PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Donald Vickery of Savannah, Ga., who overcame a near-death accident in 1989, capped a remarkable journey and personal mission to earn membership in The PGA of America. Vickery, a PGA assistant professional at Wilmington Island Club in Savannah, graduated in a class of 90 on May 19, at the PGA Education Center in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Vickery, 51, was victim of an explosion in 1989 in Augusta, Ga., resulting in the loss of both his legs -- a bilateral double amputation (above the knee and one below the knee) -- and with three complete fingers remaining on his left hand.

Following the accident, Vickery first received guidance and support from Ray Rice of Augusta, who developed prostheses for Vickery's limbs. Once he was able to feel confident in walking with the artificial limbs, Rice suggested to Vickery in 1993 to begin learning to play golf.

In a period Vickery estimated to be six months, he was able to balance himself well enough to record a 90 in an 18-hole round. He won a division title in the 1995 State Amputee Championship in Milledgeville, Ga. He has had five top-5 finishes in the past six years. He finished runner-up in the 2007 National Amputee Championship in Onion Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas, and was third in 2008 at Orchard Valley Golf Course in Aurora, Ill.

Vickery became an apprentice professional in 2000 at Wilmington Island Club. He formally began the path to PGA of America membership in 2002, passing his Level I checkpoint in January 2007; then completing Level II in June 2008 and passing Level III on May 19.

The PGA of America Board of Control granted Vickery the opportunity to go through the Playing Ability Test (PAT) on consecutive days. In March, and on his third attempt, Vickery finished two under the target score of 155 at Wilmington Island Club.

"It's been an obvious struggle, and I've had a lot of help and been fortunate to have had people help and guide me along the way," said Vickery. "It has been like a brotherhood. I work at a facility where the people are more like family. I look upon earning this membership as not necessarily a single accomplishment, but one that is shared."

PGA of America President Jim Remy praised Vickery's accomplishment.

"The PGA of America is very proud of Don's being able to attain PGA membership," said Remy. "With all of the challenges that are part of becoming a member, Don also had to overcome tremendous physical challenges. I know that all our members will be proud to have Don as a member of our Association."

Among those guiding Vickery along the path to membership was PGA Master Professional Ray Cutright of Idle Hour Golf Club in Macon, Ga., and Wilmington Island Club PGA Head Professional Patrick Richardson.

Cutright said that he could not first find the words when he learned that Vickery had earned PGA membership.

"I was pretty choked up," said Cutright. "Don is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. When you think about all that man has been through; he just has incredible drive! He's one of the proudest guys I've ever met and he doesn't want any special favors. He is golf at its finest."

Richardson met Vickery in 1999 and said that his assistant professional has left an impact at his club.

"I think that Don will be a great asset to the Association," said Richardson. "Our club members enjoy playing golf with him. He's an inspiration to kids and members of any age. Our membership of about 500 has been very supportive of Don and his ability to reach out to youth.

"We also have a nice percentage of veterans in the club. They also were there to help take care of expenses to fly Don to Washington, D.C., in 2007 to visit wounded veterans at Walter Reed Hospital. I believe Don's meeting with the veterans strengthened him and it helped push him harder to meet his goal of becoming a PGA member."

While Vickery also serves as director of junior instruction at the club, he has been a hit among all club members. One of Vickery's golf students is his wife of 11 years, Helen, who has taken lessons from her husband and become the envy of her friends.

"I have improved in golf and other women are asking me what happened?" said Helen. "So, now they want lessons from him. You know there are people who ask how he can get along as well as he does and when someone said the word, 'disabled,' I replied, 'Disabled? Who?' There are so many other people who carry tremendous disabilities. We all have some handicap in life, and his is more visible. Don has had a dream and now he has been able to accomplish it by being a PGA member."

Vickery said that his joy of teaching golf has been magnified in recent years.

"I try to teach fun not fear," said Vickery. "It's our job to teach the 'whys and hows' and not the 'do's and don'ts. Don't have your students thinking about what not to do, but what to do. Golf is one of the most unselfish professions.

"It was that way for me as I was studying to earn membership. I will say that the final test was the most white-knuckled event that you'll be in. Every student preparing the night before was going over material to help each other. You want to make sure that no one is left behind."

A native of Savannah, Vickery excelled in all sports in high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1976 and was honorably discharged in 1983. He then attended Augusta College and Chipola Community College.

Vickery prefers not to discuss the details or circumstances surrounding his near-tragic accident, other than to confirm that it was not job-related. Vickery is upbeat about his struggles, and carries an e-mail address that reflects his overcoming barriers: donbadleg@aol.com.

"I focus on the positives and always have," said Vickery. "I work to create some normalcy in my life. Golf has changed my life. The good thing about it is that it gave me the ability to offer hope to others -- like those veterans I met. There is a light in that tunnel.

"Working toward membership in The PGA of America is like any other thing in life. You work to achieve that goal. It makes you feel very proud."

The PGA of America makes reasonable accommodation for the Playing Ability Test (PAT) for individuals with physical conditions who would qualify within in the Americans with Disabilities Act. In 2006, The PGA of America announced a new membership policy for individuals who suffer from disabilities that would allow a waiver of the PAT based on proof of scores in "Recognized Events" that were recorded at some point in an applicant's golf career.

About The PGA of America
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By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.

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