Play With A Pro Day was a rewarding experience for the pros and Sunshine Through Golf camp participants. HTSB FRANK POLICH BY PHOTOS

8 WWW.CDGA.ORG By Tim Cronin Austin and Brandt Snedeker, were of the Austin quipped, “Blame it on your same mind. Adopted Chicagoan Wilson, caddie; he gave you the wrong club.” he sentence was as unscripted as who also played in 2006, was only able to The best of Austin’s partners in that it was unexpected. It came from play one hole, but donated a bunch of group was Randy, who, taking Austin’s touring professional Tim Clark, goodies to the participants. Austin and advice on a break to the right on the final perhapsT a half-hour before his pro-am Snedeker were each able to go around all green, rolled in a 60-footer, as sweetly pairing teed off the day before the BMW three holes with their group, encourag- struck a putt as any that were made with Championship, as the Western Open has ing their fellow players. money on the line across the street the been retitled. Clark, Austin and Snedeker, it so rest of the week. When the putt dropped, Said Clark, “I’m learning something happened, advanced all the way to the Woody’s smile was as big as Randy’s. here.” the next week. It’s Snedeker, in his first full year on the But he wasn’t at Cog Hill Golf & PGA Tour, couldn’t Country Club, waiting to tackle resist when asked to Dubsdread. Clark was across the street, play. A volunteer work- having just played the first hole of the er with abused and Three-Hole Sunshine Course, located disabled children in at Midwest Golf House, with three of his hometown of the nine participants in the Sunshine Nashville, he was the Through Golf Foundation’s third first to arrive, and annual Play With A Pro Day. lingered, signing hats It was explained to Clark that he and posing for pictures would be playing a hole with three after playing with children and adults with special needs, Joanne, Alan and Jerry. but it was clear he was affected by it, Each autograph wasn’t that this was more than a routine just a quickly scribbled appearance. Who among us could not learn how hard life is for someone, but how rewarding a few minutes can be for all, when you watch a doting father help his wheelchair-bound boy make a putt, then drive off the next tee? “I’d rather be out here than be out there,” Clark said, motioning toward

Sunshine Through Golf Foundation participants received advice from touring pros in town for the BMW Championship. Clockwise, from the top, Alan Kilgore was greeted by Brandt Snedeker; Gerry Meyer received some club selection help from , and Danny Orlando chatted with Tim Clark.

proof that nice guys not name, but with a printed good luck mes- only don’t finish last, they sage on the bill of the cap as well. wind up in the top 30. “This makes you realize how lucky Cog Hill. “These kids are having more Austin, the last to arrive, mixed you are to be playing golf for a living,” fun than 90 percent of the players there.” one-liners with sublime shotmaking. To a Snedeker said. “And how hard some Then he checked the time with his player named Tim, who danced a people have it.” caddie and said, “Let’s play another hole.” two-step on the first green after knocking Lesson learned. Clark’s feeling was not unique. The in a par putt, Austin quipped, “You might other touring professionals who made want to come out of your shell.” When Tim Cronin is the golf writer for the Daily their way over, Mark Wilson, Woody Gary hit a good shot that went long, Southtown.

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2007 9