December 2017 | 23 Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net MADELINE: Who came up with the idea for the school? ERNIE: The idea evolved over a period of a year or two, but I have to give credit to Liezl. She’s been the driving force behind this whole proj- ect and, even as it’s grown into something on a global level, she’s stayed on top of things and showed incredible energy, passion and com- mitment. MADELINE: How did you and your wife arrive at the decision to open your life to the public, regarding Ben’s autism? ERNIE: At first, it wasn’t easy because Liezl and I are private people. But we discussed it at length and decided it was time for us to start making an effort to raise money and let people know about autism. We just didn’t want people to feel sorry for us. It is not just our family that is dealing with this; it is millions of people all over the world. But, obviously, we are in a good position compared to people who have to work – and I mean really work, not play golf – and our somewhat high profile gives us a platform to make some noise, generate awareness and basically make a difference. LIEZL: Ernie was the braver one of the two of us. He announced it on Tour when Ben was about 3 years old. The outpouring of support from not just the Tour, but the fans and play- ers as well, was amazing and took away all the fears that I had. MADELINE: What was traveling on Tour like, knowing how much attention Ben needed? ERNIE: When the kids were small it was actu- ally fairly easy, but soon they had their school- ing commitments and you just can’t be taking them all over the world to golf tournaments and so forth. Also, as Ben got older and we became more aware of his needs, we had to adapt to that and put him first, and obviously Samantha, too. LIEZL: We were very privileged to be able to travel with a support person to help us with Ben on Tour, which made it much easier. This was one of the reasons why we decided to start the Foundation, as we soon realized how diffi- cult it was for people who aren’t able to afford support and therapies. MADELINE: Many people regard you as a great golfer, while some also appreciate your philan- thropic achievements. How do you feel about being remembered for more than just golf? ERNIE: Either way, I’ve always thought that when you have some success in life, it’s im- portant to give back in some way. That was the thinking behind the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation when we set that up almost 20 years ago now. And it was the thinking behind the Els for Autism and starting this journey to build The Els Center of Excellence. Make a difference and have a positive impact on the lives of others. There’s no better mission than that. LIEZL: Living life in the public eye, we had a platform to speak about our experiences. It was important for us…really, our duty… to give back, after the amazing life that golf has given us.” MADELINE: As a parent of a child with autism, what message would you share with other parents facing the same challenges? ERNIE: Obviously it’s tough. At first, you think you’ve been knocked down by the man up- stairs. But when you start to find your feet, it really is a blessing. It’s a special way of life. These kids are special people. We call them “God’s children.” So basically, the quicker you can love your child and get on with it, the quicker you can get on the road to recovery. I’d also say don’t hide away; don’t keep it private. There’s help out there in the autism community. Madeline Gordon, a Business major at Lehigh University and an outstanding young golfer in her own right, is the Special Features Correspondent for Junior Golf magazine. She can be reached at madeline@juniorgolfmag.net After their son was diagnosed with autism, Ernie and his wife, Liezl, decided to take steps toward enhancing the quality of life for him and others in the autism community.