'Be An Angel' hosts putting challenge, clinic at Insperity Invitational for children with special needs

On any driving range of any PGA TOUR-sanctioned event, consistent and graceful are two descriptors to forever best characterize the action underway.

And the practice area at The Woodlands Country Club Tournament Course, home to this week’s Insperity Invitational on PGA TOUR Champions, is speaking volumes to the accuracy of those two words.

Near-flawless swings result in balls soaring high, staying low, gliding right or left and even going straight – all as intended.

Really, it’s a collective thing of beauty.

On Tuesday morning of this week, an extension to that beauty had nothing to do with where and/or how a ball landed. There were swings and misses, one-handed swipes at balls and putts kicked by foot around a hole that may or may not have been the target.

But there also were free-spirited laughs and smiles. There was comfort and enthusiasm. There was testament to the assertion that golf is a game for all.

Select kids involved with the “Be An Angel” non-profit organization in the area held its version of a season finale putting challenge and clinic.

Established in 1986, “Be An Angel” was created to improve and enhance the lives of special needs children. It is achieved by providing adaptive equipment, respite care, hearing devices and select services like the event Tuesday with SUCCESS Golf at The Woodlands.

The SUCCESS Golf Program (Students Undertaking Challenging Courses Ensuring Development of Sportsmanship and Skill), a product of the “Be An Angel” Foundation, was created to help special-needs children develop and/or strengthen motor skills and muscle control by focusing on the game of golf.

“This is the ‘Be An Angel’ SUCCESS Golf event the kids have been working towards for months,” said Ronnie Loflin, Adaptive P.E. teacher for Humble ISD. “We practiced at our home campus and our district putt putt golf tournament for this and this is the culminating activity.”

Driven by the belief that golf is a sport every child can participate in, a transportable nine-hole putting course was created to take to various school districts to help kids learn to play golf.

“Be An Angel” and Insperity host a golf event in our district each year with all our elementary kids,” said Robin Pullen, Integrated Athletics Lead for Humble’s Independent School District (ISD). “We have about 400 special needs kids who play golf. We have five Adaptive P.E. teachers who each service eight to nine schools. From all their schools, each picks one athlete who did well in golf to come here and be a part of this experience.”

The children who participated Tuesday at The Woodlands had learned to play the game several weeks prior at their respective schools with their Adaptive P.E. teachers. It culminates at a high school within their school district.

“When that happens, regular kids join these children to play with them,” said Marti Boone, “Be An Angel” Executive Director. “So, these children here are more integrated. They’ve also learned the techniques of golf and understand it. Because of all that, we have actually seen children learn how to swing a club or putt a ball into the hole. Because of that, they’re somehow learning to do things like feed themselves. It’s amazing.”

Eight school districts brought their top star, who got to compete at The Woodlands because they had been previous winners of other tournaments in their schools.

“When we created the program, Insperity was all in to help support it,” Boone said. “SUCCESS is their program. It’s about special needs kids experiencing success in all areas of their lives.”

“These kids love meeting the kids from the other schools and they just love golf,” Pullen said. “A lot of times, kids with disabilities don’t get to go on field trips, don’t get to experience a bus ride or any of the cool things that go along with taking a field trip. There’s never the excitement of getting to leave a class early for a field trip or eating lunch off campus. So, when the students are chosen to be here for this, they’re really excited for a variety of reasons.”

Among those professionals on the range at the time finessing shot after shot was 1995 U.S. Open champion and PGA TOUR Champions winner, Corey Pavin.

“It just puts a smile on my face to see these kids enjoying themselves,” said Pavin. “It’s fun because I see them out here having a great time and enjoying their life. There are no cares or concerns, they’re just out here putting, playing and enjoying themselves. It makes us all think that we should be doing that, too. These kids are absolutely an inspiration.”

“The kids absolutely love coming out here to the Insperity Invitational to not only see the other kids who made it from other schools, but also all the pros,” said Loflin. “It’s a really special day for them. They love every minute of it.”

And therein lies the extension of the beauty of the game.

“There are so many golf and life bonds,” Pavin said. “You can’t be out here helping these kids and not learn a lot about yourself. It truly does go both ways being out here with these kids.”

“I think people get used to seeing the pros on TV and think that’s the only way it is,” Loflin said. “But, this event shows us and them that anyone can play at any time, at any level, age and with any kind of equipment…and enjoy it for the entire duration of their life.”

Best of all, it can be done joyously with neither care nor concern for green speeds.

Be An Angel is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization which receives no federal, state or local government funding, leaving its success entirely dependent on donations and fundraisers. All funds raised go towards making a real difference in the quality of life for the children and families it serves.

To learn more about “Be An Angel,” make a donation or volunteer time/equipment, visit them online at beanangel.org.