WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Special Olympics announced today that it will present the second annual Conrad Rehling Award to PGA Professional Steve Carson, of Oklahoma City, for his dedicated contributions to the growth of Special Olympics Golf. Since introducing golf to Special Olympics in 1988, The PGA of America and its more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals have dedicated countless hours, services and funding to Special Olympics Golf. The Award will be presented during the 2nd Annual Play Golf America Conference at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., on Jan. 27, 2007.
Special Olympics Golf
"Steve Carson’s contributions have been extremely significant in aligning PGA Professionals with our athletes -- teaching them skills for golf and for life," said Adrian DeWent, CEO of Special Olympics Oklahoma. "We are fortunate to have him join us in the Special Olympics movement of promoting human dignity and acceptance throughout our communities through sports."
Steve Carson has served as the PGA Director of Golf at Lincoln Park Golf Course in Oklahoma City since 1990, and is a member on the Board of Special Olympics Oklahoma. In 1996, he began working with Special Olympics to recruit PGA members and assistants to serve as instructors for athletes interested in learning to play golf. That same year, he hosted the first Oklahoma Special Olympics Golf Skills Event at Lincoln Park. Athlete participation in golf grew significantly, and it became a Special Olympics regular sport during the 1997 Summer Games.
Special Olympics created the Conrad Rehling Award last year to celebrate Conrad Rehling and his contributions to Special Olympics Golf. The 1992 PGA Horton Smith Award winner and the retired golf coach of the University of Alabama, Rehling helped found the Special Olympics golf program. He also co-wrote, with PGA Professional Rick Burton, the 100-page "Special Olympics Golf Sports Skills Program Guide" that is distributed to all Special Olympics U.S. Chapter programs. Among Rehling’s many contributions, he also developed, organized and conducted the initial PGA Professional Special Olympics training sessions that were held around the country. As a past member of the Special Olympics Golf National Committee, Rehling organized the Level I golf competition at the 1995 and 1999 Special Olympics World Games.
Special Olympics Golf, part of a worldwide sports 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 for entry-level Special Olympics athletes, which tests six skills similar to on-course play, including a wood shot, iron shot, pitch shot, chip shot, long putt and short putt. Level II is Unified SportsÒ alternate-shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics athlete of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. Level III is Unified SportsÒ team play, pairing Special Olympics and non-Special Olympics players of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke play 9-hole and 18-hole competitions, respectively. All levels are in accordance with the USGA Rules of Golf.
Founded in 1916, The PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf.
