PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Nearly 500 Special Olympics athletes, coaches, volunteers, plus PGA of America and USGA officials and city representatives will gather on Friday, Oct. 3, for Opening Ceremonies of the Ninth Annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Similar to the Olympics, 204 golfers representing 24 U.S. states will march in by state delegation; a presentation of colors will be staged; a Florida Special Olympics athlete will sing the national anthem; golfers will recite the Special Olympics oath; and the Special Olympics cauldron will be lit. Opening Ceremonies will take place at the PGA Golf Club's PGA Hall of Fame on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and are scheduled to conclude at 8:15 p.m.
The ninth edition of the annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament returns to PGA Golf Club for the fifth time in the history of event. Golfers will compete Saturday through Monday, Oct. 4-6, in one of five levels of competition on the award-winning Ryder and Wanamaker Courses. Award ceremonies for the golf competition will take place immediately following the final round on Monday, Oct. 6, beginning at 12:00 p.m. through approximately 3:00 p.m.
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 Sports® 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.
A special Play Golf America Clinic and Skills Contest will be offered to all tournament competitors at the PGA Golf Club on Sat., Oct. 4, at 2:30 p.m. Designed to showcase the game of golf in a fun and motivational atmosphere, the clinic will be presented by PGA Honorary Member and renowned trick shot entertainer Dennis Walters. 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.
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 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 PGAVillage.com.
