A Trip to Remember for MacKenzie Place – Colorado Springs Golfer

Oct 8, Alissa Sauer

At 93, Al Williams still loves getting out on the golf course, so when he had the chance to travel from MacKenzie Place – Colorado Springs to Seattle for the One Eighty Foundation’s 30th Annual Kids Classic Golf Tournament and Fundraiser, he was all in! 

Al traveled with Savannah Long, MacKenzie Place’s Senior Sales Advisor. Al and Savannah already know a thing or two about bringing people together on the course. Back in Colorado Springs, they organize the Octogenarian Golf Tournament, where 80 golfers aged 80+ enjoy a round at a local country club at no cost. With MacKenzie Place as its main sponsor, the tournament gives participants the full country club experience while celebrating older adults who keep pursuing a sport they love.

In Seattle, Al and Savannah were ready for another round together. This time, they would join Leisure Care team members on the course to help raise funds for children and families facing urgent challenges.

Good Company, Great Golf, & Giving Back

Al had been looking forward to the trip, but it exceeded his expectations. “I never imagined the freedom and fun I experienced,” he wrote. Looking out the airplane window at the horizon, he thought, “Wow, I am flying again!”

Their Seattle visit began at Leisure Care’s home office, where Al toured the office and had lunch with Leisure Care team members. That evening included a fundraising gala, complete with wine pulls and silent auctions, a chance for Al to have his photo taken with Super Bowl rings, and a special shoutout during dinner. 

The following day, they joined team members from the home office for the golf tournament. Al played all 18 holes and, according to Savannah, carried the team more than his fellow golfers might care to admit.

The highlight was getting out on the course with Savannah and two Leisure Care team members, Clint and Dalton. Al remarked, “Golf with Sav, Clint, and Dalton was the most fun I have had in years, many years.”

At the Heckling Hole, commentators watched from the green and heckled golfers by name over loudspeakers. When Al missed his approach shot, they gave him another chance: “Al, hit another ball!”

Al felt the pressure, but his next shot was the best of the group, landing just in front of the green. He followed it with the group’s best chip, then sank the putt. He wrote, “Couldn’t believe it, but I sure enjoyed it. Mission accomplished.”

Where Fitness & Philanthropy Meet

For Al and Savannah, the Kids Classic was a chance to enjoy a sport they love while giving back alongside fellow golfers and supporters. Together, participants in the 30th Annual Kids Classic Golf Tournament and Fundraiser raised $235,900 to support the One Eighty Foundation’s work with children and families across the Pacific Northwest.

The connection between wellness and philanthropy is familiar at MacKenzie Place – Colorado Springs. The independent living, assisted living, and memory care community has consistently placed among the top three in Leisure Care’s Fitness Frenzy, an annual event that connects physical activity with fundraising for the foundation.

Savannah sees Al as a wonderful example of the everyday habits PrimeFit Wellness™ encourages: taking care of yourself so you can keep doing what matters to you. For Al, that includes golf, helping organize a tournament for fellow older adults, and saying yes to a trip to Seattle.

Step into a New Age of Senior Living at MacKenzie Place – Colorado Springs

What would you like to do next? The team at MacKenzie Place – Colorado Springs is here to help you have the most fulfilling, rewarding, and productive opportunities possible. Recognized by U.S. News & World Report for Best Independent Living, Best Assisted Living, and Best Memory Care, MacKenzie Place offers support for the life you want to live. Schedule a tour to meet the team and see what’s possible.