By Kelly Churney
One of the Indiana Section PGA’s goals is to grow the game of golf, whether that’s getting more juniors playing golf, more ladies involved in the game, retaining more casual golfers, or finding ways to help those in need by using golf to help them. A program that the Indiana PGA dedicates its time and effort to supporting is Special Olympics Indiana.
Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It offers them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing their unique gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, as well as, the community.
Special Olympics is a sports organization that uses the power of sport as a catalyst for social change. Through sport, we challenge society and by highlighting how the needs of people with intellectual disabilities are not being met, we expose inequity and exclusion. By drawing attention to the gifts of people with intellectual disabilities, we break down misperceptions and tackle negative attitudes.
In 1996, Special Olympics Indiana held its first golf tournament, with the help of PGA Professional Chip Essig and the Indiana Section PGA. Essig received a phone call from Special Olympics Indiana needing an 18-hole facility to host its state tournament. Essig was the head professional at South Grove Golf Course and he was happy to help, offering the use of the course for the tournament. 
The golf program was led by amateur golfers Jim Porter and Sharon Hollowell with roughly 30 athletes involved. Essig joined forces with Porter and Hollowell and Indiana PGA helped fund the program.
In the first ten years, the Special Olympics golf program has grown from those original 30 athletes to more than 300 athletes, with 200 volunteers, including several Indiana PGA Professionals.
“I never would have thought that a phone call 25 years ago would lead to one of the most enjoyable and enriching activities of my career,” said Essig. “It’s hard to be at a Special Olympics golf event and not fall in love with the athletes and grow as a person.”
“When Chip first invited me to be a part of Special Olympics Golf, he said to be prepared for energy and hugs,” added Keith Clark, General Manager at Broadmoor CC. “The reward is absolutely the energy received back from the athletes and the atmosphere of ‘All Cheering All’ is wonderful and everything creates a celebration.”
Three sectional golf tournaments have been added to the Special Olympics calendar to qualify for the state golf tournament. Two years ago, a Special Olympics Unified Golf Tour was also created. Special Olympics golf in the state now reaches more than 420 athletes annually, due to the help of the Indiana PGA and local volunteers.
In the last 20 years, the Indiana PGA has donated more than $100,000 to Special Olympics Indiana for its golf program. In addition to financial support and volunteer efforts, local PGA Professionals also offer their courses to host clinics and provide practice facilities at little to no cost.
“The support of the Indiana PGA has been vital to our program,” added Patrick Kozlowski, Manager of Sports Programs at Special Olympics Indiana. “We receive a grant each year which helps cover the cost of our state tournament and keeps entry fees low for our golfers. This has made the game more accessible to our athletes and has connected us with golf professionals who help manage the competition.”
With the continued growth of Special Olympics, this Indiana Golf program has become a leader among programs nationwide.
