Golfers packed their clubs and rangefinders and took to the course Friday morning for the 2026 Special Olympics Golf Tournament at the Links Golf Club in Post Falls. 

Eighty-four golfers took part in the event, with all proceeds going to Special Olympics Idaho (SOI). 

“It’s always about the athletes,” said Barb Jones, local program coordinator for SOI. 

Janis Beal, development manager for SOI, said events like the golf tournament are vital to the organization. 

“These are huge — we rely on donations and partnerships,” she said. 

The golf tournament featured a raffle and silent auction, as well as the special chance to win $10,000. 

On hole 17, all tournament golfers had the chance to make a hole-in-one to win the $10,000. No golfer took home the prize money, although many got very close, with two getting their 170-yard shot within a foot and 3 feet of the hole.

Monitoring hole 17 were Deputy Doug Goodwin with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office and Special Olympians Zach Pugsley and Jackie James, both wearing medals from the recent 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in June. 

Pugsley and James both took home several medals from the games in Minnesota, including a silver medal in bowling, which they won together. 

Pugsley participates in several Special Olympics sports; the basketball team he plays for has won four straight Special Olympics Idaho Championships. 

“We are hoping to make it to five next year,” he said.

James really enjoyed seeing golfers from past tournaments and is actually a golfer herself, having recently picked up the sport. 

Beal said the connections are another reason they host public events like the tournament. 

“It's fun to have the community spend time with the athletes,” she said. 

For more information about Special Olympics Idaho, visit their website https://www.specialolympicsidaho.org. 

    Tyler Anderl watches his shot land just 1 foot away from the hole, barely missing out on the chance to win $10,000.