Cigar Aficionado

It was dinnertime on a warm, Sunday evening in Jupiter, Florida, and the crowd happily moved inside to escape the heat, welcoming the refreshing cool air. Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado magazine, stood up to address the crowd. It was the parings dinner before the 2024 Els for Autism Pro Am, the 16th time this event has been held.

“We have 19 teams playing tomorrow, with 17 male pros who have won 14 majors,” Shanken said. He looked toward the head table and smiled, his eyes meeting a very special guest, PGA legend Jack Nicklaus. “I’m not including Jack in this because Jack blows everyone away, with 18 majors. How many PGA wins do you have Jack?”

“I forgot,” Nicklaus quipped, drawing hearty laughter from the crowd. (The total is 73, more than anyone in history other than Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.) 

Shanken went on to introduce the rest of the head table, which included such luminaries as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Fox News anchor Bret Baier and Shanken’s co-hosts for the evening, Ernie and Liezl Els. 

“All of this wouldn’t be here without these two guys,” said Marvin, turning the mic over to the Els family.

Ernie Els thanked the governor and all the guests for coming to the event, then spoke about his son, Ben, who was celebrating a milestone birthday. Ben, who has autism, was the inspiration for the Pro Am, and the state-of-the art Els Center of Excellence, where the event was being held. The school is home to 300 students.

“Ben is 21 today—it’s all about Ben, Ben Els,” said Ernie. “Liezl had this vision to have something like this. Without my wife this would never have happened. Thank you so much.”

“Our journey is very personal, it’s about our son Ben,” added Liezl. 

After the introductory speeches, Conor McQuaid, the new CEO North America of Pernod Ricard, stood up to make a toast, for it was also St. Patrick’s Day. Each person in the room lifted their dram of Jameson Black Barrel, distilled in Ireland. Then dinner was served.

The next day, the 19 teams arrived bright and early at Old Palm Golf Club in nearby Palm Beach Gardens to compete in the Pro Am. This event marked the return to the spring for the Pro Am; the last was held in December. 

It was a day of superb golf, each team of three paired with a professional golfer. Spread throughout the golf course were cigar and spirits stations to keep everyone smoking and in good spirits. The liquor sponsors were Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Jackson Family Wines and Pernod Ricard. The cigar sponsors were Altadis, E.P. Carrillo, La Flor Dominicana, My Father Cigars and Rocky Patel. Arturo Fuente, E.P. Carrillo, Oliva and Padrón also provided cigars for the pairings dinner—no one would run out of cigars on this day.

At the conclusion of the golf, the pros climbed the hill to Old Palm’s short but tricky 19th hole, taking a shot at a hole in one. Many found the green, and Darren Clarke left a shot a mere six inches from the cup. A few amateurs bravely gave it a try as well, including the governor and Shanken. But no hole in one would fall this day.

Retief Goosen, who has 38 professional wins in his career including two majors (the 2001 and 2004 U.S. Opens) was on the winning team for the second event in a row. His teammates Marc Sachs, Nick Mehall and Taylor Sommer from Republic National Distributing posted a score of 54, taking home the crown. 

In second place, the team from Jackson Family Wines (Rick Tigner, Richard Tigner, JJ McCabe) headed by pro Jim Thorpe shot 55. The team from Reyes Holdings, with pro Steve Stricker and Tom Day, Jimmy Reyes and Stephen Reyes, took third, with a score of 57.

At the end of the event, sitting down to a lunch in the shade, Marvin and Hazel Shanken and Ernie and Liezl Els thanked the pros and the golfers for their generosity and their time. A large check was on display, showing the money raised for the event.

Dr. Marlene Sotelo, executive director of the Els Center, closed the speech with a simple thank you. “You are changing lives with the support you give.”

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