By Bill Miller
During the AFE/PVA Outdoor Legends Tour, it was my honor to travel with a couple of outdoorspeople whom I consider much bigger “legends” than myself – Brenda Valentine and Jim Shockey. I can honestly tell you that as “big” as they are, both of them both have even bigger hearts. Their support of the troops was unbelievable, and it was truly moving to listen to their thoughts and reflections on what we did and saw in German, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. One of the “life-changing” aspects of the trip was deepening my friendships with and respect for these two incredible people who I now consider hunting camp friends of the first order.
Each year since 2009, Jim has partnered with Safari Club International to hold a charity golf tournament in Tucson, Arizona. It’s called the Jim Shockey Golf Shootout with the proceeds going to take returning military vets on incredible, all-expense-paid hunting adventures they’d never have the opportunity to enjoy otherwise.
Details for the 2013 event are still being set, but the event usually takes place in mid-February in SCI’s hometown. Both golfers and non-golfers are welcome as the two-day event includes meet-and-greets, banquets, auctions and more in addition to the tournament as well. Jim invites a lot of his celebrity buddies to participate as well. Jim’s wife Louise shares hosting duties, and within a minute of meeting her you’ll have no doubt where the phrase “better half” comes from!
The event is first and foremost involved with providing great hunting opportunities for returning vets, but be warned. Jim takes his golf as seriously as his hunting … and he’s really good at both!
Personally, a golfer, I am not! I shoot shotgun competitively; I train and compete Labrador retrievers; I even bow hunt on occasion. So the way I look at it, I do not need any more frustration in my life which is definitely what golf would be. The only things I shoot on a golf course are geese and deer when they open those special metro seasons!
But a supporter of our returning vets? Now that I am, big time! If you are, too, and golf is your thing, then the Jim Shockey Golf Shootout is the perfect event for you!
EXTRA, EXTRA, EXTRA!!!!! If you’d like to hear more first hand about the AFE/PVA Outdoor Legends Tour, tune into Gun Talk Radio this Sunday afternoon August 19 at 4:05 Eastern Time as I’ll be sharing stories from the trip with Gun Talk host Tom Gresham. Tom’s another old … er … longtime … friend, and I’m excited to share stories of the Tour on his air across the country!
