One of our readers, John Wayne Parrish, thoughtfully sends me notes and stories to lift me up.

Working as a professional grouch is harder than you might imagine. I walk around with a mournful face every time I read in the papers about some of our people on the front lines who won’t be coming home.

Wayne is a military veteran, too. He sent this little story the other day that may put a smile on your face. It put one on mine.

A wounded vet

According to the story, the writer played the Disney Lake Buena Vista course.

As usual, the starters matched him with 3 other players. One fellow was rather young and his wife rode along with him.

Someone noticed the man’s golf bag had his name on it.

On closer inspection he saw that it also read - “Wounded War Veteran.”

When he asked about the bag, the veteran’s reply was simply that it was a gift.

When asked if he had been wounded and he said “yes”. When he asked more about his injury, the response was, “I’d rather not talk about it, sir”.

His goal in golf

As they played, he learned the vet had spent the last 15 months in an army rehabilitation hospital in San Antonio, Texas. His wife moved there to be with him and he was released from the hospital in September.

After the round, he asked about the brand new set of Ping clubs the vet was playing. His response was simple. This was the first full round he had played with these clubs. Later, he said that as part of the discharge process from the rehabilitation hospital, Ping provides three days of golf instruction, and a club fitting.

Ping gives discharged veterans – about 40 soldiers – a brand new set of custom fitted clubs along with an impressive golf bags.

His name is Ben

The veteran was named Ben Woods and said that being fitted for those clubs was one of the best things that ever happened to him.

He was determined to learn to play golf well enough to deserve the gift Ping had given him. Ben was recently medically discharged.

Ping, whose products are made in Arizona, has the good judgment not to advertise this program. They feel it’s something they can do to help wounded veterans. They don’t do it for credit or recognition.

My father used to tell me it is amazing what you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit for it. Wouldn’t it be great if more people read this story? Would you share it with a few of your friends?

The Sports Grouch and his boss welcome comments on his column at ChronicleSports@yahoo.com” .