About 100 Special Olympics Illinois athletes lined up on the driving range at Springbrook Golf Course on Wednesday, July 29, testing their putting, iron and wood shots, bunker play, and chipping in a regional skills competition that ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Gold medalists from the event now advance to the Special Olympics Illinois State Golf Tournament, scheduled for Saturday, September 12 through Sunday, September 13 in Decatur.
The competition drew athletes from Special Olympics Illinois Regions B and C to the Naperville Park District course at 2220 W. 83rd St. It marked at least the third year the Park District has partnered with Special Olympics Illinois to host golf events at its courses, according to the Park District's announcement previewing the competition.
"They have been really great to us. This is our third year with them, and right out the gate, they're giving us buckets at the range, tee times — it's been really good," Phil Eide, a Special Olympics golf program participant, said on the Park District's ParkTalk Podcast in June.
Kevin Carlson, the Park District's Director of Golf, said in the district's July 28 announcement that the Park District was "very happy to once again work with Special Olympics Illinois." Kerry Glimco, Assistant Director of Region C for Special Olympics Illinois, credited returning volunteers in the same announcement for helping bring the competition to life year after year.
The Park District supports Special Olympics Illinois through its partnership with the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, which fields athletes in recreation sports at the regional, state, and national level.
During Wednesday's competition, the Springbrook driving range and Marie Todd Practice Facility were closed, though the 18-hole course remained open for regular play.
Upcoming in Naperville sports
- State Golf Tournament entries due: Wednesday, August 12. State competition September 12–13 in Decatur.
- Fall program registration: Opens Monday, August 3 at 8:30 a.m. for Naperville residents; Thursday, August 6 at 8:30 a.m. for nonresidents. Browse the Autumn Program Guide at napervilleparks.org/programguide.
- Naperville Youth Basketball: Registration opens Tuesday, September 1 at noon for residents.
