see instructions above.  Just make sure you pout your Name, Address, Phone#, email-address, and Desired Hat Color (white, grey, stone, mango, khaki) in the Message Box at the bottom of the Paypal screen.

Nov. 1, 2011 KG’s Blog #127: SHIRT & HAT Special
I have some shirts left over, so I’m going to give you a shot at another Nip Haven shirt if you so desire. I have carolina blue, red, and navy that I would like to get rid of before I get ready for next year’s new ones.  The Xmas special is $40 for shirt & hat.  No brainer!!

= = = = = = =THE HISTORY OF THE NIPPER CLUB, FROM ITS BOSS:

2/12/11: KG’s Blog Post #89
Some of you may have read that I’m getting ready to form a Foundation that will benefit dogs. It is my hope to have a place where I can keep around a 100 or 500 so dogs that idiots have abandoned for reasons that are not excusable. I must first raise some money so I can start everything in motion. So you have already guessed that I’m getting ready to hit you in the head.  My KG mantra is when I’m asking for money, I want you to walk away and say damn that KG is doing a good thing and I also received something good out of it, so you in turn will lobby up a friend and the incredible snowball turns into a snowgazilla. . .   I’m alive today because of a dog and it’s time for me to do something good for them. I need to fight through the pain and start living and playing. Be good my fellow animal lovers or just plain lovers of life. I will tell you the story how my dog saved my life soon, no bull!

3/6/11: KG’s Blog Post #91
The paperwork has been started on my Dog Foundation (The Nipper Club and Green’s Dog Haven), and as soon as I get the logo done and some shirts in I will let you know how you can all help out and join us in helping out the 4-legged wonders that people abandon.

4/13/11: KG’s Blog Post #100
I’m here to demand that you get rid of some money.  Nip’s Dog Haven is up and running. I want you to join “The NIPPER Club”, a $70 private club where you will have a golf shirt with special logo, created by me.  Now, you are wondering what the hell else am I going to get for the Nipper membership?

1) This shirt will be a high end quality golf shirt.

2) You can submit any question you want answered to any Champions Tour player and We will do our best to get it answered for you.

3) You will get a newsletter every month – Calc and I will give you our golf, life, women, and anything else I can come up with.

. . . Come join us as I start down the path of helping out dogs that are abandoned.

Seriously, get off your tush and sign up.  I not sure how many people even follow these blogs, but I’m going to be heartbroken if I can’t get 100 people to start this running.  Please don’t let me down.  When you join, please give your name, email, phone, address, shirt size, hdcp.   I’m really excited about this Foundation for Dogs, so I want you to contact me at ((( kjg85@pgatour.com ))) with your membership agreement.  Do not do it any other way, because I may not get it and this is simply easier if it goes straight to me.

4-24-11: KG’s Blog Post #101
I’m working on the shirts and hope to have them in soon. Thank you for helping me get started down this road. 

Thanks All,
Ken

5/6/11: KG’s Blog Post #102
Our shirts should be done in about 2 weeks, so just fire in your money and I’ll use it for the tears before I deposit into the Regions Bank, which I use to support them for doing a Champions Tour event.  I met a young lady who does Regions’ PR work last year and she’s a doll, so that’s where my money will sit.  Jessica loves dogs and is recently married, but I forgot his name, sorry dude.

=>Checks go to my house at:
Green’s Dog Haven
11854 Orange Grove Blvd.
W. Palm Beach, FL 33411

5-14-11: KG’s Blog Post #102
The Nipper Club has about 40 or so members, and I’m hoping we can get that moving in the right direction so when you do get your shirt, feel free to show the shirt to your friends and get them to cough up the 60 bucks for the club. I dropped the price by $10 to $60 because I got the shirts cheaper than I originally thought and I don’t want to rip anyone off. They are good shirts.”

JUNE 11 2011: NIPPER CLUB SHIRTS UPDATE FROM KEN
The shirts still haven’t been shipped, so I apologize for the delay. I’ve been told I will get them by early next week.  The problem then is that I’m not there, but I will figure it out and then get them out to all who have signed up.  They came out good by the way.

6/28/11: KG’s Blog Post #112
Now onto the other bit of good news that I have for you. My Green’s Dog Haven has started all ready, yet it be a small start. My first mini place will be in Tupelo, Mississippi. We have secured a one acre fenced in yard where some dogs will enjoy their days instead of the furnace. We are starting slow as we don’t want to make too many mistakes and then not be able to fix them. Right now there are 5 dogs living there and all 5 have come from the shelter, but 3 came before I was involved so I don’t want to take credit for saving their lives.  A lady I trusted with my own dogs will be their permanent caretaker. I’m not sure how many we will end up with because it’s not really cheap to take care of one dog much less a bunch and as of now we only have about $5,000 raised so far.  So, if you know of a golf who is a dog person there is no excuse for him not to send in the $60 and get a nice quality golf shirt with our specially designed logo. I hope to have a fund raiser in the fall that will help and then another in the spring.

7/7/11: KG’s Blog Post #113
We are doing great with all our Nipper Club members and it’s like working on the golf swing, you go slow and just get better. Everyone seems to like our shirts quality and the logo so I’m happy about that. We are going to have some Hats ready in 2 weeks – if anyone wants one they will cost you 20. I want to be completely transparent and let you know that we will make about 10 bucks on the hat and we net about 35 on the shirts at 60 bucks – per Obama transparency I say. I also just ordered more shirts, so I’m hoping you have a friend who will see how gorgeous you look and want to buy one too. I’ve ordered Carolina blue, red, and navy in the new order if you want a certain color I will do my best to see that you get it.  Now I’m about to display my pure memory loss, I have no clue what colors the hats are even though I just ordered them. Stone, white, mango, and two others.   
HAT COLORS: white  grey  stone  mango  khaki

Also, I’d like to tell you that we have a SPECIAL FOR THE LADIES because they sent me too many by mistake. So, for 2 weeks any lady who orders a shirt will get it for 40 bucks. I have about 25 Ladies shirts so I’m hoping that we can sell them out.

Take care my friends. Oh, we now have PAYPAL, so it’s real easy to send your money to Green’s Dog Haven, just Paypal to greensdoghaven@gmail.com and it’ll right to the correct account.

Nov. 1, 2011 KG’s Blog #127: SHIRT & HAT Special
I have some shirts left over, so I’m going to give you a shot at another Nip Haven shirt if you so desire. I have carolina blue, red, and navy that I would like to get rid of before I get ready for next year’s new ones.  The Xmas special is $40 for shirt & hat.  No brainer!!

TEE TIMES:  (see http://www.pgatour.com/players/00/14/44/scorecards/2011/s008.html )
RND1/Fri 1:05pm: Tom Wargo, Mark Calcavecchia, KEN GREEN => 39-37=76
RND2/Sat 9:30am:  David Eger, Tom Wargo, KEN GREEN => 37-38=75
RND3/Sun 8:30am Jay Sigel, Gary Hallberg, KEN GREEN => 38-38=76

Anyone wanting to send a heartfelt THANK YOU message to Dick’s Open Tournament Director John Karedes for giving Ken a SPONSOR’S EXEMPTION in both 2010 & 2011, here is his email address which I Googled to earlier today: 
John Karedes
Tournament Director, Dick’s Sporting Goods Open
Email: john(at)dsgopen.com
…And, ABOVE ALL, say “THANKS!” to the Dick’s people by doing ALL of your Sporting Goods shopping at DICK’s SPORTING GOODS!
They’re all over the place – see http://www.dickssportinggoods.com – or, of course, order your stuff Online at Dick’s.

= =  = = = = = = = =
KG’s Blog Post #109 – 6/6/11 5:21pm (Playing June24-26 Dick’s Open/Endicott)

10% has opened his trapped once again. The good people of Dick’s Sporting Goods has granted me an exemption if I so desire to play (June24-26 http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s008 ). I can’t tell you how honored I am that they actually asked told me well in advance that they want me there. Most of you know that I’m insanely loyal to people who befriend me. I will never ever buy anything from any other store than Dick’s, It’s a huge pick me up to myself.  I’ve had 3 days of absolute minimal pain and it felt oh so good.  Sadly, today has been a nightmare but I’m so glad I was almost normal. The idea that maybe we might be slowing down is like a kid waiting for Xmas. I see the head doctor in a couple of days, but just had to spit out my news. . . 

Anyway, I will keep you posted and I really hope to be better soon. I pray it was not just a fool’s dream of health.

Be good my friends,
Ken

= = = = = = = =  KG’s Blog Post #111 – 6/22/11 2:51pm
Hello and just a quick update on my new infamous leg that I don’t have at the moment. I flew down to Orlando on Monday to get the new devil delight and there was some sort of malfunction on the foot, so I must now wait for it to be repaired. Kind of a let down because I was really looking forward to it. I’ve had a few really decent days in the pain meter, so I’m thrilled about that part and pray that maybe my boat of pain is finally shrinking. I’m straight off pull-yanking my way into the thicker than usual rough at the Dick’s Open Pro Am. Our team fired off a ripping 6 under par to shatter the field. I have a day to figure out the swing and the putter, so that should be no worries. – Ken

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =KG’s Blog Post #112 – 6/28/11 2:30am “DICK’s OPEN REFLECTIONS”
So many good things to say I’m not sure where to start. I actually played golf for 5 days in a row for the very first time, although my only ankle on my body is not really happy. Although much weaker compared to my drives from last year, I thought I did half way decent for me. 76-75-76 is very deceiving, but that is golf sometimes. I’m hitting some really good quality shots mixed in with some damn “Alice what fart is the matter with you?” ones.  I was 13 shots over par, and of those 9 were related to lies on hills that I simply fail to hit good shots. I’m not sure how many shots the leg cost me because I didn’t quite hit it close enough with other shots that from hills that I did manage to make par but not birdie.  In my opinion, which is usually right, the best news to report is that it was the least amount of physical pain I’ve had to play in to date. If the nerve issues are a thing of the past I will be an easier person to be around and a better golfer, I hope. Two years of that constant electric slam blasts are enough.  Three people have already told me they stopped at a Dick’s Sporting Goods in my honor and I want to say thank you to them. The Dicks people were great to invite me, even though they knew I stink at the moment. Quite honestly they have figured out 2 things the others haven’t yet. One is that the leg and good golf is a story and the other is that that I’m still one of the best pros to play with in a pro-am. The Champions tour is about making sure the corporate world people have a fun time; the golf is secondary, however good it is they play. -Ken.

= = = = = = =Quite an article, leading up to Dick’s Open:
6-15-11: “Ken Green Is Enduring Unimaginable Pain To Write Golf’s Great Comeback Story”
Written by: Eric Adelson, ThePostGame (Yahoo Sports)
http://www.thepostgame.com/features/201106/waiting-golfs-great-comeback-story-ken-green-already-writing-it  

May 26-29 2011
72nd Senior PGA Championship
Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville
http://www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011

72nd Senior PGA Championship TEE TIMES:
http://www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011/loader.cfm?csModule=security/getfile&pageid=47399
Morris HATALSKY, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Thomas HERZAN, Findlay, OH
Ken GREEN, West Palm Beach, FL

Thursday May26: 2:20pm (#1) => 36-33=80
Friday May27: 9:10am (#10) => 42-40=82 T146

Article in GolfWorld/Monday 5-30-2011, pg.6

GolfWorld, 5-30-11, Ken Green Playing in 2011 Seniors PGA (Valhalla)

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Blog #108 5-30-11:
KG’s Blog Post #108 – 5/30/11 7:45pm (Glad I did Valhalla; Looking Ahead)
Well it’s been a few days now since I finished the battle of Valhalla.  As of about 5:00 this afternoon, I seem to be back to my not really normal taser count.  What I’m about to say is simply what has happened the past few days. I’ve never had so much and so high amount of electricity in my body. I think it’s really sad when you’re excited about being taser’d in small amounts. I’m still glad I did it and am glad that I didn’t interfere with my playing partners.  I will be heading to the Carolina area to seek a neuro specialist on the head issues.  Truthfully, my head has been nothing compared to the last 4 days. He has worked with an amputee who has had both of my issues, and I’m hoping he can figure out at least the head problems. He has had some success in the shock part, but only temporarily. Then it is my hope to head to Boston and get working on the new “holy grail” of feet. From there I don’t really know what I’m going to do – I’m a lost little soul at the moment and will just go where the body goes.  Be good and for you northern souls, I hope your golf gives you peace. – Ken

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = Ken’s Blog #107 Valhalla Wrapup:
KG’s Blog Post #107 – 5/28/11 3:04pm (Valhalla: “disappointed, yet Proud”)

Holy Taser Batman,

It’s 3:00 Saturday and my leg is still on high alert, but at least I’m not on shot mode. I finished the morning 9 at even par and was really thinking I could keep it 75 or better. I hit a shot off a side hill lie out of the rough and the leg went ballistic and never shut down. I’m so disappointed, yet I’m proud of myself at the same time. I will tell you that out of the 30 holes I played, I had to hit a 3 or 5 wood into 14 of them. That makes it very hard to score. I’m starting to think that they should hold the Kentucky derby at this place and let them run like hell.

My hope is to go to Boston and start the ball rolling on the new leg that I’m praying will take pressure of the nerves in the stump that make me just cry like an idiot at times. I felt awful that I was losing it out there, but I’m telling you the electricity simply doesn’t allow me to function when it goes berserk.  I do think that if the 693 inches (of rain) hadn’t fallen, I would have been able to play that course in very acceptable scores.

90% of me is telling me to get off this pipe dream and the other 10% says don’t stop. I’m going with the 10 probably.  My nature not to do the smart thing.  Just a quick note.  I’m still in la la la land and am making no sense so I will shut it down.

Be good my friends,
Ken
KG’s Scorecards:  http://www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011/scoring/scorecards/index.cfm?id=01444

**CT-Golfer Writer BRUCE BERLET wrapped up KG’s #107 (and Valhalla) perfectly when he posted this footnote on his blog at http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet :
“Keep the faith, Ken. Your friends and supporters will agree with whatever you want to do. Who are we to question your desires with what you have endured and how much you have inspired others?” – Bruce

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =KG Opens RND1 with a “Stupid Good” 36 on the Front:
5-27-11/Friday: “Ken Green Finished Opening Round at Senior PGA”
by Jody Demling, Louisville Courier-Journal
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/kentuckygolf/2011/05/27/ken-green-finished-opening-round-at-senior-pga/  

Ken Green, playing his first major championship since losing the lower portion of his right leg in a 2009 accident, had it going for 9 holes.  Green shot an even-par 36 on the front side in the opening round of the 72nd Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. But then he made 6 bogeys and a double bogey on the back9 to finish his first round at 8-over 80.

“It is amazing how this game can get ya,” Green said. “I played like a stupid good front. The back is much harder – there are three holes I couldn’t even get home – but you start thinking maybe I can shoot 75 and you know maybe thinking about making he cut and then just boom, boom, boom.  “What this game does for you sometime – it just snowballs.”

Green, who has been allowed to drive a cart by the PGA of America, needed a par on the par-5 18th hole to break 80. His third shot came up short and landed in a bunker. He chipped out and two-putted for bogey.  In the round, Green hit 11 of 14 fairways but only 7 greens in regulation.

“I hit some good shots and it was fun,” Green said. “It’s amazing how you start getting excited, that’s what golf does. That’s part of the reason why I keep trying to play to have those kind of moments.”  On his blog before the round, Green said he wasn’t sure how he could physically hold up having to play 30 holes in one day.  “I will certainly go out there and try,” he said.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
GREAT VIDEO OF KG AT VALHALLA – DON’T MISS!!
5-27-11: “Ken Green Highlights from Round 2 of Valhalla/Seniors”
VIDEO (1:24):  Ken Green’s amazing comeback continues. He pars the 13th, birdies the 14th (“One of the few birdies we’ve seen at 14 – he’s been such an inspiration for so many people.”), and sinks another long par save on the 15th.
=> http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/golf/Senior_PGA_Championship/25367746
Screenshot of Video:

“Ken Green Highlights from Round 2 of Vahalla/Seniors”

5-26-11: “Interview: Ken Green’s Amazing Comeback (5:12 VIDEO!)”
“Just 2 weeks after competing in his first Senior PGA Championship in 2009, Ken Green was involved in a horrific accident that killed his girlfriend, his brother and his dog, and also took part of his lower right leg. He’ll continue his amazing comeback.”
http://sports.yahoo.com/video/player/golf/25356457

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
5-28-11: “Ken Green ‘Wins’ Again”
By Bruce Berlet, CT Golfer (“All Access”) => http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet
Major kudos to Ken Green for the most inspiring day of many he has had for nearly 2 years.  The Danbury native somehow got through 30 holes in the Senior PGA Championship on Friday at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. Green was forced to put in overtime because of heavy rain Thursday that delayed play for 41/2 hours and limited him to 6 holes after not teeing off until dinner time.  So Green had to spend more than 8 hours playing golf Friday, though a hospital and morphine were also on his mind. . .  Though Green said he desperately wants to have one good tournament so he feels as if he could walk away with his head held high, he’s already won. Somehow, golf always seems to make you feel warm inside. Like that 50-foot putt at Valhalla on Friday afternoon. Best bogey that Ken Green ever made. A victory for the moment — and a lifetime.
ENTIRE Article: http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
KG’s Blog Post #106 – 5/26/11 10:11pm (Valhalla – got 6 Holes in)

Well, somehow we did play some golf today.  My 2:20 time was actually a 7 o’clock start. The storms just never stopped coming in for a nasty wet landing.

My teacher Peter Kostis was sent a video of my swing last night and he gave me 2 options. 1) close the stance up and square the shoulders up which will get me a little more draw and height on the ball which I was doing neither. It’s pretty scary to make a change only in your mind, but I had nothing to lose considering how bad I was hitting the ball.

I started out with a pure drive and a great hybrid to about 30 feet, 196 yard shot. Sadly, I panicked a little on my 3-footer that I left short and talked myself out of ‘cause I was just so nervous and the excitement to be playing in this premier event of senior golf. Just missed a birdie from 20 feet for par.  Then I hit a 5 wood right on this killer par3, but made of stupid good chip loft to 10-feet and made it. The next hole I hit a good drive (250 all in the carry, ouch so short) a perfect 9-iron to about 12 feet where I had no clue on the read and my caddy came closer than me, but it just missed. Old eyes don’t always work. The next hole I bombed a drive and hit a 5 wood into there about 20 feet, this was awesome. #6 is clearly the hardest hole, I pulled my drive onto a mogul and was left with hit it 20 yards and lay up short of the water or try and carry the water, 150. This was a gamble because the serious hill means anything can happen. I pulled off a hybrid which left me 79 yards. I hit a SW to 5 feet and made the putt. Round now over.

I must play 30 tomorrow and I simply don’t see me to be able to finish. I will fight till tears fall hard from me before I quit. These 6 holes have given me a boost as this is set up much harder than our normal events.  Sleep, sex, food, and munch tussle will finish my night and get me ready.

Be good my friends,

Ken

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
5-24-11: KG’s blog #105 to KENS-BLOG (Valhalla: “I’m Gonna Fight like Hell”)
Ouch! I’ve made mistake number 78,964.  Valhalla is way too hard for me at this stage of life. The rain has turned this place into a bomber’s paradise. 7,250 with zero roll is for the Calc, Lehman, Lyle, and those style of players. This course is also much hillier than I was led to believe.  All that said, I’m still going to go out there and fight like hell.   

So, it doesn’t look like I’m a pile of negativity, I will say that the new foot that I was fortunate enough to try is a home run. It makes walking so much easier. The balance on hills is also incredible. I do think it will make this world that we amputees live a tad more enjoyable.  The price tag is nasty hard, but eventually it will go down where the average person might be able to afford it.  Sadly, insurance doesn’t cover this. Isn’t it forked up that insurance doesn’t cover something that is supposed to make you better?  Obama care won’t, Green care doesn’t, Munch care would. We will find a way to afford this because it’s just that good.

Back to Valhalla, I may have as many as 6 fairway woods into the greens. There was a time I would have loved that, but right now the angles are just too much. I will try and keep you posted each day on the adventures of Sir Greensdoom.  I’m going to the vans early tomorrow and find some magic driver and woods that will kick the ball up in the faster with no roll. The great advantage that pros have is the equipment vans that will allow you to make daily changes to fit the golf course.

Off to the world of filet mignon…

Ken

= = = = = = = = =Great Articles:
5-24-11: “Amputee Ken Green Is Back in the Swing of Pro Golf at Senior PGA Championship – ‘Inspirational’ Fits Him To A Tee”
Louisville Courier-Journal
. . . “I don’t want to make an absolute fool out of myself. I will absolutely give it everything I have. I don’t want to call it a blessing, but you know every time I go out on the golf course I am just happy to be on the golf course. It does mean everything to me.”. .
READ: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110524/SPORTS10/305240050

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4-2011/PGA.com: “The Comeback Kid” (72nd Senior PGA Championship)
http://www.pga.com/seniorpga/2011/news/green_032211.cfm

Just 2 weeks after competing in his first Senior PGA Championship in 2009, Ken Green was involved in a horrific accident that killed his girlfriend, his brother and his dog, and also took part of his lower right leg. He’ll continue his amazing comeback at Valhalla Golf Club.

Ken Green of West Palm Beach, Fla., whose journey back to competitive golf following a tragic recreational vehicle accident in June 2009 earned him the Champions Tour Comeback Player of the Year honor, will join the field for the 72nd Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid, May 24-29, at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

PHOTO: “I’m really psyched about the opportunity to play in the Championship, because it’s a wonderful venue and a wonderful Championship,” Ken Green said. (Getty Images)”

Green, 53, will be making his second appearance in a Senior PGA Championship, having competed in 2009, 15 days before he suffered the loss of his lower right leg in an accident near Meridian, Miss., that claimed the life of his girlfriend, brother and his pet dog. Green gained an exemption into the most historic and prestigious event in senior golf by having been a U.S. Ryder Cup Team member (1989).

“I’m really psyched about the opportunity to play in the Championship, because it’s a wonderful venue and a wonderful Championship,” said Green, whose 2010 comeback included teaming with past Senior PGA Champion Mike Reid for a share of 26th in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf. “I believe that my story may be good for someone who has suffered a similar fate. If I can serve as any encouragement to someone missing a limb or possibly a parent who may be able to bring a kid to the course, I feel my time will be well spent.”

The Senior PGA Championship presented by KitchenAid makes its second-ever visit to Valhalla Golf Club, and first since 2004. Green, believed to be the first amputee to compete in a Senior PGA Championship, will be granted the use of a golf cart on the 7,297-yard Jack Nicklaus-design course.

“I have always been a fan of Jack’s courses,” said Green. “I believe that I have a better chance to get around the course by the fact that it is not overly hilly. If a course has many hills, I have a hard time. I know that the course will be set up tough, but that may make it easier for me, as strange as that may sound. I cannot spin the ball the way I used to and hit the shots close to the flag.”

Following Green’s rehabilitation, he was fitted for a prosthetic limb that he said is a part of an ongoing learning process to play competitive golf.  “As far as prosthetics, we are really good, as there are always changes being made here and there. I real happy with what I am using,” Green said. “The problem is I have to learn what I can do and what is needed to accomplish the next step. My problem is dealing with the pain level. Every amputee has different issues, and it’s like pot luck. I’m dealing with the fact that the nerves refused to die away. You might say that I’m walking a cautious line.”

Green said that his preparations include working with his longtime swing coach, Peter Kostis, and to compete in possibly 2 events, which include the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, April 18-24, in Savannah, Ga.

“Peter is still my teacher and someone who can help me evaluate what I can do next,” said Green. “He will see where I’ve fallen and do what is best to implement a training plan for me. Once I get healthy, I believe I can give it an honest chance. The pain level is the area that I have to work on the most.”

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5-28-11: “Ken Green Just Putting Through the Pain at Senior PGA”
Rick Bozich, Louisville Courier-Journal
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2011305270147

By the time Ken Green moved uneasily over his 50-foot putt on the 9th green, it had been more than 3 hours since he had wanted to jump into his cart and race away from Valhalla Golf Club.  Forget the Senior PGA Championship. Just get back to his hotel room. Find somebody to help him manage the pain raging in his amputated right leg. Go to a hospital for morphine, if necessary.

Surprising? Not to anybody who read Green’s blog Friday morning.  Green wrote that he simply didn’t believe he could navigate the final 12 holes of his unfinished 1st round as well as his entire 2nd round. Not on a soggy, rolling course while playing on his prosthesis after getting one hour of sleep — even if he was permitted to tour Valhalla in his cart, No. 153.  “But once I got to a certain point, it was like, ‘You’re not stopping now. You have to go.’ ” Green said. “It’s that little fight within myself that I feel I’m still winning.  A lot of it is personal. The other is to bring some awareness to amputees.”

Be aware of this: Green, 52, faced that long, long bogey putt after chunking a pair of ugly iron shots on the uphill, par-4 9th hole, his 30th hole of more than 8 hours of golf.  Green said when he stood over the putt, he didn’t see a golf ball. He saw a white blur. He’d been crying. Morris Hatalsky, a member of Green’s threesome, said he had been concerned about Green’s ability to finish for several holes.  “He was losing his breath and closing his eyes,” Hatalsky said. “You could just tell he was in tremendous pain. It was pretty inspiring just to watch him compete.”  Facing a 50-foot throwaway putt, Green moved the ball 50 feet and one inch, working it from left to right, rolling it softly and snugly into the cup, for the 82nd and final stroke of his exhausting round. Consider it the most wonderful bogey putt of Ken Green’s career.  “Isn’t that just kind of fitting?” Green asked. “You can barely see the ball and you hit fat two wedges, and then you make the 50-footer. It’s a different kind of joy. For me, this was good.”

PHOTO:

“Ken Green braces himself with his putter on the 7th green during Round 2 Friday at the 72nd Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. (By David Lee Hartlage, special to the Courier-Journal) May 27, 2011”

“I wasn’t (going to quit). I just wasn’t going to do that. Which is kind of bizarre because I’ve certainly done that numerous times when I’ve had other injuries. But this one, it’s personal.”

It was personal because this was Green’s first major championship since he was injured after his recreational vehicle blew a tire and tumbled down an embankment near Meridian, Miss., on June 8, 2009, two weeks after Green played in his only other Senior PGA Championship.  His brother, William, his girlfriend, Jean Hodgin, and his German Shepherd, Nip, were killed. Green’s lower right leg was amputated. Months of therapy followed.

Green is a player who was known for his fiery spirit, fussing at other players and winning 5 times on the PGA Tour. He used to stir galleries by dressing in nothing but green, including his shoes.  On Friday he wore the khaki hat, a blue polo shirt, blue-and-white checked shorts and white shoes, including one on the end of his prosthesis. He called himself “Johnny Hack.”

Green knows he is never going to win another tournament. He likely won’t make many cuts. He also knows that he will not quit.  “I desperately want to have one good tournament so I feel like I could walk away with my head held high,” Green said.  It looked held pretty high after Ken Green made that 50-foot bogey putt and walked away from Valhalla on Friday.
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/2011305270147

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5-28-11: “Ken Green Misses Cut, But Vows To Keep Trying”
By Tom Yantz, Hartford Courant
Ken Green missed the cut (80-82-162) at the Senior PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. He had to play 30 holes Friday because of Thursday’s round was halted by rain. He tied for 146th place. The Danbury native, who wears a lower right leg prosthesis, was better than Mark Hayes (165) and Anders Forsbrand (167).  Here’s what Green had to say in the media room after his rounds:

“It was good. I hit good solid shots and it was fun.  And then you start thinking, wow, you know, I knew the back side was way too hard for me, but I was thinking 3 over maybe and shoot a decent score and it was I mean, it’s amazing how the you start getting excited.  That’s what golf does. That’s part of the reason I keep still trying to play is to have those kind of moments and those kind of feelings.  And then on the reverse side it’s the complete total just, wow, I mean it hurts as much as it’s ever hurt to have something just fall apart. It’s cold.”

And on his future:

“Well, you know, I didn’t think I would make 36 holes when I started and I will certainly go out there and fight and try. And if it gets awful, it gets awful.  But I’ll fight through it.  And I had goals all day. That’s my life right now. And I’ll keep, you know, because there’s always that, you want to shoot a good score.  And I want to try to get revenge on this back side here.  But that’s what you have to come up with reasons to keep doing it, otherwise you don’t do it.”

*end*
http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2011/05/ken-green-misses-cut-but-vows.html

DAY-by-DAY:
Fri. April 22:  8:44am K.Green & M.Calcavecchia (with Scott Hoch & Kenny Perry) => 68 -4
Sat. April23:  9:50am K.Green & M.Calcavecchia (with Hubert Green & Leonard Thompson) => 65 -11
Sun. April24: 9:24am K.Green & M.Calcavecchia (with Fuzzy Zoeller & John Jacobs) => 68 -15 (31st)

KENS BLOG #101 – SUNDAY APRIL 24, 2011 10:21PM (LEGENDS)
A mess of pure sadness and stupidity to bring to your bedroom.  I’m here to tell you I played really so much better than I ever thought possible.  I actually had good birdie putts on many holes.  I simply thought too hard – just forcing a putt in the hole does not work. We shot 15 under and without me Calc shoots 30; with me not choking my balls off we shoot about 24, and if Calc putts well we go to 33. Sad sad sad sad.  I’m so pissed I’m not going to baffle on, but. . .

I will tell you that if you signed up for our birdie bonus pool for my dog sanctuary we had 23 birdies so you owe $46 check* get made out to:

Green’s Dog Heaven
11854 Orange Grove Blvd.
West Palm Beach FL 33411

*If you dare doing both, then just add them up [$46/LegendBirds + $70/NipperClub = $116]. I’m working on the shirts and hope to have them in soon. Thank you for helping me get started down this road.

I feel like a let Calc down in a big way, I might well have just stuck a knife in his foot cause I just never gave him a chance to roll. I simply just panicked on my putts, as all I could think was trying to make some ‘mo momey to help get me out of the hole. Stupidity at its finest. The money could have allowed me to do some real good things for some people, and I just didn’t Do it. I’m so sorry Calc, my blue.  I’m pissed pissed pissed, so good night.   I do want you all to use Liberty Mutual if you can, as they are the very first one to give me an exception, and although I failed, the high I have right now from playing is worth every choked putt I made. I feel like I won the tournament – it gave me that big a high. I was gonna, but I’m now gonna right a letter to The Regions [May 6-8, Shoal Creek, Birmingham, AL http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s558 ] and see if they have any room for me. So if you wage a phone, letter and protests for me fire away.

Ken

NOTES FROM COLONEL, WHO SAW SATURDAY’S ROUND:
4-24-11: I had the pleasure of watching KG+Calc for the last 2 holes Friday and all of Saturday.  I’m telling ya, both those guys are hitting it great.   If they’d just been putting, they’d have knocked off 4-5 strokes each round, EASY – I’m talking 6-8-10-12 ft. birdie putts of lipping out and bouncing out of the back of the hole all day long!  World of  diff. in KG’s game from last year – he was driving it Great and had lots birdie putts all day – barely made anything – as he said, just trying too hard to make them.  Last year, KG was sorta struggling to find his ‘new’ game – this year HE HAS IT – he’s hitting his Drives And Irons with Confidence – pretty good distance on those drives to – I kidded him about putting it by Calc on the Par5 13^th Saturday, but he kept saying, yeah but I got 45 yds. Roll and Calc only 1 yard (true, but he still got it by him!!).  I was just very happy watching him compete so intensely – very much In Control of his game – IF he had just been Putting! (All this despite a lot of pain he was having with the leg nerves & headaches – how he can ignore that pain and keep fighting to the end is a mystery to me – he is just a very special person).   Calc was Blasting it (every drive 300yds), and was hitting most his irons stiff – wasn’t making anything with the small blade either.  I really was Fun to watch KG & Calc playing in The Legends this year.  If they’re hitting it like this next year, and can get some putts to drop, they’ll be right in there, trust me.   – Col.

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4-23-11: “Green, Calcavecchia shoot 68 at Liberty Mutual Legends”
…From Chris Elsberry’s “My Two Cents” Blog: http://blog.ctnews.com/elsberry
Ken Green got through his first round Friday in the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf Tournament in Savannah, Ga. with his partner and good friend Mark Calcavecchia, shooting a 4-under 68.  Here’s what was written in today’s Savannah Morning News:

His round Friday brought out the old competitor in Ken Green.
Unfortunately for Green, he’s physically not his old self.
Green, an amputee below his right knee from a horrific motor home accident in June 2009, partnered with best friend Mark Calcavecchia in the first round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf.
They shot 4-under-par 68 at The Club at Savannah Harbor to tie for 31st place with two rounds remaining.
“I hit a lot of good ones,” Green said of his round. “You’re really happy in one respect and really upset with myself on the other.”
He felt disappointed in his play, which did produce birdies at 10, 11 and 14, with Calcavecchia making birdie at 2 of those holes. They also birdied Nos. 3, 6, 7 and 13 and bogeyed the par-3 No. 3.
“I really feel like I let Calc down,” said Green, who battles constant pain, whether or not he’s golfing. “Not that I can do a lot, but I gave away 3,4 holes we should have had. We could have easily been 8 or 9 under without even blinking.”
Green said he was trying too hard, that he was “just too fired up” for proper speed control.
While he’s happy to be playing, he also sees a positive in how upset he feels.
“Part of that’s good, because at least you’re thinking like you used to think,” Green said. “That old habit, that competitive mode kicks in. I know how close we were to being right up there.”
http://blog.ctnews.com/elsberry/2011/04/23/green-calcavecchia-shoot-68-at-liberty-mutual-legends

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4-21-11 Baltimore Sun (Jeff Shain):
“Partner should Ease his Pain – Amputee Green, Pal Calcavecchia paired in Legends”
22 birdies. That’s all Ken Green wants out of his teammate this week.  “I don’t think I’ve made 22 birdies in my last 4 tournaments combined,” Mark Calcavecchia said Wednesday. “We’ll have fun either way.”  Green & Calcavecchia are paired at this week’s Legends of Golf, a partnership they sometimes discussed in the days before they hit the Champions Tour — “when I was actually normal,” Green said.  That was before Green lost his lower right leg in a fiery 2009 RV accident.  Green played the Legends a year ago, an inspiring first entry. He and Mike Reid tied for 26th in the 33-team field, including an opening 67. But Green admits he never felt comfortable, even wondering whether he should be playing.  Little chance of that this week. He & Calcavecchia have known each other since their junior days in South Florida, becoming fast friends after both reached the PGA Tour in the early 1980s.  Even though Green occasionally suffers excruciating nerve pain in the amputated area — “I didn’t know the body could inflict this much pain,” he said — he is determined to set it aside this week.  “It’s always better when you’re playing golf with one of your best friends on the planet,” Green said.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/golf/sc-spt-0421-notes-golf-module–20110421-8,0,637987.story

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4-20-11 GolfWeek (Jeff Rude): “Hate to be Rude: Green Playing with Pain”
http://www.golfweek.com/news/2011/apr/20/hate-be-rude-green-playing-pain/?PRO-PGATour

Ken Green, who lost his right leg in a 2009 car accident, made his Champions Tour return in 2010.  

He returns this week to the scene of his celebrated 2010 return. He’s back at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, back in competition for the first time since June, back in a position to again inspire.  A year ago, at 51, Green made two birdies a day in the 54-hole, better-ball event, his first PGA Tour-sanctioned tournament since losing his lower right leg 10 months prior. Believed to be the first amputee to play a major tour, Green teamed with Mike Reid to finish 26th out of 33 teams. That is, if you believe the scoreboard over emotions.

“To do what he did is not going to register as a win in the tournament,” Reid said, “but it’s a win.”  Green transformed from anxious curiosity to impressive golfer then on a 7,087-yard course at the Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort & Spa. Using a manufactured swing and playing with pain all over and limping hither and yon, he served more testimony about the potential of the human condition. He left with tears of joy, hopeful that someday he could perhaps finish in the top 10 at a Champions Tour stop.

Fast-forward 12 months, though, and Green isn’t as optimistic. Both his golf and physical condition have regressed. The two slides are linked. He has played only once a week for the past several months because nerve pain in his leg worsened and constant headaches surfaced.  “One thing I can handle,” said Green, who suffered the loss of his lower right leg in a June 2009 recreational vehicle accident that claimed the lives of his brother, girlfriend and dog. “Like if the leg goes crazy, you cry a little bit. But the headaches are constant. I don’t have the strength to handle both.”  Green said he takes three kinds of pain medication and has seen at least a dozen doctors since June. An acupuncturist told him last month that his pain and headaches might be related to liver problems caused by having taken so many pills. Hopeful that strengthening the liver would help his leg and head, Green has undergone several acupuncture treatments and also botox. The head pain went away for 3 days last week but returned.  “It’s better, but there’s still too much,” he said before a Tuesday practice round. “Taking a step back, it’s awful. Being worse than a year ago is not easy to take. It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to say I’m worse a year later. I never would have foreseen that.”

Despite all that, Green will play in the main Legends Division with longtime friend Mark Calcavecchia. Given a sponsor exemption, Green figures he’s the equivalent of a 3-4 handicap.  “Calc is just going to have to play golf,” said Green, also scheduled to play in the 72nd Senior PGA Championship on May 26-29 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. “He rode my (butt) long enough. It’s time to go the other way.”  As he spoke, he was headed to an equipment trailer in search of a “miracle driver, putter and anything else that might be deemed miracle status.” Yet he’s carrying more than pain, rust and self-deprecation into his latest public appearance.  “This is my little bit of heaven, playing professional golf at this level,” Green said. “Even though I may stink, to be out there fighting gives me an extreme lift. I’m really excited about it. It’s definitely going to boost my morale.” 

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4-9-11: “Green Refuses to Give Up Fight Against Leg Pain”
…by Chris Elsberry, CT Post Sportswriter
http://www.ctpost.com/default/article/ELSBERRY-Green-refuses-to-give-up-fight-against-1330335.php

The pain in what’s left of Ken Green’s right leg continues to be constant. There are good days and bad days but the pain remains, a daily reminder of what happened almost two summers ago.  But the leg pain isn’t the only thing. There are headaches now that last for days on end. Most days, the pain is tolerable, but there are times when it isn’t.

Green, formerly of Danbury, Conn., battles on the best he can because he knows what the outcome would be if he stopped fighting. He would lose. And Ken Green is no loser.  And as bad as the leg pain is and the headaches are, there are also days when Green feels re-engerized. Those are the days when he drives up I-95 from his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., and heads toward Orlando to a place called Prosthetic & Orthotic Associates, where he and Stan Patterson work to make Green’s dream of continuing to play professional goal a reality.  On those days, Green sees other patients without limbs, soldiers, for example, striving to get back to their units. He sees two women, who haven’t been able to walk for almost 20 years, take their first steps thanks to the technology that Patterson, an prosthetic specialist, has constructed for them. And he wonders why he complains about his pain.

When Green sees these people, with obstacles far worse than his, those are the days when the fight begins anew. He is committed to beating the pain, overcoming the headaches and getting back on the golf course to play the sport he loves.  That’s why the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance gave Green the 2011 Bob Casey Courage Award, which he will receive next Sunday at the 70th annual Gold Key dinner at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. “I’m honored that the Connecticut writers would think of me and give me the Bob Casey award,” Green said in a conference call on Thursday. “Obviously, it’s been a strange run, there’s no other way around that and it’s nice to be recognized.”   

In June of 2009, Green, who was returning from a Champions Tour event in Texas, had a tire blow on his RV, causing it to swerve into a ditch and hit a tree. His brother, Bill, his girlfriend, Jeannie Hodgin, and his dog, Nip, were all killed. Green had to have the lower part of right leg amputated. 

In 2010, wearing a prosthetic, Green played in 3 Champions Tour events. In July, he played in the Connecticut State Open, shooting a solid 2-over 74 before the pain in his leg became too much and he withdrew.  And as he prepares to play in his first Champions Tour event this season — the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with his good friend, Mark Calcavecchia, on April 22-24 — the pain in his leg continues to be a haunting reminder of what he’s trying to overcome.

“In terms of some of the issues that you guys know about, it has not improved much. I’m still in more pain than I would like. I have too many bad stretches,” Green said. “It is what it is and I have to deal with it. My hope is that we will eventually figure it out.  But I’m definitely playing, there’s no doubt. Calc knows about my situation and that I’m not as good as I would like and he’s doesn’t care, which is great. And I’m definitely playing in the PGA Seniors (May 26-29 in Louisville, Ky). They’ve been wonderful, they want to have me, so I’m going to play there. How good I’m going to be, that will be a mystery. I’m hoping I can find a couple of mini-miracles by then.”

Green had always thought that the leg pain was coming from the nerve endings in the stump, but Patterson, who just returned from a trip to Fort Bragg to work with military amputees, seems to think that there might be a different reason for the pain. What reason or reasons, Green didn’t know, but he was planning to head to Orlando to speak with Patterson about potential new treatments.  “I’m hoping that he might have an answer to the pain because it doesn’t allow me to play golf,” Green said. “You’d think as time goes on, you’d get better, but we’ve definitely hit a stall, so to speak.”  But that stall eases when he sees the soldiers and other people at the prosthetic facility.  “These last few months have worn me down, but I just have to remember what other people are going through and say that `you have to suck it up,’” Green said. “And say that we’ll figure out a way. When I see these (soldiers) and it’s like they don’t even have a limb … they want to go back to battle, and here I am, crying over some pain. I’ve got to get a grip and cry when the pain hits and then keep fighting the fight because otherwise, I’d lose, and I don’t want to lose.”

Contact Chris Elsberry at celsberry@ctpost.com . Follow at https://twitter.com/#!/elsctpost . For information on the CSWA awards banquet, go to the group’s website at http://www.ctsportswriters.org .

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4-9-11: “Danbury’s Green to Receive Courage Award, Continues Painful Golf Comeback”
By Chris Brodeur, Danbury News Times
http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/BRODEUR-Danbury-s-Green-to-receive-courage-1330285.php

The Golden Bear came out of hibernation 25 Masters Sundays ago today, but Ken Green won’t be celebrating from any sofas.  No sir.

“I don’t watch as much as I used to because it does bother me that I’m not out there and playing at that level anymore,” the Danbury-born, 5-time PGA Tour winner said in a conference call Thursday.   All the tournaments bother Green. They remind him of days like Thursday at that unforgettable `86 Masters, when he was an Augusta rookie — and a budding Augusta renegade — just scratching the surface of his talents.   An aging Nicklaus inspired the echoing calls of CBS broadcasters, but the 28-year-old Green staged a dazzling putting display of his own to share the 18-hole lead.

“I can promise you that there’s never been a better putting round of golf than I had that day,” Green said of his opening round 68. “The putts I made were just idiotic. I literally had three putts that I made from 50 feet and I made like four other putts from 20-25 feet. It was absolutely insane.  There were a lot of firsts in that tournament,” he added. “(My sister) Shelley was the first female caddy. And I was the first to bring kids out to caddy in the par-3. I actually got reprimanded for it, and now they make little outfits for the kids.  I was the first guy to do the skip shot (off the water hazard on the par 3 16th during practice rounds) and I got yelled at for it. Now the fans yell at you when you don’t do it. So I’ve got a couple of unique firsts for Augusta.”

Today, at age 52, Green pioneers a different cause. One that, unlike the stretch of unspeakable tragedy that befell him in June of 2009, he’s somewhat in control of.  Green is fighting for his life, which for him means playing golf competitively. Next Sunday, he’ll pause to attend the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance’s 70th annual Gold Key Dinner in Southington. He’ll stand up — on one of his own legs and on one prosthetic — to accept the Bob Casey Award for Courage, named for the former New Haven Register sports editor.

Then, Green will get right back to work.   ”I’m honored that the Connecticut writers would think of me and give me the Bob Casey award,” Green told a smattering of those responsible directly. “Obviously, it’s been a strange run. There’s no other way around that. So it’s nice to be recognized.”

By now, local golf fans know about the “strange run” Green speaks of, but it’s gotten no less impossible to grasp in the years since. When a tire blew in the RV Green was aboard en route to a Champions Tour event in Mississippi, the hellacious collision that ensued killed his girlfriend, Jeanne Hodgin, his brother, Bill, and his beloved German shepherd, Nip.  Green’s right leg had to be amputated below the knee, the result of the worst of several injuries. Just seven months after the crash, he lost his 20-year-old, long-estranged son, Hunter, to an accidental drug overdose.  But just like today, the golfer in Green’s blood told him to fight for the love that hadn’t left him, even if the emotional and physical toll on his body told him otherwise. He was talking about playing, in fact, while still in the operating hospital’s charge.

Green’s fans know about his comeback, how he participated in 3 Champions Tour events and then an additional local tournament last season, withdrawing from the last two when the pain in his right leg was unbearable.  They might even be aware that he’s scheduled to make his first 2011 Champions Tour appearance later this month, pairing with old Tour buddy Mark Calcavecchia for the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, a two-man event in Savannah, Georgia.

What makes Green such a study in courage today though is the private aspect of his struggle. Along with the excruciating pain in his stump, Green’s battled the recent presence of 24-hour headaches perhaps tied, doctors have said, to the strain on his liver as caused by his perpetual aching.  In many ways, Green has reached a crossroads with his bout.  “We’ve definitely hit a stall, so to speak,” Green said. “It has not improved much. I’m still in more pain than I would like. I have too many bad stretches.”

Green has made time away from his West Palm Beach, Fla., home and his frequent visits to neurologists and other specialists to speak with veterans at Fort Bragg, N.C. He’s befriended fellow amputees at Prosthetics & Orthotic Associates in Orlando, Fla., where he picked up the phone Thursday, sharing in emotional first steps and even helping Dr. Stan Patterson develop prosthetics that aid in soldiers’ returns to the golf course.  

However far away Green’s own full-time return seems, the faceless heroes in his company motivate his every move.  “The one thing I can honestly tell you is people have no appreciation,” Green said. “They say I know people are losing their arms and their legs, but unless you are around the people, it doesn’t affect you. It doesn’t hit you good enough.” Green’s been through 7 or 8 different prosthetics, the latest of which required the latest visit to Patterson for repairs. He’s coped with relentless discomfort. But, taking a cue from those soldiers, he refuses to be denied.  “It’s like they’ve never been hurt,” Green said. “The thing they think about right out of the box is how am I going to get back to my teammates, so to speak.  Here I am crying over some pain that I have,” he added. “I’ve got to get a grip. Just say OK, cry when the pain hits and keep fighting the fight, because otherwise I lose. And I don’t want to lose.”

And if you listen to his post-Awards dinner plans, it won’t be long before he’s back on-screen.  The partnership with Calcavecchia?  “I’m definitely playing. There’s no doubt about that.”

The Senior PGA Championship in May?  That’s another “definitely.”   “They indicated that they wanted to have me, so I’m going to play.”

You can’t stop Ken Green. No sir. You can only slow him down.

Contact Chris Brodeur at cbrodeur@newstimes.com or 203-731-3378. Follow him on Twitter@BrodeurDNT.

This note came in yesterday from Bruce Berlet, longtime golf writer for The Hartford Courant,
who now runs his own Golf Blog called “All Access” at http://ctgolfer.com => http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet .
April 5, 2011 8:30PM  To: Colonel
Subj: Re: KG’s Blog #97
Never stop loving that Kenny. If you see/talk to him, remind him he has a teleconference call Thursday at 10am with the Connecticut Sports Writers Alliance, which is giving him their Bob Casey Courage Award at their Gold Key dinner on April 17 the Aqua Turf Club in Southington CT.
I’ll email and call him tomorrow with the number to call.
Thanx,
Bruce Berlet (Ctgolfer’s “All Access” Blog: http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet )
NOTE: See Bruce’s latest blog titled, “More great Kenny G”, by Bruce Berlet, April 5, 2011 8:30pm

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1-24-11: “Green Shares Casey Award”

By Bruce Berlet, CTGolder’s “All Access” Blog

http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet/2011/01/green-shares-casey-award.html

Excepts: Danbury native Ken Green has earned yet another well-deserved award that he will share this time.  The Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance announced Monday that Green, a 5-time PGA Tour winner recovering from a horrific RV accident 20 months ago, and Bristol Eastern girls soccer team goalie Jamie Botteon have been selected to receive the Bob Casey Courage Award.  Green and Botteon will be honored at the 70th annual Gold Key Dinner April 17, 2011, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington. . . The Gold Key Dinner begins at 4:30pm. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased by contacting Alliance president Zac Boyer at zboyer@courant.com or by mailing a check to Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance, POB 70, Unionville, CT 06085. For more info. on the history of the dinner, visit the Alliance web site at http://ctsportswriters.org .

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1-25-11: “Danbury’s Green to be honored by Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance”

http://www.newstimes.com/default/article/Danbury-s-Green-to-be-honored-by-Connecticut-977641.php

Excerpt: The Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance has selected Danbury native Ken Green, who has won 5 PGA Tour events, and Jamie Botteon, a goalkeeper on the Bristol Eastern High School girls soccer team, to receive the Bob Casey Courage Award.  Both athletes will be honored at the 70th annual Gold Key Dinner, which will be held April 17, 2011, at the Aqua Turf Club in Southington.  Green, 52, is a former player on the PGA Tour who made his Champions Tour debut in 2008. He won 5 PGA Tour events (the 1985 Buick Open, The International in 1986, the 1988 Canadian Open, the 1988 Greater Milwaukee Open and the 1989 KMart Greater Greensboro Open) and tied for seventh in the 1997 U.S. Open. He twice won the Connecticut Open — in 1985 and 1992. . .

By Edgar Thompson, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/golf/golfer-ken-green-will-join-palm-beach-county-1350510.html

If Ken Green could take a mulligan with his golf career, he would jump at the chance.   Green treasures his 5 PGA Tour wins in a 5-year span (1985-89) and his experience at the 1989 Ryder Cup.   But he regrets some of the on-course antics that led the Tour to fine him two dozen times – “I had a habit of throwing clubs in bodies of water,” he jokes – and losing prime years to a difficult divorce that left him clinically depressed.

But taking everything into account, Green has had a successful and memorable career. Sunday night he will be inducted into the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame.  ”Any time you’re recognized, if you’re not honored, you need to look within yourself,” said Green, who played at Palm Beach Junior College in the 1970s and has lived in the area.  “That’s part of the allure of competition, for someone to tap you on the shoulder and say, ‘That’s really nice playing,’ or in this case: ‘You’ve had a really nice career. We’re proud you’re part of Palm Beach County.’ ”

Green, 52, said he welcomes a pat on the back whenever he can get it, whether for his golf career or the courage he has shown in the face of adversity.  “That’s what keeps me going,” he said.

Some days, Green needs to find a reason.  In less than 2 years, Green has lost his brother, son, girlfriend, dog, health and his golf game.   In June 2009, Green was seriously injured when a tire blew on his motor home near Meridian, Miss., causing the vehicle to veer off the road and hit a tree.  Green’s brother William, girlfriend Jeannie Hodgin and German shepherd Nip were killed in the accident, and Green’s lower right leg had to be amputated because of his injuries.  In January 2010, Green’s estranged son Hunter died of a drug overdose in Dallas.  Green has tried to throw his energies into golf to compete on the Champions Tour. But the nerve damage in his leg has made it difficult for him to play more than 6 times a month.

“It’s like putting your hand in a socket,” he said. “It’s constant. It’s just a matter of what level it is. Some levels are so bad I have nothing but tears.”   When he does play, Green still can shoot 70 to 75 on The Breakers Rees Jones Course – his home course for 20 years.  “For me to be playing as well as I am is pretty amazing,” he said. “But to try to play at the Champions Tour level, it’s not even close. I’m starting to be a realist and understand my playing golf days are numbered.”   Green’s scoring average was 75.4 in 3 Champions Tour events in 2010. Green is a talented bowler who once rolled a 300 game, but his average is down to 185 – 35 pins fewer than before his injury. “I used to be really good at two things. Now I stink at both, and it really sucks,” he said. “But all you can do is keep trying.”

Green recovered from depression to earn back his Tour card through qualifying school in 2002, heroically saved Nip from the jaws of an alligator in 2003 and endured the recent avalanche of personal tragedy.  Of this, he is proud. “There’s a time I don’t think Ken Green could have done that,” he said.

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The Post is profiling new members of the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, who will be inducted Sunday night at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Tickets are sold out.

Ken Green inducted into Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame on 3-27-11

PHOTO: Ken Green (right) gets a hug from his sister, Shelly White, after sinking a birdie putt on the 15th hole [partnering with Mike Reid] during the first round of the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf tournament on Friday, April 23, 2010, in Savannah, Ga.

Ken Green Interview *REPLAY*

=> http://www.thegolfchannel.com/golf-videos/-15084/?ref=26000

“5-time PGA Tour winner Ken Green is in the Morning Drive studio to tell his amazing story about how a traffic accident took his girlfriend, his brother, his dog, and his leg, and about how he’s working to return to professional golf with the help of PGA Teaching Professional Jim Estes, who is also in the studio.”

The Golf Channel – “Morning Drive”

Monday, Jan. 24, 2011

http://www.thegolfchannel.com/morning-drive

ORLANDO, Fla. – Monday at 7am kicks off a huge week 4 on “Morning Drive.” We hope you enjoy the show. Make sure to reach out to us during the show through Facebook, Twitter or email.  Co-hosts Erik Kuselias & Gary Williams talk sports, politics and entertainment with the world’s most intriguing personalities and Holly Sonders provides updates…

12-10-10: “65th Annual Grapefruit Open Pro-Am Starts Saturday Dec. 11^th with 48 Teams”

By Laurel Pfahler, TCPalm

…Also competing will be Champions Tour player Gene Jones and former PGA Tour player Ken Green, who had his lower right leg amputated following a car accident last summer.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/dec/10/no-headline—spt_vbcc_pro-am_c1

KG’s Blog Post #85 – 12/3/10 1:53pm (GREAT STUFF from Bermuda!)
(KG’s on Gosling’s Invit., Bermuda, after finishing 76-76-71-76, T25):
Results: http://goslingsinvitational.com/rd4proflightindi.html

Bermuda…

I have accomplished something new!!! For the first time since the accident, I have managed to play 4 straight days of golf. I am extremely happy that I managed to play all the rounds at Belmont [Gosling’s Invitational – see http://goslingsinvitational.com ], despite the fact that it is extremely hilly. My scores were not the best as the lies and shaky putting produced 76-76-71-76.  We golfers are never happy unless we actually win, so I am trying to convince myself that once I can actually work on my game, I may actually turn into a halfway decent golfer.

I did have some bolts of love from my leg, but we managed to get thru them.

I am still pretty pissed that I have not broken par yet, but I will have another chance next week @ Vero Beach grapefruit Pro Am. I sincerely believe that I will do it next week.

My stay @ the Sudbury Ranch has been wonderful. We are at the top of Lighthouse hill, overlooking the ocean. I must admit that my attempt to go in the ocean for a swim failed miserably. My one legged belly flop has not been recorded.

By the way, the new leg has worked really well, so I am encouraged by that progress also. The ladies at the Sudbury Ranch are annoyed at me, so I have decided to let them speak; from here on in it will be the voices of the psychotic females from the Sudbury Ranch:

“The most memorable moment during Ken’s play these last 4 days, was when he slipped, fell in a bunker, but he managed to hook it around a tree and hit it about 5 feet from 180 yards from his horizontal position in the bunker… ( we are still trying to get the sand out of his shorts ) ”

*Psycho 1*

“My favorite moment was Ken’s AMAZING shot on the 3rd day at the par 4 8th; the #1 handicap hole at Belmont. After taking a double and then a triple bogey the previous 2 rounds, he found himself in play off the tee, but in the rough on the right with an uphill lie, and blocked out by 3 tall palms to a severely elevated and multitiered green. Darron Swan (Ken’s caddie) and I thought the shot was ‘dead’, but not so per Ken. He lined up the shot and faded a brilliant strike around the palms and up to the back right tier of the green, hitting the flag and dropping it 3 feet from the pin for an ‘easy’ birdie. GOOD STUFF! He never gives up and is truly an inspiration…  

After watching him play all week, I even managed to shoot an 83 with 25 putts in my weekly ladies’ tournament this morning! Maybe it’s rubbing off??   (I hope??!)”

*Psycho 2*

I will admit that both those shots were insanely good – pure hands at work. The awkward stance & the fall – wish I knew was going to happen.  It’s easily in my top 5 of all time.

Be good my friends,

Ken

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TWO GREAT ARTICLES AND COMMENTS BY KIM SWAN ABOUT “BERMUDA 2010”:

11-30-10, The Bermuda Royal Gazette – by Josh Ball
“Canadian Duo Set Early Pace At Gosling’s Golf Tournament”
http://www.royalgazette.com/rg/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7dabf373003000a&sectionId=70

Former university roommates Zoltan Veress & Brian McCann set the early pace at the Gosling’s Invitational at Belmont Hills. . .

The Belmont greens were the undoing of several rounds yesterday, including that of former PGA Tour professional Ken Green.  Green shot a 6-over par 76 and was less than happy with his day’s work, despite the fact that he is still getting used to playing with a prosthetic right leg after his car accident last year.

“There’s two ways of looking at it, I’ve done so little (with my game), I haven’t been able to do anything in terms of trying to get better.   “Once a week just doesn’t fly when you’re trying to make such a dramatic change. So you shoot 6-over and you know you threw away shots, and some putts don’t go. Half of me is fuming, and the half says ‘you’ve got to be patient’.  “I know I should be patient, but there is that part of me that says ‘you’re an absolute dope for playing that badly’. I’ve got to wait it out and let it come when it comes. “I’m basically trying to restart the game of golf. It’s got to be a whole new process, so I’ve got to learn the new swing, I’ve got to figure out how to hit chips, and even putting is different because I can’t get the angle on my knees. Some days I’m really good, and some days I just stink, like I did today.  “You’re excited about trying to improve and trying to get better, but then there’s that part of you that knows what you used to be, and that part says ‘you dope how can you hit that shot’.   “It’s a wild brain conversation that I have with myself, but you have to, you have to keep talking to yourself and say ‘ok, we’ve got to take this one step at a time.”

Like many yesterday Green had a bad day on the greens, and he said putting in Bermuda was something he had never really come to terms with.  “I hit a couple of bad shots, I was actually relatively pleased with the way I struck it, but you have to putt in this game and there is just no other way around it, and I didn’t putt very well.  “I’ve always remembered that putting in Bermuda is always hard. Unless you are here, and I’ve been here a lot, but I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like I’ve putted well.   “It’s hard to figure it out. It’s a different grass, a little mixture of that salt air, and it’s beat me up pretty good over the years.”  

Green will go out again tomorrow with father and son professionals Cole & Roy Willis from the US, but whether he manages to play all 4 days is yet to be seen.

“After my practice round, Saturday night was a pretty bad night. I got slammed 2 holes out there pretty bad (on Monday), so I’m really hoping I can.

“Because that’s the start, that means you are getting closer to maybe actually hitting balls one day and working on the game.   “But if I was a betting man I don’t think it (the leg) is going to make it. But I have been wrong about numerous things.”

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11-29-10, Bernews: “Amputee Golfer in Gosling’s Invitational”
http://bernews.com/2010/11/amputee-golfer-competing-in-goslings-invitational

One of golf’s most colorful and inspiring personalities is in Bermuda for the Gosling Invitational which started today [Nov 29]. Ken Green had a solid career in the 1980’s, racking up five wins and competing on the 1989 United States Ryder Cup team.

In June 2009, he was seriously injured in a motor vehicle accident which killed his brother, his girlfriend and his dog. Even though his lower right leg was amputated as a result of injuries suffered in the accident, Mr Green vowed to return to competitive golf. Earlier this year, he suffered yet another tragedy when his 21-year-old son Hunter was found dead in his college dorm room.

A colorful character, Mr. Green achieved a bit of notoriety for jumping into a canal in Palm Beach County, Florida to save his dog, Nip, from the jaws of an alligator. In addition he was fined in 1997 as during the Masters he was drinking beer on the golf course while playing.

He is pictured below today at the Belmont golf course. Mr Green shot a First Round 6-over par 76 and is T34th.

**PIC OF KG PUTTING**

Over 100 golfers are taking part in the Gosling’s Invitational which started today. Golfers from both Bermuda and overseas faced off in a professionals vs amateurs format, with the Professional Division boasting a prize purse of $60,000.

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3 COMMENTS POSTED his article:

11-29-10 11:31PM – BERMYGUY SAYS:
Truly an inspiration.

11-30-10 9:12AM – KIM SWAN [Ken’s Friend in Life] SAYS:
Ken Green is a courageous competitor who understands life’s ups and downs. He is serving as a role model to those who live with amputations, physical disabilities and persons like war vets and the many throughout the world who have fallen and are trying to pick themselves up and carry on.

Ken Green has been one of the greatest influences on my life and the friendship and love that he and his entire family showed to me since 1976 when we became college team and then roommates has always been truly appreciated and reciprocated.

Ken who has won 5 times on the PGA TOUR (Canadian Open, Milwaukee Open (2), Greensboro Open and The International)and was once 3rd on the PGA Tour Money List in 89′ is showing us the “Rocky Balboa Style ” strength of character to get up off of the life’s canvas; dust yourself off and move forward and make a difference. God be with you my BROTHER. Kim Swan JP MP

12-1-10 4:28pm – KIM SWAN [Ken’s Friend in Life] SAYS:
Ken Green Shot 71 (1 over Par) in the 3rd round of the Gosling’s Invitational at Belmont Hills Newstead Resort (12 Pars, 3 birdies and 4 bogies).   Ken started off slow with three consecutive bogies on #2, #3 & #4 but settled down with pars before rattling of consecutive birdies on #7 & #8 making the turn 35 (+1).  Consistent play continued with Pars until he birdied the 13th but bogied the hilly #15 followed by all Pars to the clubhouse.

Well Done, Fierce Competitor !!!!!!

Kim

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Read something great – “Swannie’s” Dec. 11^th Commencement Address at Troy Univ. in Alabama, attended by his Friend-In-Life, Ken Green.

12-13-10: “Kim Swan Delivers US Commencement Speech at Troy Univ.”

by Bernews

http://bernews.com/2010/12/swan-delivers-us-commencement-speech

…This year marks 30 years since I graduated from Troy State University. It is a special homecoming for me for several reasons.  I came to know about Troy State University through “golfing great” Ken Green (here today), then my Palm Beach Junior College roommate; and one of the biggest influences in my life. Ken was recruited by many of the major southern universities, including Troy State which was the reigning NCAA Division 2 Champions…

THE END OF HIS SPEECH:

“…And so I dare you to stand for things that are fundamentally right.

Dare to stand for a healthy environment so our children can enjoy a greener planet.

Dare to stand for fairness in all things.

Dare to be your brothers’ keeper.

Dare to break down barriers that keep people apart.

Dare to fill your heart with love each day.

Dare to make this world a better place.

Graduating Class of 2010, Go forth into the world. Make use of your knowledge with a spirit of love.

Let that spirit flow outward like a river from a mountain.

Let it flow to your family, your friends, your colleagues, your neighbours and fellow citizens, to one and all.

Live your life with love, and it will bear fruit.

Dr. Hawkins and esteemed members of the Board. Faculty, Staff and Graduating Class of 2010,

There is just one final duty I must perform here today and that is to give thanks to God for laying his hand on my life and on this University.

Troy University gave me vitally important things – skill, confidence, pride, discipline, compassion and an urge do what I can to make this world a better place.

Looking out on this great gathering, and seeing so many bright faces at the beginning of their great journey, I am filled with excitement and pride.

This is your time. This is your life. Work hard, do good, enjoy life.

God Bless America, God Bless Troy University and May God Bless OUR World with Peace and Love.

Thank you.”