GREENSBORO, N.C. – The volunteer headquarters at the Wyndham Championship was renamed the Marty Sheets Volunteer Center today in honor of the longtime tournament volunteer, the tournament announced today. Tournament week for the 75th anniversary Wyndham Championship began today with the Kevin Harvick Foundation Pro-Am presented by TCDI and BB&T.
Sheets, now 61, is a decorated Special Olympics athlete with Down Syndrome. During his Special Olympics career, he competed in golf, power lifting, alpine skiing, tennis and aquatics. Sheets represented North Carolina at the first International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago in 1968. He won more than 250 Special Olympics medals at local, state and international competitions. Unfortunately, although he attended today’s dedication ceremony, his dementia has now progressed to the point at which he needs help with daily activities.
“We are just absolutely thrilled and amazed at the same time to know that Marty, who had a tough start in life with Down Syndrome, has earned this recognition,” Sheets’ father Dave said. “We are just thrilled and honored that the Wyndham is recognizing Marty in this manner. It’s beyond anything we ever imagined. If Marty could speak for himself, he would say ‘thank you from the bottom of my heart.’ I know he would say that. He loved doing what he was doing, and it is just remarkable that his name will forever be connected with the Wyndham Championship. We are very proud.”
For many years, Sheets served as the standard bearer in tournament’s last group; he became interested in being a standard bearer shortly after PGA TOUR professional Kenny Perry visited Sheets at his home during a tournament in the early 1990s. Later that week, he was following Perry’s group and made the comment that he wished he could carry the “score sign.” The gentleman who was serving as the standard bearer in that group heard the comment and invited Sheets inside the ropes to carry the “score sign” for a couple of holes. Sheets was hooked and began volunteering as a standard bearer the next year.
Sheets won the 2006 PGA TOUR Volunteer of the Year award – the PGA TOUR’s highest honor for individual benevolence and its highest recognition given to a tournament volunteer – Sheets is the only Wyndham Championship volunteer that has ever received this honor.
“Marty holds a very special place in Wyndham Championship history,” tournament director Mark Brazil said. “When he was active as a volunteer, he was the perfect volunteer in every way. He always brought a smile to everyone’s face, and he was an excellent standard bearer. He was assigned the final group in the final round each year because he did such a good job.
“Marty embodies what our tournament is all about…giving back. When his health allowed it, he gave back through his volunteerism. As we dedicate the Marty Sheets Volunteer Center, Marty Sheets, represents every volunteer who has been a part of this tournament since it was founded in 1938. This dedication is very special for everyone associated with the Wyndham Championship.”
In addition to his many other accolades, Sheets received the Order of the Long Leaf Pine in 2000 – the highest civilian award given by the State of North Carolina.
Celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2014 and contested annually on the Donald Ross-designed course at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C., the Wyndham Championship was founded in 1938 and is the sixth-oldest event on the PGA TOUR excluding the Majors. Tickets are available at Piedmont Triad Harris Teeter locations, wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide, presenting sponsor BB&T and Premier Partners, Cadillac, Harris Teeter, Lincoln Financial, McConnell Golf, New Breed Logistics, Sunbrella®, Technology Concepts & Design, Inc. and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information, including ticket packages and sponsorship information, is available at wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com. Stay connected with the Wyndham Championship through its social media channels, including the Wyndham Championship Facebook page, Twitter, Instagram, Foursquare, Flickr and YouTube.
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