QUICK UPDATE — In late September 2011 Ian and I returned to Port Saint Lucie, Florida for the National Invitational Tournament of the Special Olympics. We participated in 2008 in the nine-hole division, but this year we were playing three eighteen-hole rounds over three days. Sporting out new knickers, we posted scores of 111-112-115 for a Gold Medal in our division! As always, Ian kept us in the middle, and by the end of the weekend he had our opponents in awe of his putting — the highlight being a 20-footer from the fringe on the 10th hole of the Wanamaker Course at the PGA Golf Club.
 
In October we hosted our second annual outing at Lakeview Golf Club.  Five other 2-person teams from Harrisonburg and Charlottesville joined us on a beautiful fall day for nine-holes of alternate shot golf, and a late lunch. Ian and I hope to continue this new tradition for many years.

On the first weekend of November we traveled to our sixth straight Fall Championships of the Special Olympics of Virginia at Virginia Beach where we grabbed another gold for a clean-sweep of the 2011 season! I knew it would be a good weekend when Ian ran in a 15-footer for par on he first hole. We are already looking forward to the 2012 season!

Coach's Comments

I met Ian in the summer of 2006 after his mother asked if I would be willing to coach him and compete with him as a partner in the Special Olympics (playing Alternate Shot tournaments). Working with Ian has been one of the best and most rewarding decisions of my life. We have now spent six seasons together, practicing on Tuesday evenings, and competing in over 15 tournaments, including two National Invitational events in Florida. He long ago stopped being an acquaintance or client--he is a true friend, and he continues to inspire me with his complete unwillingness to give up, even when his challenges seem overwhelming.
 
These days we don't just share time on the golf course--we enjoy getting together for a good meal, and we share a fantasy football team. Ian will proudly tell you that we have never finished with less than a Silver Medal in official Olympic events, but what makes me proud is just to be a teammate with such an exemplary person.