The Gift That Changed the Game: Jack’s VertaCat Story

When Jack Patterson pulled up to his parents' house with Christmas presents in the back of his truck, he told Mark and Gillian Patterson, “Don’t come by the truck, I haven't wrapped them!” Little did Jack know that while he was worrying about keeping his gifts a surprise, his parents were hiding something in the garage that would change his life.

As Jack made his way around the house, he froze when he saw the VertaCat. 

"I had to hold back the tears when I first saw it," Jack remembers. In that moment, everything changed. The VertaCat wasn't just a Christmas gift—it was his way back to a sport he enjoyed.

A Mother & Father's Mission

The work behind that Christmas moment began months earlier when Mark Patterson started researching adaptive golf carts.

"Jack and I used to play golf before his accident, so I was doing a little bit of research," Mark explains. "The VertaCat popped up online and lo and behold, they were in St. Paul."

Mark's visit to the facility was just the beginning. After seeing the VertaCat's quality and potential firsthand, the next step was critical—Jack needed to try it himself. They arranged to visit a VA veteran in Orlando who owned a VertaCat, allowing Jack to experience it personally. 

For Mark and Gillian, all the effort was worth it. 

"It's just wonderful to see Jack having fun doing something he enjoys and he's really good at it," Gillian says, with pride. 

The Investment in Possibility

While the VertaCat was a significant financial commitment for the Patterson family, Mark has no regrets. 

"We’re very fortunate that we were able to do it for Jack,” Mark exclaimed. “But at the end of the day, I think the investment and the return on the investment far exceeds the price of the unit." 

For Jack, that value is measured in independence regained and the priceless experience of returning to a sport that brings him genuine happiness.

The First Ride

When Jack took the VertaCat for its first test drive, the experience was exhilarating. This wasn't just another piece of adaptive equipment.

"As soon as I saw it, you could tell from a distance it was built well and it was definitely thought out down to the detail," Jack recalls. "And then I sat in it, and as soon as I got in it everything was rock solid. I was actually kind of blown away with how fast it was at first.”

Jack initially felt hesitant about the big investment, but that first test drive silenced his doubts. Knowing that he just found the perfect adaptive equipment fit, he joked with his dad, “Hey if you're willing to do it, old man, go for it." 

That test drive was all it took. As Mark puts it simply, "We were sort of hooked."

Finding Peace on the Green Again

Since receiving the VertaCat, Jack's relationship with golf has transformed. 

"Before my injury, I did enjoy golf, but it wasn't something that I really wanted to do all the time,” he explains. “Now it's like every weekend we've been golfing."

Jack's T5 spinal cord injury changed his life years ago. Now, golf offers a welcome break from his otherwise structured routine.

"On a golf course it's a little bit more freeing," he reflects. He uses his VertaCat to experience this freedom firsthand, riding from his parents' house to the golf course and navigating the greens independently.

But he finds the most joy from the game’s mental stimulation. 

"I love the focus of golf because you have to think about what you're doing," Jack says. "I used to go to the driving range two to three times a week and just go hit balls. I don't know what it was, just the focus of it, but I have that ability to do that again." 

Jack and his family are now figuring out how he can visit the driving range during the week—a seemingly small detail that gives him back a piece of freedom he thought was lost.

“It Brings Light”

The VertaCat has given Jack new freedom, while also improving his social life. He feels a spark that he hadn’t felt in a long time.

"It brings a light to the friend group," Jack explains. "We'll get done with the whole round of golf and you can just tell everyone's just happy because we're all able to go out."

Above all else, it makes the golfing experience feel natural–and normal.

"It doesn't feel like an adaptive piece of equipment. It just feels like it's normal golf in a sense," Jack says. 

The Patterson men picked up their friendly rivalry right where they left off. 

As Mark puts it, "It's just nice to get out there and be able to play again and have a little bit of competitiveness between us."

"Thank You" - Jack's Message

The VertaCat has given Jack more than just a return to golf. 

"It's the sense of freedom being able to do things that I can't necessarily do," he explains. 

Jack now envisions using the VertaCat for everyday tasks like working on his truck, fishing, and even target shooting. 

"It's like, what can’t I do with this thing?" 

These words are the real impact of the VertaCat—the incredible change it brings to one person's life. 

Discover how the VertaCat could change your game—and your life—with one conversation.