How can I help?
Who do I call?
Is golf an official Special Olympics Sport?
Can I make a donation?
I own a facility, could we host an event or training?
How do I become a Special Olympics golf coach?
These were some of the questions asked and answered during the 2003 Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Merchandising Show. Over 1,200 exhibitors from around the world gathered in Orlando, Florida the final week of January for the world's largest golf trade show, celebrating its 50th anniversary. This was the first year Special Olympics Golf participated.
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Left to right, Dave Lenox, Special Olympics Vice President of Sports; Betsy King, LPGA Tour Star; Donna White, Special Olympics Golf Manager; Monty Castevens, Special Olympics Florida Executive Director; Chris Glenn, Special Olympics Florida athlete (gold medalist); and Eric Wilson, Special Olympics Golf Committee Chairperson enjoy the 50th Annual PGA Merchandising Show. |
Over 40,000 people attended the show over the four day period. In addition to the steady daily walk-by traffic, Special Olympics Golf received 336 hits on the PGA Merchandising ExpoDisc. ExpoDisc was a database site created to allow attendees to log on and leave their name, association and contact information for post-show follow-up. As an illustration of the global reach of the PGA, inquiries from six of seven Special Olympics Regions are represented on this list.
"Our efforts to raise global awareness and promote Special Olympics Golf proved very beneficial," said Donna H. White, Special Olympics Golf Manager. "PGA and LPGA [Ladies Professional Golfers Association] professionals, vendors, potential sponsors and members of golf associations around the world approached our booth seeking answers."
The United States Golf Association (USGA) and PGA of America volunteers from the Special Olympics Golf Committee, Special Olympics Florida, Golf Professional Services, Inc. and Northwood University worked the booth distributing Special Olympics contact information, golf brochures, golf newsletters and copies of Spirit magazine.
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White poses with Renee Powell of the LPGA; Tracy Neal, Special Olympics Florida athlete; and Billy Green, Special Olympics athlete (front). |
"Highlights of the week included the participation and experiences of our Special Olympics Florida athletes and volunteer coaches," noted White. "They were on site each day giving autographs, greeting and meeting people." Attendees enjoyed the elaborate displays of the many exhibiting golf vendors, stopping by the Special Olympics booth toting bags stuffed with new product samples, and remarking on their quest for Tiger Woods.
White was pleased with the attention the Special Olympics booth and the staffing athletes received from golf luminaries. "LPGA tour professionals and PGA/LPGA teaching professionals stopped by the booth to visit us," she said. "LPGA Hall of Fame inductee, Betsy King took time from her schedule to pose for pictures with athletes and staff; internationally famed teaching guru David Leadbetter signed personal postcards for the athletes, and former PGA Tour player Wally Armstrong stopped by extending his good wishes to all."
The first Special Olympics golf ball hit in the United States in 1992 is still rolling — linking men and women professionals, golf associations, enthusiasts and potential friends of the Special Olympics mission around the world.
For additional information about Special Olympics Golf, e-mail Donna H. White, Golf Manager: dwhite@specialolympics.org.
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