Tour pros visit sick children's summer camp

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Nationwide Tour pros Martin Piller, J.J. Killeen, Michael Sims and Jhonattan Vegas join kids in line for the water slide.

OMAHA, Neb. -- Perspective. A quartet of Nationwide Tour players were reminded Tuesday afternoon that missing a birdie putt or a 36-hole cut isn't a matter of life and death.

The foursome of pros took time away from practice for this week's Cox Classic in Omaha, Neb., to visit Camp CoHoLo, a camp for children diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders.

"It wasn't at all what we were expecting," said J.J. Killeen of the 25-mile trip to the camp located near Gretna, Neb. "We were thinking it was an odd place for a hospital, out in the middle of nowhere."

Chemycz/PGA TOUR

Martin Piller takes a turn down the water slide.

Instead of finding 85 kids in hospital beds, Killeen, Martin Piller, Michael Sims and Jhonattan Vegas found a group of 6-12 year olds in bathing suits, jumping for joy and living life to the fullest. Tuesday also happened to be "Beach Day" at Camp CoHoLo.

The word CoHoLo is an acronym for Courage, Hope and Love, the guiding principles behind the formation of the camp.

"The most impressive thing is that they know they're sick, and yet they have a great time, not worrying about anything," said Vegas, a rookie from Texas by way of Venezuela. "They're all going through a rough time, and to see them enjoying life gives you goosebumps."

The pros took a respite from chipping and putting and turned their attention instead to water slides and water balloons.

"There are some kids there in wheelchairs who can't really do much and are just out enjoying the sunshine, it's hard not to feel something for them. They're amazing," said Sims, who was the first to break from the pack and join the kids on the 50-foot, inflatable water slide. "It makes you think how lucky we are to be doing what we do."

The first camp was held in 1985, a three-day event for 22 kids. The camp now hosts 140-160 children each July during an eight-day camp, which is run by volunteers and counselors, one-third of whom are past campers themselves.

"The counselors all shave their heads to make the kids feel normal. The counselors who used to be campers give the kids hope that they can beat the disease and get better," said Sims, who was still soaking wet an hour after returning to the golf course.

The counselors were all lined up, and the kids had a chance to break water balloons over their heads and dump water on them. The kids took turns getting their favorite doctors and nurses soaked. Sims joined the line and got his share of water poured over him.

"It comes from a well, and it was freezing cold!" said Sims, who then enlisted the help of counselors and campers to make sure his contemporaries knew exactly how cold the water was.

"You can't beat camp," said Piller with a smile. "Those kids are so full of life. It was a great experience for all of us to go and enjoy a day with them. It certainly changes how you look at things around you."