Changing lives one divot at a time

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Angela Martin
  • 47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  At 7 p.m. Sunday evening, golf carts zoom toward the club house at Laughlin's Leaning Pine Golf Course as golfers end a round of nine holes in the 100-degree Texas heat.

But as the golfers pack away their clubs, one lone golfer remains, pushing through the blistering heat as he tees off on his one hundredth hole.

Capt. Ben Sims, 85th Flying Training Squadron, began his golf game 6 a.m. Sunday morning as part of the Hundred Hole Hike, a nation-wide golf marathon where participants walk 100 or more holes of golf in one day to raise money for charitable causes.

The Hundred Hole Hike was spearheaded by Jim Colton, a financial analyst from Chicago, who walked 155 holes in one day and raised more than $110,000 for a paralyzed caddie in 2011. In an effort to build camaraderie among golfers, Colton founded One Divot, a charity that aims to help change the world one divot at a time with the Hundred Hole Hike as its main event.

Sims discovered this opportunity after joining Colton in a four-day golf trip last fall 2011.

"Ben instantly gravitated towards the idea, applying his boundless energy to help make the event a reality," said Colton. "I'm honored to call him a friend and a fellow Hundred Hole Hiker."

This year, more than 50 golfers around the country raised $180,000 to be distributed towards various organizations. Through support of Laughlin personnel, friends and family members, Sims raised more than $4,000 for his charity of choice, Operation Proper Exit.

Operation Proper Exit, part of the Troops First Foundation, provides wounded warriors with the opportunity to return to deployed locations to help gain closure from traumatic events and injuries sustained.

"From the perspective of a mobility pilot that flew soldiers away from battle in a way they didn't want to leave, it appeals to me that I can help them exit the theater on their own terms, with a sense of closure and honor," said Sims.

Sims passion for Operation Proper Exit began in 2008 during a mission evacuating critically wounded Soldiers and Marines from theater.

"I sat on the cockpit stairs of our C-17 Globemaster III as the flight nurses boarded our passengers," explained Sims. "The other crewmembers and I would shoot each other knowing glances as if to say, we want to give these guys as good of a trip as we can. But no Soldier wants to leave a combat zone the way we left Afghanistan that day."

Thoughts of that mission motivated Sims to push through 100 degree temperatures for 108 holes of golf. Additionally, the support of his wife and fellow golfers encouraged Sims to persevere.

"We were really nervous other golfers would be upset that he just kept going through the holes, but so many people have been asking me what his current number was," said Natalie Sims. "People even gave me updates on his status!"

Furthermore, fellow pilots from the 85th FTS served as caddies throughout the day, alleviating the pain of carrying clubs while golfing non-stop.

"It was really neat to have a bunch of military guys support a military cause," explained Sims. "I hope this becomes a bigger event with more military participation next year."