Omar Organizes WIO Charity Golf Tournament at Coeur D’Alene Resort Golf Course
One of the highlights of my summer conference season is a round of golf at some quintessential golf course off the beaten path but none the less an adventure to play. Golf is a game that requires patience. The skill takes years to build and consequently very few people are really good at it. Lady golfers are an even smaller minority. The game is a great connector and many people are attracted to it because it presents opportunities for relationship building. Some would say that watching golf on television is like watching paint dry. So why does it attract so many people? Better said what kind of person spends time chasing after a little white ball?
What Kind of Person Spends Time Chasing After a Little White Ball?
In August the Women in Ophthalmology (WIO) held its annual summer conference at the Resort in Coeur D’Alene Idaho. Known for its beautiful scenery, mild summers, and lakeside living, groups are also attracted to the resort for a variety of outdoor activities. The WIO program was packed end -to end- with CME accredited courses, poster sessions, and plenary talks, but this event was open to all.
The meeting was well attended as indicated by the sold-out room blocks at the resort and 4 other surrounding hotels. This part of Idaho is not accessible directly by most major airlines, so travel was an all-day affair which involved a change of planes somewhere and shuttle ride from Spokane over to Coeur D’Alene.
The resort has a conference center that is extremely conducive to learning—but it also has one of the world’s best golf courses. The floating green is it signature hole which consists of a shot across the lake to a small island green that be repositioned on any day –just to make the game exciting. Golfers get out to the floating green by way of a little boat. This is the very definition of the quintessential golf course that’s off the beaten path but nonetheless an adventure to play.
Charity Benefitting Orbis International
For the first time ever, the Board of Directors at WIO decided to hold a charity golf outing to benefit Orbis International. This unique philanthropic initiative was an exciting opportunity for physicians and industry representatives to forge deeper relationships with one another and to participate side- by- side in an activity for charity. Players of all skill levels were welcome to play golf in a relaxing “Best Ball” format. The 9-hole event included games like “longest drive” and “keep your eye on the ball”. All equipment was provided except shoes. The pro shop was so well stocked that one could buy anything needed or just browse for souvenirs.
Making Golf Accessible
The event was organized by a committee led by WIO member and Omar CEO Dr. Cheryl Rowe-Rendleman and Golf Pro Patty Reef from Plainsboro, NJ. Playing at Coeur D’Alene Golf Resort with its caddies, meticulously manicured fairways, spectacular scenery, and luxury golf carts was a real treat.
Patty Reef made the game so much more accessible to 10 first-time and 5 seasoned players. Reef, a teaching pro in central NJ specializes in helping people to visualize the golf swing to make intuitive and fluid movements. “Think of shifting your pocketbook from your left to your right hip” Patty explained the concept of weight shift to first time golfer Ghesal Razag who practiced hitting balls into the lake in her bare feet.
According to Patty:
“Of course….regardless of your skill level, ensuring your grip, posture and stance, along with a comfortable rhythm will help create consistency in getting your ball to the target.”
Ghesal was also notable for winning the top prize at the meeting for her poster presentation on “Study of Subretinally Transplanted Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived RPE Cells (OpRegenTM) in Advanced Dry-Form AMD Patients”. She mused about her experience at WIO, “I was initially planning only joining the Golf Cocktail Hour and touring the golf course but after seeing how exciting the game and training led by a professional instructor was, I joined the fun barefoot! This is my first year at WIO and I loved it”.