PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- More than 200 Special Olympics golfers and Unified partners competing in the 2008 Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament, Oct. 3-6, will be invited to a special Play Golf America Clinic and Skills Contest at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Sat., Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m.
Designed to showcase the game of golf in a fun and motivational atmosphere, the Special Olympics Play Golf America Clinic will be presented after the tournament's first round by PGA Honorary Member Dennis Walters, the 2008 PGA Distinguished Service Award recipient. Walters became one of golf's most popular and best traveled trick shot entertainers following a paralyzing accident in 1974.
The clinic will be followed by a golf skills contest at the PGA Golf Club's Short Course, short game bunker and practice green areas, where Special Olympics golfers will have an opportunity to compete for fun and prizes in four golf skills contests. Prizes will be provided by the PGA Golf Club and Golf Digest.
A field of more than 200 golfers from 24 programs will compete in one of five levels of competition on the award-winning Ryder and Wanamaker Courses at the PGA Golf Club, which is ranked as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" by Golf Digest. The national tournament will tee off with the Olympic-style Opening Ceremonies on Oct. 3, with three competitive golf rounds played Oct. 4-Oct. 6. Award ceremonies for the golf competition will take place immediately following the final round.
Special Olympics Golf, part of a worldwide sports training and competition program for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, offers five levels of play for athletes with different golf abilities. Level I consists of an individual skills contest, where six golf skills are tested. Level II is an alternate shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition.
Level III is Unified SportsÒ team play, pairing Special Olympics and Unified partners of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke play 9-hole and 18-hole competitions, respectively.
The golf industry has joined to support Special Olympics golf with The PGA of America, USGA and PGA Tour as presenting sponsors; the LPGA and GCSAA as supporting sponsors; and the PGA Golf Club as event sponsor.
The Special Olympics Global Partners include: Bank of America, Coca-Cola, Mattel Children's Foundation, Mattel Inc. and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
About Special Olympics:
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives by promoting understanding, acceptance and inclusion among people with and without intellectual disabilities. Through year-round sports training and athletic competition and other related programming for 2.8 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities in 180 countries, Special Olympics has created a model community that celebrates people's diverse gifts. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org.
About The PGA of America:
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class Championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.
The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
About PGA Village:
The Ryder, Wanamaker and Dye Courses form a trio of world-class public courses at the PGA Golf Club, at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Named by Golf Digest as one of the "75 Best Golf Resorts in North America" for 2007-08, PGA Village also features the award-winning, 35-acre PGA Learning Center golf park and PGA Historical Center golf museum. The PGA Golf Club exists to be one of the premier daily fee facilities in America, and to serve as a home club for our 28,000 PGA Professionals. For more information, please visit www.pgavillage.com.
