Remarkable first tee shot planned for 10th annual Midlands charity golf tournament – April 16

Not long after the Masters Golf tournament wraps up this year, another golf tournament will be held in Columbia with a remarkable group of golfers set to take a shot at the first tee.

Now in its 10th year, the non-profit, The Therapy Place (TTP) will host its annual golf tournament on Monday, April 16th, which will ceremoniously begin with several children of different ages and abilities taking the first tee shot together.

From cerebral palsy and autism to Down Syndrome and other developmental delays, these children have a range of diagnoses, but what they all share in common is that they are miracles in motion.

Since 2009 TTP, which serves Midlands children with special needs, has held its golf tournament to help fund its programs and services. Many of the children served through TTP receive their needed therapies thanks to scholarships made possible by the donations and support of the community.

In its first year, the charity golf tournament allowed 8 children to participate in a therapeutic summer camp at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral. Nine years, 623 children and more than 40,000 therapy hours later, The Therapy Place has become an essential resource for Midlands families of children with special needs.

This year’s golf tournament will be held at Spring Valley Country Club with the first tee at 10am on Monday the 16th. In the event of inclement weather, the tournament’s rain date is April 30th.

Golfers can signup online now at http://www.thetherapyplace. org/golf-tournament/.  The Therapy Place is excited to add sponsor Hanger Clinic: Prosthetics and Orthotics to its list of sponsors this year. TTP would love to add additional sponsors to its mission of providing life-changing therapies to Midlands children who need them, and if you would like more information on how to become a sponsor, visit the web site or email [email protected].

The Therapy Place would like to thank its sponsors for the last 10 years including BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, KW Beverage and locally owned Stier Supply Company. In addition, Lizard’s Thicket, Village Idiot and community BBQ Chef, Rob Reid, have fed the sold-out tournament nearly every year. This year, the BBQ reins are being turned over to Ed Byrd and his staff at Southeastern Insurance Consultants.

While the opening ceremonies for the tournament are special for each golfer in attendance, it will also be a moving moment for co-founder and Executive Director, Dawn Darby. Her son Cooper has not missed a start since the tournament began. Cooper was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby and was told he would never walk or talk. Now 14-years-old, Cooper is on the AC Flora High School golf team and is a member of the National Honor Society.