Golfer's
Agenda
Physical Therapy
Pictured left to right: President Bill Clinton, world champion
golfer Greg Norman, and Pete Draovitch, FORE FLORIDA contributing
editor and President of PD Sports Medicine Services, chatting
about-what else?- golf!
Official White House photograph,
courtesy The White House.
A Presidential Meeting
by Pete Draovitch
Thursday, November 21, 1996, I had the chance to witness a very
special round of golf at New South Wales Golf Club in Australia. Two
of the participants that day were United States President Bill
Clinton, and the world's number one golfer, Greg Norman. Completing
the foursome were the President of Foster's Brewing Company, and the
Chairman of the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games.
While awaiting the arrival of President Clinton, the scene was
quite amazing. Secret Service people seemed to be everywhere. It was
unbelievable to see the amount of preparation that preceded a visit
from the most powerful leader in the world.
Following a short period at the practice tee and green, the group
headed to the first teebox. While reporters and cameramen jockeyed
for position on the clubhouse balcony, President Clinton voiced his
concern about being quite nervous. Despite that, he managed to find
the fairway.
Security did not allow anyone to follow the foursome around. The
next time the foursome appeared, they were coming up the 18th
fairway. By this time, it was nearly dark and quite cold. After
finishing, the group went inside to the locker room. It was there
that Greg introduced me to President Bill Clinton. I remember telling
the President what a privilege it was to meet him.
Prior to his departure for Air Force One, a small group talked
outside the locker room for about ten minutes. President Clinton
conveyed what an enjoyable day it was for him. He certainly has a
passion for the game, and said that he always looks forward to
playing golf whenever his schedule allows.
Looking back, my first time "down under" (a one-week stay) was
extremely exciting. The harbor in Sydney is arguably the most
beautiful in the world, and meeting the President of the United
States is not something everyone gets a chance to do. My visit ended
with Greg Norman lapping the field by eight shots to win his 5th
Australian Open. It was a week I will always remember, and I have my
relationship with Greg Norman to thank for all of it. Sports has
exposed my family and me to places we never would have seen and
people we never would have met. For these opportunities, I am forever
grateful.
Too often nowadays, we only see and hear about the negative
incidents which sometimes occur in the world of sports. But, these
reports are the exception, rather than the rule. Through sports,
because of the talented and dedicated athletes that I have met,
especially in golf, many wonderful things have happened to me that
would never have been possible under other circumstances.
Pete Draovitch, M.S.,
A.T.C., P.T., C.S.C.S., is the founding President of PD Sports
Medicine Services. He's Greg Norman's Personal Physical Therapist and
works with other touring pros. Pete can be reached at 561-744-3177.
PD@floridagolfing.com
