'Birdies for the Brave' outpost a hit at PLAYERS

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Levy/PGA TOUR

Visitors to the Birdies for the Brave Outpost this week haven't missed any of the action at TPC Sawgrass.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Imagine all the food and drinks you ever wanted, a big screen, high-definition TV in a comfortable air-conditioned setting, and friends and family galore.

This party's not being thrown in a living room, though. It's held between the 16th and 18th holes during THE PLAYERS Championship at the "Birdies for the Brave Outpost."

The PGA TOUR has teamed with defense contractor Lockheed Martin to honor the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces there. Active duty and retired military personnel and their families come to the hospitality tent to enjoy the tournament.

Since Wednesday, the crowds have been steady in the Outpost and members of the military from all over the country have been reunited there. Adults can watch the golf on TV or step out on the balcony to see it live, while children and grandchildren can play golf video games or experiment with Lockheed Martin's F-35 training simulator.

On Wednesday, the Outpost got a special visit from former President George H.W. Bush, who stopped by to say hello to as many servicemen and servicewomen as he could. Once inside, President Bush, a former Navy pilot, found it hard to tear himself away from the F-35 simulator. The 41st president was in town to receive the 2009 PGA TOUR Lifetime Achievement Award and was given a military tribute from members of the U.S. Navy on the 18th hole.

"He was so gracious to come by the tent," said Lou Olinto, USAF commander, Air Force Agency for Modeling and Simulation. "He spent about 30 minutes in the seat and asked a variety of questions. When he flew in World War II, of course, the cockpit was very simple. We discussed how the technology and computerization has come a long way. It was fascinating to him. It was such an honor to have President Bush in the seat here."

For those who missed the former President's visit, there was still plenty of excitement Saturday as evidenced by the thundering roar that emitted from the jam-packed Outpost when Tiger Woods birdied the 16th and 17th holes.

David Shelley, a retired Navy officer since 1996, was enjoying the comfort of the Outpost when Woods began making his move. "I am a Tiger follower," he said. "But this is tremendous. It's good for the military, their families and the entire community."

Shelley, who now resides in the beaches area, was joined in the Outpost by his nephew, best friend and two grandchildren. As he weighed the comfort of the Outpost and the bird's eye view of his favorite golfer climbing up the leaderboard, Shelley vowed "I'll be back tomorrow."

Commander Tom Prusinowski, who serves at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base 35 miles north of Jacksonville, has been coming to THE PLAYERS Championship for almost two decades. Having the Outpost in place has been a "phenomenal" way of bringing people together.

To open up their arms and allow us to come in has been tremendous," Prusinowski said. "Jacksonville is a huge Navy town and the PGA TOUR has really taken care of us."

PLAYERS Championship executive director Jay Monahan was thrilled to see the tent filled with families. "There isn't a person in our country that doesn't have an enormous appreciation for the men and women in uniform," he said. "When they realize that this is here, they want to be here."

Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton also stopped by the Outpost and thanked the military for their service and the PGA TOUR for the idea.

"It's really smart," Peyton said. "We have over 250,000 people in this region that are directly or indirectly tied to the military. Our goal in Jacksonville is to be the most military-friendly city in America, and I think the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS are living that goal. They're doing everything they can to make sure that those who serve and their families have a great experience. I'm really proud of what the PGA TOUR has done.

Al Littleton, a Petty Officer stationed at Mayport for the last two years, jokes that his own golf game is not improving. He really enjoyed seeing the pros, though.

"I've had a blast watching all the players come through," he said. "To see it live and how good these guys really are gives you an entire new appreciation. This is a great time out here."

Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman Tony Pashos came to the Outpost to show his appreciation to the military members. Even though the Outpost was almost filled to capacity there was room for the friendly 6-foot-6, 325-pound NFL player.

"It's great that right here in our backyard, we can enjoy this venue of another professional sport and I'm sure these men and uniform appreciate that as well," Pashos said.