Crowne Plaza Invitational Supports The Armed Services

This afternoon at the Crowne Plaza Invitational, I had the honor to play with a “wounded warrior,” Robert Leonard, who is one of the best guys you would ever hope to meet. (He wanted me to say that he’s the “sexiest man alive” but I don’t think I’m qualified to make that judgment. Mrs. Golfblogger fell in love with him, though.) In Iraq in November 2005, Robert’s Bradly fighting vehicle ran over a roadside bomb and he lost his right leg just below the knee.  You’d never know it from his golf game, though. With his carbon fiber prosthetic, he drives the ball a very long way, plays his irons well and can get up and down with the best of them.

Mrs. GolfBlogger and I had dinner, then breakfast and lunch with Robert and enjoyed ourselves immensely. After extensive rehabilitation, Robert’s now retired from the Army and now is working on a degree in Mechanical Engineering in Houston. I hope that at some time in the future I get to see him again.

Robert was playing in the Crowne Plaza’s Pro Am as a part of the hospitality chain’s support for “Birdies for the Brave,”  a military outreach program originally begun by Phil Mickelson. Through its “Rooms for the Brave” program, Crowne Plaza will donate a room night for use by a military family for every eagle made on tour between May 19 and July 3. ” On Armed Services Day—May 20—Crowne Plaza will donate a room night for every birdie at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at the Colonial.

Crowne Plaza’s hope for the program is that it will allow military families to spend some quality time together at Crowne Plaza properties across the country.

Crowne Plaza also will donate $1 to Birdies for the Brave for every “like” on their Facebook page.

Finally, as part of its Armed Services Day celebrations, Crowne Plaza Hotels and resorts will donate $1,000 to the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation for every birdie made on the 17th hole.  Six of the 86 living Medal of Honor winners will be in the gallery on Saturday.

Those are good people doing good work. As loyal readers know, Mrs. GolfBlogger once was Captain GolfBlogger, USAF, so we very much appreciate what’s being done for military families.