Birmingham native Charley Boswell holds a special place at Vestavia Country Club, the site of the 2022 Stewart Cink Championship. The course's 17th hole is named after Boswell, who made a hole-in-one there on October 21, 1970.
While many golfers dream of making a hole-in-one in their lifetime, Boswell did something even more remarkable -- he did it blind.
Charley Boswell was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama and grew into a stellar athlete. He was a two-sport athlete at the University of Alabama, playing football and baseball. Following his time in Tuscaloosa, Boswell went on to play baseball at a minor league level.
However, soon after that, Boswell was drafted into the Army to fight in World War II. While helping a fellow soldier out of a burning tank, the tank exploded leaving Boswell blind. During his rehab, Boswell was introduced to the game of golf and became heavily involved in the United States Blind Golfers Association. He went on to win 16 United States Blind Golfers Association National Championships and 11 International Blind Golfers Association Championships. With his success, Boswell was able to fundraise and create awareness for blind golfers.
It wasn't a handicap to him, simply an inconvenience.
Vestavia Country Club continues to honor his memory. There is a room in the men's grill named after Charley and each year the club hosts the 'Boswell Cup' in his name.