Ernie Els celebrates 100th PGA Tour Champions start at top of Schwab Cup
Ernie Els, a four-time major champion and member of the World Golf Hall of Fame still has plenty of gas in his tank on the PGA Tour Champions.
- Ernie and Liezl Els celebrated a groundbreaking for a new $20 million Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex at the Els Center of Excellence.
JUPITER — Ernie Els had just tossed a shovel full of sand over his right shoulder at the groundbreaking for the newest project at the Els Center of Excellence when Ben Els made sure everyone knew how proud he was of his dad.
“Big Easy,” Ben shouted, referencing the nickname known worldwide for Ernie, the World Golf Hall of Famer.
Ernie and Liezl Els celebrated another milestone Aug. 28 at their world-class 26-acre campus that serves children and adults with autism. Construction soon will start on the $20 million Specialized Autism Friendly Recreation Complex that will feature a gymnasium, therapeutic area, splash pad and competition pool.
The center is the first of its kind in the United States.
“It was the missing link for this campus,” Liezl said.
The rec center may be next step for the campus, but for Ernie, whose main passion in life has become the autism foundation he and Liezl started 16 years ago, it’s just another step.
Because Ernie, who at 55 has successfully balanced his main priority (Els for Autism) with his day job (golf), is not done.
“Like they said, just wait for Liezl to bring the next project towards us,” Ernie said smiling. “So this thing’s going to keep going.
“We want to stay ahead of the curve. I think eventually we’re going to end up maybe with a medical center and all of that. So let’s see how it goes.”
Drowning the leading cause of death for children with autism
Ben Els, 22, was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as a child. Soon after, the Els moved to South Florida permanently with the sole purpose of helping their son. That support led to the Els for Autism Foundation which led to the Center of Excellence.
The family wanted to be close to the coast so they have settled in Juno Beach. Each morning, when Ernie is not on the road competing, he takes Ben for a walk on the beach. And then a swim.
“Ben can swim,” Ernie said proudly.
And that is important because drowning is the leading cause of death for children with autism. And not only does Florida lead the nation in these accidents, more autistic children drown in Palm Beach County than any county in the state.
The new aquatics center is being built with the goal of reducing those numbers by teaching individuals with autism lifesaving swim instruction and water safety education in an environment tailored to their needs.
“The rec center is going to be another arm,” Ernie said. “Something for them to explore. Something for them to learn about. Something to help them in their everyday life.”
Els for Autism Foundation established in 2009
The Els for Autism Foundation was established in 2009 by Liezl and Ernie, with a huge assist from Marvin Shanken, who raised the money.
The mission was to create a world-class campus where children and adults with autism spectrum disorder can access education, therapy and support in one place.
In 2015, the Els Center of Excellence opened with one education wing that housed a charter school in partnership with Palm Beach County Schools, and a three-hole, par-3 golf course.
That was just the beginning.
A year later, a second charter school, tennis and basketball courts, and a pavilion and sensory arts garden were unveiled.
In 2023, the Stoops Family Foundation Adult Services Building, which serves adults with autism, was completed.
Now, the recreation complex.
“We have big dreams,” Ernie said.
While Ernie’s priorities have shifted, that does not mean he still does not dream of making birdies on the golf course and winning tournaments.
While Els may have shifted his priorities in his personal life, he continues to play golf at a high level on the PGA Tour Champions.
The South African is fifth in the Charles Schwab Cup Money list with one win, two seconds and 10 top 10 finishes in 18 events this season.
Els has finished in the top 10 of seasonlong standings each of the past three years.
“Golf is what I know since I’ve been a 7-year-old boy,” said Els. “And golf, as long as I’m healthy, I’ll be playing.
“But this is a passion of ours, the family passion. So this thing is where we spend a lot of energy on.”
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
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