Bill’s family has elected to share the following letter he wrote to the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame before he was inducted in October 2003.
Dear Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame,
Thank you for your interest in my golf career. It has been interesting for me to explore my love of the game of golf since an industrial accident resulted in the loss of my left leg above the knee.
Let me give you a little personal history first. I was born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan. I am married and a father of four children. I am the son of Glenn Harding who was one of Michigan’s best amateur golfers.
In June of 1966 I had an industrial accident while working at General Motors Truck and Bus resulting in the loss of my left leg above the knee. Also both sides of my pelvis were broken and my right leg was broken in 21 places. I was off work for 11 months.
I took up golf seriously in 1967. In 1968 I played in my first Michigan Amputee golf tournament. I tied for first but lost the playoff on the first hole.
Below is a list of my other Michigan Amputee Tournament results:
1969 1st 1979 1st
1970 2nd 1980 1st
1971 1st 1981 moved to Arizona
1972 1st 1989 1st
1973 1st 1990 1st
1974 1st 1995 1st
1975 1st 1996 1st
1976 3rd 1999 1st
1977 1st 2005 1st
1978 2nd 2007 1st
From 1968 through 2001, I have won 49 tournaments and I have finished second 26 times. I have attended tournaments in New York, New Hampshire, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, Arizona, Iowa, Maryland, Indiana, and, of course, Michigan.
I won the National Amputee 3 times, (1978 in Ohio, 1979 in Virginia, and 1987 in Michigan) the Canadian National twice, and the British National once. I am the three time National Senior’s Champion and I have won the National Above-the-Knee championship 11 times. In the USA versus International team competitions, I have been honored to be on the 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 teams as a member, serving as team captain in 2000.
I am a former board member of the Michigan Amputee Golf Association. I was a trustee for the National Amputee Golf Association for 4 years, plus the co-founder and president of the Arizona Amputee Golf Association for 12 years. From 1990 to the present time, I have been a First Swing Instructor for the NAGA. Sander Nassen (the owner of POA Prosthetics) and I began an amputee support group in Arizona and I still visit and counsel new amputees.
In my business life I worked for General Motors from 1964 to 1970. I then joined Carl’s Golfland full time (after having worked part-time since 1957) and became a partner from 1970 to 1981. I then moved to Arizona and stayed in the golf business. I retired from Cypress Golf Course as its General Manager in 1999.
I love the game of golf and play as much as possible. What a great honor to be nominated to the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame for doing something I have devoted my life to and still enjoy to this day. I am very grateful to be thought of.
Thank you, Bill Harding
November 19, 2001
Dear Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame,
Thank you for your interest in my golf career. It has been interesting for me to explore my love of the game of golf since an industrial accident resulted in the loss of my left leg above the knee.
Let me give you a little personal history first. I was born and raised in Pontiac, Michigan. I am married and a father of four children. I am the son of Glenn Harding who was one of Michigan’s best amateur golfers.
In June of 1966 I had an industrial accident while working at General Motors Truck and Bus resulting in the loss of my left leg above the knee. Also both sides of my pelvis were broken and my right leg was broken in 21 places. I was off work for 11 months.
I took up golf seriously in 1967. In 1968 I played in my first Michigan Amputee golf tournament. I tied for first but lost the playoff on the first hole.
Below is a list of my other Michigan Amputee Tournament results:
1969 1st 1979 1st
1970 2nd 1980 1st
1971 1st 1981 moved to Arizona
1972 1st 1989 1st
1973 1st 1990 1st
1974 1st 1995 1st
1975 1st 1996 1st
1976 3rd 1999 1st
1977 1st 2005 1st
1978 2nd 2007 1st
From 1968 through 2001, I have won 49 tournaments and I have finished second 26 times. I have attended tournaments in New York, New Hampshire, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Idaho, California, Arizona, Iowa, Maryland, Indiana, and, of course, Michigan.
I won the National Amputee 3 times, (1978 in Ohio, 1979 in Virginia, and 1987 in Michigan) the Canadian National twice, and the British National once. I am the three time National Senior’s Champion and I have won the National Above-the-Knee championship 11 times. In the USA versus International team competitions, I have been honored to be on the 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 teams as a member, serving as team captain in 2000.
I am a former board member of the Michigan Amputee Golf Association. I was a trustee for the National Amputee Golf Association for 4 years, plus the co-founder and president of the Arizona Amputee Golf Association for 12 years. From 1990 to the present time, I have been a First Swing Instructor for the NAGA. Sander Nassen (the owner of POA Prosthetics) and I began an amputee support group in Arizona and I still visit and counsel new amputees.
In my business life I worked for General Motors from 1964 to 1970. I then joined Carl’s Golfland full time (after having worked part-time since 1957) and became a partner from 1970 to 1981. I then moved to Arizona and stayed in the golf business. I retired from Cypress Golf Course as its General Manager in 1999.
I love the game of golf and play as much as possible. What a great honor to be nominated to the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame for doing something I have devoted my life to and still enjoy to this day. I am very grateful to be thought of.
Thank you, Bill Harding
November 19, 2001
