JJ - Vancouver, British Columbia
Bay Hill Club and Lodge - November 10, 2023
Round of a Lifetime was connected to 9-year-old JJ via Member For A Day and the Make a Wish Foundation. JJ, a golf enthusiast, had his sights set on playing a round at Bay Hill, an exclusive members-only golf course in Orlando that hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Round of a Lifetime placed some phone calls and on November 10th facilitated an all-expenses paid round of golf. JJ and his family stayed at “The Bowen House”, which overlooks the 18th fairway and was once owned by Mr. Palmer.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we would like to thank you for such an amazing experience. We are so thankful that there are organizations like ROAL that are able to turn a family’s worst experience into one of their best! We are blessed to have connected to ROAL which will continue to inspire JJ’s love of golf and to remind us all to live life to its fullest.” — JJ’s mother Adrienne
Payden - Missoula, Montana
Corales Golf Course - November 4, 2023
Payden is a 33-year-old father from Missoula, Montana. He was diagnosed with Pulmonary Atresia at birth and has had three open heart surgeries, with the most recent being in 2018. Payden played golf early in high school due to his doctor limiting his participation in most other sports, but somewhat fell out of the game until he enrolled at the University of Montana. Thanks to the UM driving range, he grew to love the game again. He's now able to play at least once a week and sometimes is able to bring his toddler son around on the course.
It was just very surreal at first and the previous people that have gone... a lot of them are kids but some of them are even older than me. Some 40-year-old guys go, and it’s a really good opportunity to anybody that has a heart condition but also loves golf would definitely just be elated by getting to go on something like this.
Headlines: KPAX
Bryce - Gardner, Kansas
Whistling Straits Golf Course - May 7, 2023
Bryce is a 17-year-old high school student from Gardner, Kansas. Like many ROAL recipients, Bryce grew up playing team sports like baseball and basketball. However, in his teenage years, his cardiologist suggested trying golf. Bryce seemed to have a natural talent for it and quickly fell in love with the sport. He made his school’s varsity team when he was a freshman.
"For the longest time I've watched golf and seen all the really nice PGA golf courses. And to find out that I actually get to play at one is really awesome."
Headlines: KCTV5
Zakki - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
PEBBLE Beach golf links - december 4, 2022
Zakki is a 28-year-old Philadelphia resident who is a survivor. He was born with critical complex congenital heart and lung defects. Before turning one-month-old, he had a stroke that was traumatic to his brain. Zakki has had 28 surgeries to-date, 16 of which were on his heart. His repeated rare complications have been life threatening.
"I'm very thankful that they chose me. So I can go to this trip and have a great time.”
Headlines: CBS Philadelphia • GAP Magazine
Jordan - Clinton, New York
PINEHURST No. 2 - JUNE 16, 2022
Jordan is a 41-year-old father from upstate New York. For the past 19 years Jordan has been the golf course superintendent at Barker Brook Golf Club. He played golf competitively growing up and attended Coastal Carolina University. He received a heart transplant in 2020.
"Going through YouTube and reading things about the course, it was just great to get to see it all in person, just to stand there and think about what I read and saw and all the people who had played there. And to get to play with three childhood friends, that was probably the best part.”
Headlines: The Pilot • GCM Magazine •The Observer-Dispatch
Holden- Mount Pleasant, Texas
The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort - DECEMBER 9, 2021
Holden is an 18-year-old high school student from Mount Pleasant. A talented baseball player growing up, he was not cleared to play any potential contact sports because of his heart condition. He turned to golf to keep his competitive spirit. He made the varsity golf team as a freshman and is now consistently shooting in the high 70s/low 80s on the course.
"(The round) was one of the best things that has happened in my life. It was so fun and I was so grateful to be out there.”
Headlines: Tampa Bay Times • The Valspar Championship
Tyler - Stephensville, Texas
Whistling Straits Golf Course - July 26, 2020
Tyler was diagnosed with AVRT in 2014 after collapsing on the baseball field. AVRT is a congenital heart defect which is defined by an abnormally fast heart rhythm. Because of this condition, Tyler is restricted from playing any sports, except for golf. With the assistance of a golf cart, Tyler has been able to apply himself competitively through the game of golf. He’s also hit a hole-in-one.
"It was amazing. It’s something that I’m never going to forget and we will talk about for years to come.
Headlines: Golfweek • Sheboygan Press • NBC DFW• Stephenville Empire-Tribune
Edward - Woburn, Massachusetts
Carnoustie Golf Links - October 15, 2019
Born with Tetralogy of Fallot, Edward is a college graduate who had his first heart surgery at 3 months old with an additional surgery at age 13. Edward played his Round Of A Lifetime at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland at the age of 22.
"I can't believe I got picked. I was very excited to see where we were going and some of the course options were great, but as soon as Carnoustie was on the table it was a no-brainer to pick here. I've watched the British Open and all the professionals who come over here and it certainly lives up to the hype, that's for sure."
Headlines: The Courier • STV News
Melissa - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Corales Golf Course - July 2, 2019
Melissa was diagnosed with Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVD) in 2008 which her brother had passed away from two years earlier at the age of 25. An Elementary School teacher, Melissa plated her Round Of A Lifetime at Corales Golf Course in the Dominican Republic at the age of 42.
"Along with my new diagnosis, I was told golf was one of the few activities I could still do. Today, the golf course is my happy place. I love the peacefulness and the challenge of the game."
Headlines: The Cherry Hill Sun
Nick - Atlanta, Georgia
Los Angeles Country Club - January 28, 2019
Nick went into cardiac arrest at an Atlanta-area golf course in July 2017. The golfers he was playing with administered CPR until the EMTs arrived and saved his life. He was later diagnosed with a congenital heart condition. Nick played his Round Of A Lifetime at Los Angeles Country Club in Los Angeles, California at the age of 25.
Sean - Tipperary, Ireland
TPC Sawgrass - December 1, 2018
Sean was an active hurler and competitive cyclist prior to being diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy at the age of 16. While studying to be an Engineer at the University of Limerick, Sean played his Round Of A Lifetime at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida at the age of 19.
"My Dad contacted Round of a Lifetime and told them about my condition. He got an email during the summer to say that we have been chosen to play TPC Sawgrass. I didn’t even know that he threw my name down and can't believe it. It's the first time they have ever chosen somebody outside of America."
Headlines: The Journal.IE • Tipperary Live • The Irish Independent
Mackinzie - San Marcos, California
TPC Scottsdale - November 18, 2018
Mackinzie was diagnosed with a heart defect at birth but later went on to become a top amateur player as a teenager, playing an LPGA tour event at the age of 15. Playing her Round Of A Lifetime at TPC Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona at the age of 26 while she was a full-time student.
"Thank you for this amazing gift! I am truly honored."
Headlines: The San Diego Union-Tribune • ABC10 San Diego
Kevin - Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Pinehurst No. 2 - June 2, 2018
Diagnosed with a dilated aortic root in April, 2015, Kevin competed in basketball, soccer, baseball, and cross country prior to his diagnosis. Kevin played his Round Of A Lifetime at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina when he was 16 years old and a Sophomore at Cherry Hill High School East.
"Golf allows me to continue to be competitive. Also, it taught me to be thankful for what I have."
Headlines: The Cherry Hill Sun
Jackson - Eau, Wisconsin
Pebble Beach Golf Links - June 28, 2017
Born with Tetralogy of Fallot, Jackson had his first surgery when he was 4 months old and additional surgeries at ages 2, 9, and 15. When he played his Round Of A Lifetime at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California, Jackson was an 18 year old Freshman at Elmhurst College where he played on the school’s tennis team.
"Because of my heart condition, I have not always been able to do everything my friends can, but have found great joy in playing golf and tennis, neither of which are limited by my heart condition."
Headlines: PGA.com • Wisconsin Golf
Caleb - Davis, California
Trump National Doral - November 11, 2016
From Davis California, Caleb was born with 5 congenital heart defects, his father Will went into sudden Cardiac Arrhythmia and passed away when Caleb was only 7 years old. Playing his Round Of A Lifetime at Trump National Doral in Miami, Florida when he was 14 years old.
"Golf is my sport. I can play beyond my physical limitations, and I am always looking for ways to bring awareness to congenital heart disease. Too often people associate heart disease with disability, rather than understanding that people with heart disease can live normal lives."
"It's a privilege to be a part of the Round of a Lifetime legacy. I'm so grateful to be selected to play golf at a world-class resort that, if not for Round of a Lifetime, I would probably never have the chance to play."
Headlines: Golf Digest
Patrick - Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
Congressional Country Club - July 20, 2016
Patrick is a guidance counselor and baseball and basketball coach at North Penn High School in Lansdale. He suffers from Tetralogy of Fallot and had his first heart surgery at 9 months old for Ventricular Septal Defect that was repaired by PDA ligation. In February of 2016 he had another surgery to replace his IDC/Pacemaker and add new leads from the device to his heart because his heart rate was too low. Patrick played his Round Of A Lifetime at the Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland at the age of 30.
"The overall experience at Congressional was nothing short of amazing. Driving up to the bag drop to see the beautiful clubhouse was incredible. I have never had the opportunity to play at a private course, especially one with the amenities and history of Congressional. It truly was the Round of a Lifetime and I am eternally grateful to the ROAL Board Members for this opportunity."
Headlines: Montgomery News • Patch: Bethesda-Chevy Chase