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Member Clubs
Golfing Against Autism
Ernie Els teams with local club member to launch fundraiser |
by MIKE HOLTZCLAW
Cox High student Tommy Barton and
Ernie Els share a laugh on the first tee.
I
n mid-August, Ernie Els had more than Carolina on his
mind. The PGA Championship was held in Charlotte, and
the following week brought the Wyndham Championship
in Greensboro, but in between, Els arranged a visit to Prin-
cess Anne Country Club in Virginia Beach.
The reasons were both personal and professional, and there is the
hope that it could become a regular visit.
Els, the 47-year-old South African who has won four Grand Slam
titles and almost $50 million in career prize money, hosts a pro-am
fundraiser every year in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., to benefit the
Els for Autism Foundation. Participants in that event qualify by
competing in events around the country, raising donations for the
foundation Els started with his wife, Leizl. Their son Ben, 14, was
diagnosed with autism as a preschooler.
Princess Anne member Steve “Dutch” Van Horn, who also has
an autistic son, had previously met the golfer at an event at the
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Els Center of Excellence, a school and research facility in Florida.
Their ensuing friendship led Els to Virginia Beach on Aug. 14 to
host an “affiliate” event that the club hopes could eventually grow
into one of the 16 annual events that serve as national qualifiers
for the Els for Autism Pro-Am.
“A lot of people here have friends with autism, or friends with
children on the autism spectrum,” Els said, standing near the put-
ting green at Princess Anne. “And we all want to have great care for
our kids. Dutch came to me and said, ‘Let’s do a golf tournament at
my club.’ It was a no-brainer for me.”
It was a busy day at Princess Anne. As for the guest of honor, Els
kept himself very occupied shaking hands and doing interviews.
His actual golf was limited to an informal clinic at the first tee. Els
hit several shots, talked about his preparation and warm-up rou-
tines, and answered some questions. At one point, Els asked if any
young golfer in the assembled crowd wanted to take a few swings.
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