Weekley still a small-town guy with a big-time heart

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Boo Weekley has continued to touch fans' hearts on and off the golf course with his charitable endeavors.

Close your eyes and try to imagine Boo Weekley standing in the shade of a leafless oak tree in early winter, next to an ATV with antler horns taped to a roll bar and three massive coolers on the back. He is wearing patched jeans, a camouflage jacket, his Cleveland hat and a big smile. At any given moment there are a dozen people standing around telling lies and laughing. Other ATVs buzz up to the top of the hill to join the gathering.

This sounds like a familiar, post-hunting scene that has undoubtedly played out countless times in Boo's life. But on this day, instead of wielding shotguns or hunting bows the constant stream of visitors to Boo's flat of land brandish top-of-the-line golf equipment. The flat of land was the third tee at Westwood Hills Country Club. The occasion that brought us all together was a golf tournament to benefit the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff, Mo.

When someone said, "You can't get there from here," they were talking about Poplar Bluff. It is a three-hour drive to the nearest major airport, in St. Louis or Nashville. You can get to Little Rock, Ark., in about the same amount of time, but that isn't a major airport unless you own a jet.

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Last Tuesday I boarded a single-engine plane in Greensboro, N.C., along with my lawyer and our two hosts to make the trip to middle America for the aforementioned charity outing. An emergency landing in Bristol, Tenn., a lot of liquid courage and a second single-engine plane later, I found myself with microphone in hand addressing the good people of Poplar Bluff at a dinner.

I mention the trip because the experience is one that I will never forget and three of us very well may owe our lives to the pilot. We certainly owe our sanity to the bartender in the Bristol airport.

I was asked to come to Poplar Bluff to host the dinner, conduct the auction and basically be a good sport. As you can imagine, I was not the main draw. Boo, fresh off a visit to the White House, was there in good form, selling his latest line of Boo wear.

To get a Ryder Cup hero to a charity outing would generally cost more than most public school teachers make in year. Boo did it as a favor for an old friend, and for the hunting and beer.

When I'm asked to host an event I will, at the very least, wear a pair of slacks, button-down shirt and a jacket. However, because of our travel difficulties we arrived late and the party was in full-swing. I threw on a clean shirt and a jacket, but left my jeans on as I waded into the throng at the clubhouse.

It didn't take long to feel welcome. As a matter of fact, it didn't take long to feel like family. That's just the way it is in Poplar Bluff. It's a community in the truest sense of the word. I also learned that it's a rare golf community.

In a town of 17,000, everyone knows everyone. Charity is more than a check to people who have to work for every dollar. In a town this size you can actually see the results of your generosity. You see the effect on children as you watch them grow into adulthood.

Most charity outings aren't this intimate. This one had all the revelry of any outing I have ever attended, if not more, and the atmosphere wasn't tempered by the sense of community, it was enhanced. It was further enhanced by the guest of honor.

Just prior to the auction, I called Boo up for a short question-and-answer session. He told stories about the Ryder Cup and his recent visit to the White House. As you would imagine, he was funny and completely in his element with this crowd.

As Boo spoke about how much his life has changed over the last couple of years it occurred to me that it would be impossible to experience the things he has and not be affected by it. While he is far removed from the pretension of many of his contemporaries, Boo is more well-rounded now. And with his rising popularity that can only be good for the game.

The evening rolled seamlessly into the morning shotgun. While the golfers -- many dressed in jeans and enjoying a breakfast beer -- loaded up their carts several of us climbed into ATVs to monitor the festivities. Poplar Bluff's second most famous son, Sean "the Beast" Fister, came to tee it up and show his support and still prodigious length. Sean won the World Long Drive Championship three times and he may also be Poplar Bluff's only published author.

The best college basketball player in the country is from Poplar Bluff, too. A giant likeness of University of North Carolina star Tyler Hansbrough, in his high school uniform, hangs on the side of one of the buildings downtown.

On the course, Boo and Sean carried the day. Boo stayed on the third tee and took a picture with every group. He critiqued swings, outfits and shots -- much to the amusement of the players and many others who had gathered.

Sean had a sizable gallery of his own as he repeatedly ripped drives of well over 300 yards into the cold air.

At the end of the day, the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff benefited greatly. Young people's lives were changed through the efforts of this small community and a couple of down-home stars.

While Sean is a native of Poplar Bluff, Boo has now been adopted, too. The residents of this small town see themselves in him, except for maybe his ball-striking ability and steely nerves.

For my part, it won't be hard to convince me to return to Poplar Bluff next year...as long as we are flying commercial.

Some places you visit. In Poplar Bluff, you become a member of the community.

John Maginnes is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His opinion does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the PGA TOUR.