Published: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, February 22, 2013 at 11:59 p.m.
LAKELAND | Charles Barkley still has the dreaded hitch in his golf swing, although he's much better than he was eight years ago when he first came to support The First Tee of Lakeland.
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Charles Barkley, right,?smiles as the crowd joins Brad Bryant, left, as they sing "Happy Birthday" to Barkley during the annual Barkley, Bean, Bryant & Friends Celebrity Scramble at the YMCA Par 3 First Tee of Lakeland.
MICHAEL WILSON | THE LEDGERSurprisingly, Barkley can strike the golf ball without a hint of mental interference on the driving range.
"That's not the same as under pressure,'' he said.
Barkley's swing was smooth on the first hole at the YMCA Par 3 on Friday, but by the fourth hole the hitch was back. He remains a danger to the gallery.
A record crowd of almost 500 came to the YMCA Par 3 for the eighth annual Barkley, Bean, Bryant & Friends Celebrity Skins Game on the warmest day of the year with temperatures in the upper 80s.
Barkley, who turned 50 on Wednesday, estimated that he receives more than 5,000 inquiries every year to appear at charitable functions around the nation.
"I probably get 100 requests a week,'' he said. "But I'm probably only going to look at one or two things.''
The Skins Game, the major fund-raiser of the year for The First Tee of Lakeland, is one of the few events Barkley has committed to for eight consecutive years.
"When I first came here, I was only going to do it for one year. But the people here are fantastic,'' Barkley said. "I really enjoy seeing the same people here every year. I look forward to coming down here.''
Doug Wimberly of The First Tee said the Skins Game raised $160,000 this year through corporate sponsorships, bringing the eight-year total to $1.21 million.
Actually, $162,000 was raised. On No. 9, the last hole, Barkley told First Tee junior Savannah Collier he would donate $2,000 if she hit the green with her tee shot. Collier, who had struggled a bit with her game but also made a couple of birdie putts for the team, brightened her day by drilling her shot dead into the center of the green.
The First Tee of Lakeland has served 6,500 juniors since it opened in 2005. It partners with 20 local youth agencies to bring kids to the Par 3. And it is the Polk County home of Special Olympics golf, with 11 state champions coming out of its Adaptive Golf Pro?gram.
"I think we're pretty blessed to have the community behind it as much as it is, because right now every charity, every organization, is fighting for dollars,'' said Andy Bean of Lakeland, The First Tee's honorary co-chairman along with Brad Bryant of Lakeland.
Bean and Bryant were two of six Champions Tour pros who took part, engaging in some good-natured gibing with Barkley and the crowd.
Brad's younger brother, Bart Bryant of Ocoee, made his first appearance at the event, held in honor of George W. Jenkins with Publix Super Markets Charities as the title sponsor. Bart Bryant is a rookie on the 50-and-over tour this season. Also teeing it up were Mike Hulbert, Gene Jones and Larry Ziegler.
Barkley and the pros were joined by sponsors, First Tee juniors and Special Olympics golfers, competing in two large groups in a scramble format.
Barkley, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer, flew in from Atlanta where he worked as an NBA analyst for TNT on Thursday night.
The former Auburn All-American also follows college basketball. He said Florida is the best team in the Southeastern Conference.
"They've got a legit shot at winning the national championship,'' he said of the Gators.
Barkley, who looks quite trim having lost 50-60 pounds since last February on his Weight Watchers diet, is an enthusiastic proponent of junior golf.
"I think The First Tee has done a fantastic job with the kids,'' he said. "The First Tee keeps kids out of trouble.''
And despite Barkley's hang-up with his swing, he spends a lot of time on the golf course.
"It's one of the few places where I can get peace and quiet,'' he said.
[ Del Milligan can be reached at del.milligan@theledger.com or at 863-802-7555. ]
Source: http://www.theledger.com/article/20130222/news/130229769
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