Every day brings a new idea, direction or suggestion for Bill Perry.

Perry’s company, Just Putt’n Around, originally came about due to his passion for helping seniors enjoy the game of golf. Perry created a special putter, the Active Adult Putter, to allow those in wheelchairs or rolling walkers to putt. Perry began to visit adult communities in King County, giving seniors the chance to participate in putting lessons and competitions.

Since that original idea, Perry said, the company has continued to grow, even if it is just a one-man show.

“It’s grown and gone in a lot of different directions,” said Perry, the former property manager and director of retail operations for Factoria Mall. “It’s been hectic, but it’s been fun.”

One of those directions led to the creation of new putters. During a trip to Lake Care Center in Kirkland, Perry worked with a group of 15 men, all in wheelchairs. The group moved out to the facility’s putting green when an aide asked if another man could participate – a paraplegic in a nearly horizontal wheelchair with the use of just one arm.

“He could not speak, he could nod and it broke my heart,” Perry, 68, said. “I said right then ‘not everybody has two hands to use and that’s what we’ve been teaching.’ I helped him to putt. I could see the glow in his eyes from participating.”

Perry went directly back to his putter maker and told him to get to work on a new design – the Side Saddle Putter – a putter for those who have had a stroke. The putter – 23 inches long – sits 14 inches out from the chair, giving the user the ability to putt with one arm.

Perry also developed the Maxi Adult Putter, a 40-inch putter that gives additional length away from a chair or walker. He’s also developing a pitching wedge and a driver, he says.

“Products like this, it’s physical rehab is what it is,” Perry said.

Perry is working to help American Lake Veteran’s Golf Course, a golf course specifically for armed forces veterans near Fort Lewis in Tacoma. For Perry, an Air Force vet, the issue hits close to home.

In 1995, funding for VA golf courses was eliminated. Volunteers stepped in to maintain the course and provide service to the players.

Perry made his way down to American Lake and began working with the veterans, specifically General Jon Shalikashvili. Shalikashvili suffered a massive stroke and retained use only of his right hand.

“We spent two hours on the putting green and it was just delightful,” Perry said. “He’d putt and then he’d kick my putter out of the way and he’d putt again. I had a great time down there.”

Perry said one of his goals in the coming year is to get several Rotary Clubs to work on grants for American Lake.

While down at the course, Perry also saw more inspiration for another club. Some of the vets used a solo rider – an ATV-like golf cart for paraplegics that straps the user in and can drive in the sand, on the green and just about anywhere. When it’s time to hit, the solo rider wheels around the golfer and suspends him over the ball.

“It’s absolutely amazing to see guys do that,” Perry said. “That’s why we keep designing different clubs. Every time I turn around, something new comes around.”

Perry says he’ll continue to work with seniors as well as help with American Lake’s quest for further funding. And it’s only a matter of time before he finds a new club to make – or a new use for them.

“I have such a passion to do this; I have a passion for golf and a passion for people and combining those two things is what gets me up in the morning,” he said. “I had a big heart going in and I have a bigger heart now.”

Contact Bill Perry at 425-641-4886 or at www.justputtnaround.com.

Joel Willits can be reached at 425-453-5045.