For State Farm’s Skip Smith, Walton Foundation for Independence’s annual Adaptive Golf Challenge is special. “I’ve played in this tournament for the past 10 years,” said Smith. “There’s no other event like it.”  

On Monday, October 19, community golfers like Smith are invited to play in this one-of-a-kind tournament, where they partner with senior golfers with low mobility and golfers with disabilities (including those recovering from stroke or with a limb deficiency) for a day of fun and competitive play.

The tournament helps give community golfers and sponsors a unique perspective, said Smith. “When I play in this tournament, I realize I never have a bad day on the golf course,” he said. “It’s one thing to read about folks with physical challenges, but it’s quite another to actually spend four or five hours with someone and see what it means when you don’t have the ability to do things that we all take for granted.

“Often, being physically challenged means watching the world turn and look away from you,” he added. “That’s not a good place for our community to be. But being involved in this tournament and other Walton Foundation events and programs means I’m not looking away.”

The annual tournament—a season-ending celebration for Walton Foundation’s adaptive golf clinics in Augusta and Aiken—takes place at Forest Hills Golf Club, 1500 Comfort Rd.

It’s also a fundraiser for the foundation’s adaptive golf program. The foundation is able to provide its monthly adaptive golf clinics in Augusta and Aiken at no charge thanks to the golf challenge, along with support from grants and other donations. The event also benefits the next generation of golfers through Camp TBI, a summer camp for children and young adults with traumatic brain injuries.

Community golfers, sponsors and hole sponsors are invited to sign up now. Cost per player is $60; adaptive players play free. Lunch and a cookout dinner are also provided. Registration is at 9 a.m. and shotgun start is at 11 a.m.

To find out more about becoming a sponsor or to register a team, contact Haley Hamam at 706-826-5809 or email [email protected].