When Ty Payne was 7, his neighbors built a public golf course across the street - a street where he and his brother played virtually every day. Golf became a major part of Payne's life, which included more than one sport, however.

When Payne was 19, he dove into a backyard swimming pool and emerged as a quadriplegic. Now, he manages a golf driving range in his own front yard.

What a life. And what a man.

"He's a super guy, and I admire him for not letting anything hold him back," says Craig Brown, a regular patron who knows Payne as a multisport athlete and congenial owner of Triple Tee Golf Center in rural Centerburg, Ohio. Located 35 miles north of Columbus, Ohio, Triple Tee was established in 1999 and built for about $90,000. The complex features an elevated 60-foot-by-250-foot, 27-stand tee line. Irrigated, the Kentucky bluegrass/rye target area extends even beyond the 325 yards that Payne keeps meticulously mown.

"Their flags are set at 50-, 100-, 150-, 200-plus intervals, and the landing area is level so you can see the flags and where the ball lands. They keep the grass in good shape," Brown says.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

Triple Tee's primary season runs from April through October. Payne keeps a 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. summer schedule with the help of a Rangeland series 1000 ball dispenser that accepts bills and credit cards. The range's ees are $3 for 35 balls, $5 for 70 and $10 for 175.

It's a no-frills, no-hassle operation. There is no short-game area, no lights, no clubhouse and no food except for a vending machine that dispenses soda and water. But the absence of other amenities apparently has not bothered golfers.

"It's a nice country atmosphere with good people and where you know everybody," Brown says. "It's like the old mom and pop country store."

"We are lucky to have such a nice range nearby," says frequent player Jerry Mizer. "They have nice equipment, nice range balls and maintain the property. They are serious about their range. What they do, they do well."

Regulars flock to the range several times a week to hit balls and make small talk with other patrons; Payne; Payne's father, Ted; and his brother, Tracy. They selected the name Triple Tee because all three help run the business.

Although he can stand and walk with assistance, Payne uses a wheelchair for practical reasons. It makes it easier for him to meet the demands of running a busy range. Payne emerged from his diving mishap partially paralyzed and diagnosed with an incomplete spinal cord injury. "I have pretty good function of my right hand and about 30 percent in my right leg. I have limited function on my left side," he says. "I can do just about everything on the range except for loading the sand and seeding down the tee box. I can't move the bag stands and ropes on the tee line very easily when I have to mow. My dad and brother hook the equipment up and generally take care of the tee line now, throwing down a mixture of 60 percent sand, 20 percent topsoil and 20 percent peat when tee line turf needs replenishing." he says.

"He still does a lot of the work," Brown notes. "He climbs in and out of the ball retriever, the tractor. He gets around." To help him navigate the grounds, Payne has three John Deere machines: a Gator 6 x 4, a 955 tractor and a tee mower.