Special Olympics Golf Teams Drive for the Finals
Since 2008, White Pines Golf Club, in Bensenville, has been host to the Special Olympics Golf Program for Veteran's Park District. For almost a decade, Illinois PGA Professional, Marty Joyce, along with Fenton High School Golf Coach, Pat Tantillo, provided instruction to these athletes in the areas of putting, chipping, pitching, irons and wood shots.
"Over the last several years, we have seen continued improvement in our athletes", proudly states Marty. "I am sure they will do a great job at the finals this year. It has been a pleasure to work with athletes that have such great enthusiasm and love for the game of golf."
Both Marty and Pat, along with over twenty volunteers from the White Pines Men's Club, have been very instrumental in making this Special Olympics Skills event happen at the White Pines facility for the entire Chicagoland area. In search of a centralized location, better course accommodations and logistics for the area's Special Olympics event, the Chicagoland skills event was moved last year to the White Pines Golf Club utilizing the East Course's practice green and course layout.
"We are so proud to be able to host the Special Olympics skills event at White Pines" states Frank Bonanno, the facility's Director of Golf Operations. "Staff was excited to make sure that the accommodations for this group was above and beyond expectations. It was an inspiring day to say the least, and we wish all the athletes well in whatever they set their hearts out to achieve".
This year, the 2017 skills event was held at White Pines on Tuesday, July 18, where 94 athletes from 10 Special Olympics agencies in Kane, Kendall, DuPage, Cook, Lake and McHenry Counties showed off their skills in seven different categories including the long putt, pitch shot and wood shot. The Gold Medal winners from each division advance to the State Golf Tournament (Outdoor Sports Festival) on September 9 and 10 at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur. Illinois.
For more information about the Illinois Special Olympics visit their website at www.soill.org.