Champions Tour wives visit with dolphins

text size

PALM COAST, Fla. -- Nellie recently turned 55 and is the oldest dolphin living in captivity.

She's one smart mammal. In fact, she has more college degrees than most people, having recently earned her master's from Jacksonville University. This honor was bestowed upon her after serving for many years as the school mascot.

Several Champions Tour wives went on an excursion to visit Nellie and her 10 fellow dolphins that swim playfully at Marineland, the world's first oceanarium located just minutes from the Ginn Championship at Hammock Beach Resort. When these ladies heard about Nellie (who is old enough to be on the Champions Tour) and her accomplishments, one shouted in recognition.

"Go seniors!"

It's fitting, then, that a trip to see Nellie and her counterparts could incorporate what the Champions Tour is all about -- entertaining audiences while also working hard on their skills. Except the 50-and-older golfers aren't rewarded for their efforts with fish.

The Marineland tour was partially about watching dolphins wave, "talk" (did you know that those squeaky sounds come from their blowholes?), splash and even paint pictures. Eleven of the visitors got a chance to feed and pet the dolphins.

These intelligent sea dwellers have been studied since 1937 at the beautiful, ocean-side venue, which laid the foundation for places like Sea World.

The wives also had an opportunity to learn more about one of the tournament's primary charities. The Right Whale Project is located in Marineland, Fla., and uses volunteer citizen scientists to help track right whales who travel to the area from December to March. These citizens and scientists take records of the whales giving birth to calves in the area and work to help whales and people co-exist in the ocean.

This is just one of the many charities that benefit from Champions Tour events. The wives put on fashion shows, visit schools and read to elementary school children throughout the year.

"This helps put them on the map and give publicity to their cause," Betty Sigel, wife of Champions Tour pro Jay Sigel, said.

It's also an opportunity for a little fun -- if you don't mind smelling like fish.