2024 Special Olympics Golf Registration

SPECIAL OLYMPICS GOLF

Athletes ages 8 and up who are interested in competing in Golf Individual Skills, 3 Hole, 6 Hole, 9 Hole or Unified 9 Hole are invited to register. Course Athletes who will need a Caddy or Unified Partner must have someone by the first practice. If you don't know anyone, let me know. I will try to find available Caddies/Partners, but I cannot guarantee. Athletes should ask around. If you are reading this and are someone who could be a Caddy or Unified Partner, then please let me know! ALL CADDIES, UNIFIED PARTNERS, AND COACHES FOR GOLF MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD.

Zoom meeting: Friday, April 12th at 7:00PM. The link for the meeting is in the email. Even if you are only interested in more information, I encourage you to attend.

Roster: Will be limited to 10 Skills Athletes and 10 Course Athletes with either a Caddy or Unified Partner on a first come, first served basis. Athletes returning from the 2023 season will be guaranteed their spot for the new season. If we reach 10 of either group, a waiting list will be created also on a first come, first served basis.

Practice: Once a week on Thursdays starting 5/9 at either The Creek in Morris or Morris Country Club, weather-permitting. 5:30-6:30pm for Skills Athletes and 6:30-7:30pm for Course Athletes with Caddies or Unified Partners. A schedule will be issued and Tina will send out reminders on the Remind app. TRANSPORTATION TO PRACTICES IS EVERYONE'S OWN RESPONSIBILITY. Ride sharing can be worked out amongst yourselves. *Course Athletes with Caddies/Partners will get time out on the course during some practices, and will also be required to work on their skills during practices not on the course. Those pairs should also plan to get out on the course on your own time when the golf course has open tee times. It will not cost anything at The Creek or MCC. Athletes/Unified Teams must turn in 3 separate score cards; 3 or 6 Hole are due by 6/13 and Unified/9 Hole are due by 6/20.

Regionals: Individual Skills competition is Monday, July 15th at Senica's Oak Ridge GC in LaSalle; 3&6 Hole competition is Monday, July 22nd at Bartlett GC in Bartlett; Unified 9 Hole & 9 Hole competition is Wednesday, July 24th at Chicago Heights. Each Athlete will only compete at one of these dates depending on the event they choose to enter.

State: All Athletes/Partners who earn a gold medal at their respective Regional will advance to the State competition. All State Golf events will take place the weekend of 9/7-9/8 in Decatur. We will stay overnight in hotel rooms. More information about State will be shared after all Regionals are completed.

Registration: Closes April 25th. Paperwork/fees are due no later than the first practice on May 9th, or you cannot practice. I will communicate what paperwork I'll need as registrations come in. The cost for the entire season is $20.00 each Athlete and Unified Partner. Please register by replying to the email, signing up on our website www.specialconnections.org or contacting Tina at 815-230-1877. All Athletes/Caddies/Partners are expected to complete the season.

Medicals for Athletes & Class A for Caddies/Partners: Must be valid through September 8th, 2024. If you are not sure when yours expires, I can check that for you. If you need to renew, Skills Athlete Medicals are due by 5/23, 3&6 Hole Athlete Medicals and Caddy Class A are due by 5/30, and Unified/9 Hole Athlete Medicals and Caddy/Partner Class A are due by 6/10. New, first time Athlete Medicals/Caddy or Partner/Assistant Coach Class A should be completed ASAP. There will also be Special Connections paperwork to be completed and turned in by those dates.