On Saturday, July 25, more than 7,000 athletes will gather at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games, the sporting event for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Athletes are flying in from all over the planet to compete in more than 25 different sports from gymnastics to basketball to sailing. But it's the sport of golf that's captured the heart of one of Southern California's own. His name's Greg Kozlowski and he recently met up with A Martinez to talk about his training regimen, what drew him to golf, and how he hopes to do in the competition.
Greg is 50, but he began playing golf when he was a teenager. And at this point, he's regularly shooting about 10 over par, according to his parents. He says he loves golf because he loves spending time outside, playing with his dad and his coach and hitting golf balls.
His favorite golf moment so far? His hole in one at the Dominguez Hills Golf Course, says Greg.
"It was on the 17th hole, 122 yards. Took a five iron with a gaping sand trap and couldn't see where the flag is. And tee'd off and we didn't know where it went. And my dad and I got up there and it was in the bucket...
"My dad and I were going "Oh my god, he got a hole in one. Oh wow!" I wish I could get one in the tournament though. That'll be amazing."
Greg will be competing against athletes from as far away as Finland, England and Morocco and they'll be teeing up at the Wilson and Harding golf courses located in Griffith Park, which by any measure are not easy.
If you want to hear the conversation between A and Greg, click on the audio embedded above.
