September 22, 2016
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Photo by B.J. HARGIS: Forest Payne, right, receives
a high-five after sinking a putt at his own golf touranament on his own golf
course in rural Sullivan County on Sept. 17.
Since early onset Parkinson’s disease took Forest Payne’s livelihood as an electrician six years ago, he has picked up another career.
“I consider myself the world’s worst professional golfer,” said the 58-year old Payne, during what has become his annual golf tournament that takes place on the final day of the Sullivan Rotary Corn Festival on a course he designed on his 40-acre farm just outside of the Sullivan. “It’s what I do for a living now. “Just keep sending the checks.” There are as many as 12,000 people diagnosed each year with early onset Parkinson’s disease. Symptoms can include tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia (slow movement), postural instability (balance problems) and walking/gait problems. “They say you can have it 10 years before you are diagnosed,” said Sharon, his wife of 37 years. “Looking back, we started to see some of the symptons, including his hand starting to shake.” Forest was diagnosed 12 years ago. “His doctors wanted him to stop working several years before he did,” said Sharon, who met Forest through her college roomate Vivian, Forest’s sister. “Forest has a good head on his shoulders and is realistic. “But when you have been a John Wayne guy all your life, it is quite a blow to find out you have early onset Parkinson’s disease at age 46.” It was 1994 when Sharon, a former nurse and former Sullivan Daily Times employee, and their children moved from Main Street in Sullivan to a farm just outside of town. “If we lived in town, I don’t know what shape Forest would be in,” she said of the man she has been married to since Dec. 9, 1978. “Or what he would be doing.” What he is doing now is continuing to turn part of their farm into a golf course. “This used to be my horse pasture,” said daughter Robin Payne. “I showed horses for about nine or 10 years until I was out of high school. “There were cattle trails and very bad drainage. He has made so many improvements to the property. He is into it 100 percent. I think it is great what he has done and what he is doing.” Sharon said that Forest always played golf, and stared chipping around in the yard when he was forced to retire from IBEW Local 725. “It was in 2010 when he first went on disability,” Sharon said. “It was about the same time he started playing in the yard. “He took out the fence and all the fence posts and started remaking the property. This has been very good therapy for him.” Robin said her father never really had time to play golf when he was healthy. “It is a bit ironic how everything has worked out,” she said. “He had worked so long that he never had a chance to explore, like he does now. “Time and his love of golf and determination have helped make this course a reality.” Forest was born in Heidelberg, Germany, to career U.S. Army serviceman Alva Payne of Robinson, Ill. and Wilma Unger of Carlisle. He said they moved to Sullivan when he was 5 years old and he has lived here since. “I remember some of my teachers telling my mom that I could take school or leave it,” he said. “They told her that Forest just doesn’t care about school.” Forest said that there used to be a barn, silo and a fenced corral for Robin’s horses. “She used to show horses in 4-H,” he said. “But she has grown too old to do that and now lives in Bloomington.” He said his brother-in-law Pat Jones was the one that mentioned putting in a green. “When he said that, a light came on,” Forest said. “The first green I put in was at the bottom of the hill, and it was washed out.” He also said part of the course used to have even more soybeans planted on it. “It was small, and I kept it mowed for a few years,” he said. Now, there is one green, and it is less than 75 yards from his back door. “Right now, there are nine different tee boxes that we use,” he said. “On five of the holes, you have to hit over the soy beans, and you have to hit over the pond on two of them. “The holes range in length from as short as 45 yards to the longest hole, which is 220 yards. Some of the holes are easier than others, but some of them are not what you would call easy. They require a variety of different shots, because of the obstacles and the distances. The fairways are pretty narrow.” Robin said the golf tournament, which also features food, a fish fry and games, is fun. “The whole family gets together on the Saturday of the Corn Festival,” she said. “It is a good natured rivalry. “It is great for him. He has put some of this land to pretty good use, even though I still miss the horses. It was a tough break for anybody. You think of Parkinson’s as an old man’s disease.” She added it has been an adjustment for him. “He was the big, strong manual-labor guy. He could fix anything, He still can, but it might take him a little longer,” she said. Sharon added that she has seen the progress her father has made. “He has grown as a person because of it,” she said. “He has had to overcome and say this is what I can do today. His outlook is fabulous.” Forest said he tries to catch the fish throughout the year for his big day. “We just try to have a good time and play a little golf,” he said. “But this year, I did not catch many after a huge fish kill last year. “We had to go and buy some fish. The pond got a little shallow. We are going to try to restock the pond for next year.” Forest said he is planning to put in a second green in 2017. “Then, we would have 18 holes,” he said. “Usually, I am out here either playing or working on the course every day. I have been working on it for what seems like years. “It’s funny I like playing a game that I am so bad at. I am going to buy more seeds for a second green that I hope to finish next year.” During the course of his outing, Forest knocked in a 10-foot putt for a birdie. “That’s what you call home field advantage,” laughed Forest. He added that when the soybeans are harvested, he finds all the lost balls. “I usually find at least a 100 or more golf balls after they harvest the beans,” said Payne. He scoffed when he was compared to a golfing greats Jack Nicklaus or Fuzzy Zoeller, who also design golf courses. “I wish I could play like Jack Nicklaus,” he said. Sharon said that Rick Rucker of Rucker’s Candy in Bridgeport, Ill. was a mentor to Forest. “He really helped both of us a lot,” said Sharon. “Because of Rick’s help, Forest has become even more resilient. “He goes out there and works, even when he doesn’t feel like it. It affects everybody so differently. His mom had Parkinson’s. Heredity loads the gun and the environment pulls the trigger. Forest worked with his hands over his head all the time as an electrician. The Parkinson’s Awareness Association of Central Indiana in Indianapolis has been very helpful.” According to their website (www.paaci.org), they help people with Parkinson’s, their friends, the families and caregivers navigate through this unpredictable life with Parkinson’s disease. They offer an annual Symposium and Open House, Holiday Party and Parkinson’s Awareness Event. “Forest’s doctor is on the board of the PAACI,” she said. “They have been very helpful to us. We try to go up there every year. “They can be reached by phone at (317) 255-1993. If somebody needs help with Parkinson’s, they are the one’s to contact.” Patience and faith have been key for the Paynes. “We have just learned to take things as they come. Long before this, I knew that we don’t have control over anything in our lives. “We have been blessed. We had a three-year disability policy that payed off the final three years of our mortage. Forest said former pastor Terry Chandler at Shelburn United Methodist church motivated him. “Instead of saying why me?, he would say, ‘Why not me?’” said Forest. “I would like to use my battle with early onset Parkinson’s to help others. “My philosophy is that I am not going to hide behind my disease. If somebody reads this and says ‘If that so and so can do it, so can I.’”
https://www.sullivan-times.com/sports/article/id/19270
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