SCI Superstar: Anthony Netto

When Anthony Netto was injured in a car accident in 1994; hit by by a drunk driver while on his way to a major golf tournament in South Africa, he thought he would never play golf again. But fortunately for all of the golfers in the world, he did not concede so easily.

Instead, after meeting a young boy with a disability while in rehab, his self-pity went out the window and he decided to figure out how he could golf again. Anthony, who now lives in Las Vegas, ended up creating one of the coolest machines ever invented to help people without leg movement to stand up and play golf, the Paragolfer. Read his amazing story and how he’s helping others rediscover golf below.

Why He’s Fearless

When you’re injured on your way to do something you love, the feelings of confliction run deep. For Anthony Netto, a South African born and raised and veteran of Desert Storm (he was a First Lieutenant in South African military), he didn’t think golf was a possibility after his injury. But then he did try to golf from his wheelchair, and found too many drawbacks. The biggest – sitting down while swinging was just too awkward.

That was when Anthony decided to invent the Paragolfer, a power wheelchair for anyone who wants to golf again. The machine can go up hills and sand dunes like a champ, but the coolest aspect is that it can stand you up so you can swing from the most natural (and successful pose) possible – standing. Everyone assumes this is by far the most successful pose for golfing, and Anthony definitely agrees. The Paragolfer can cover 27 holes on one charge.

Officially, Ottobock, a wheelchair manufacturer from Germany, manufacturers Anthony’s Paragolfer. Since the price is so expensive at $34,000, Anthony travel the country talking to people with disabilities about how to successfully raise money to get a Paragolfer at a course near them.

The entire world has been excited about Anthony’s Paragolfer since its invention. In 2016, he demonstrated the Paragolfer at the World Long Drive championship (at 250 meters, he held the paragolf record for several years). In 2017, Anthony showed the world the Paragolfer at the Invictus Games in Canada, where he was able to meet Prince Harry.

What’s Next?

Anthony continues to stay busy with his foundation, the Stand Up and Play Foundation. He introduces thousands of people with disabilities and disabled veterans to the world of adaptive golf by showing them his Paragolfer through clinics each year. There are several chapters of his foundation around the country, supporting adaptive golf and local disabled veterans.

What Anthony has started is simply amazing. He started a movement – golfing with a disability – and it will continue to live on years after he’s gone.

– Visit his foundation: Stand Up and Play Foundation