Stories from the Green
Three Tournaments, One Unforgettable Golf Week
August 20, 2026
For two days, the courses both Owl’s Nest Resort courses were filled with competition, connection and plenty of reasons to celebrate.
From Special Olympics New Hampshire athletes competing at the State Golf Tournament, to golfers coming together to raise funds for organizations across New Hampshire, to SONH athletes stepping into leadership roles and sharing their stories, August 17–18 showed just how much can happen when a community comes together around sport.
Across three tournaments, hundreds of swings and more than a few raindrops, the best moments weren’t necessarily found on the scorecards. They were found in the connections made along the way.
A New Course for State Golf
The week began Monday morning at Owl’s Nest’s Vineyard Course in Ashland, where SONH athletes and Unified partners gathered for the 2026 State Golf Tournament.
It was the first time the State Golf Tournament had been held on the Vineyard Course, giving athletes a beautiful new setting to put a season of practice to the test. A little rain joined us along the way, but it did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm on the course.
Athletes competed in individual and Unified events, surrounded by coaches, Unified partners, volunteers, families and supporters cheering them on.
Congratulations to every athlete who competed, celebrated accomplishments big and small, and helped make our first State Golf Tournament at the Vineyard Course one to remember!
Golfing for a Greater Good
While SONH athletes competed at the Vineyard Course, another tournament was underway as golfers gathered for the Collaborative Golf Tournament presented by Service Credit Union.
The tournament brought together supporters for a day of golf benefiting Special Olympics New Hampshire, the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police, and the Police, Fire & EMS Foundation. With three organizations coming together around one event, the impact of the day extended well beyond the scorecard.
As the sun went down Monday evening, attention turned to another tournament, and to the athletes at the heart of the SONH mission.
More Than Golf: Meet Ellie
Monday evening marked the beginning of the 2026 SO Cup presented by Eversource and Michels, kicking off with glow golf, dinner and opportunities for golfers and SONH athletes to connect before Tuesday’s tournament.
Among the athletes helping make those connections was Ellie Havrda, who represented SONH as an athlete leader throughout the event.
Ellie shared how far her journey has taken her. Born with Down syndrome, she faced significant health challenges and multiple surgeries as a child, as well as bullying while growing up. Around age twelve, she found Special Olympics and discovered something important about herself:
“Through Special Olympics, I realized I could be an athlete, even though I have Down Syndrome.”
Today, Ellie is a student at the University of Vermont, studying agriculture and plant science with dreams of becoming a plant scientist. She lives on campus, plays intramural basketball and credits Special Olympics with helping her become more confident and independent.
“I have dreams, I can do the things I want to do and I feel more confident than ever.”
Throughout the SO Cup, Ellie put that confidence into action, meeting golfers, sharing her experiences and helping supporters better understand the athletes and opportunities behind the mission.
It was a fitting reminder of what events like the SO Cup help make possible: opportunities for athletes not only to compete, but to lead, connect and pursue their goals beyond the playing field.
The SO Cup Takes the Course
Tuesday morning, golfers headed out across Owl’s Nest for the SO Cup presented by Eversource and Michels.
Throughout the course, SONH athletes were waiting to welcome them.
Athletes led games, struck up conversations, shared their own experiences and gave golfers a chance to get to know some of the people behind the mission they were supporting.
Those moments are at the heart of the SO Cup. The tournament raises critical funds for Special Olympics New Hampshire, but it also creates something harder to measure: relationships between athletes and the people and companies investing in their success.
By the time the final putts dropped, golfers had experienced much more than a day on the course.
Three Tournaments Take a Team
Three tournaments across two days don’t happen without an incredible team behind them.
We are grateful to every golfer who joined us; the volunteers who gave their time and talents; the organizing committees who spent months preparing; and the sponsors whose generosity made these events possible.
A special thank you goes to Service Credit Union, presenting sponsor of the Collaborative Golf Tournament, and Eversource and Michels, presenting sponsors of the SO Cup, for leading the way in making these events possible.
And, of course, thank you to the entire team at Owl’s Nest Resort. From welcoming our athletes and families to hosting golfers, volunteers and supporters across multiple courses and events, their team helped make an ambitious two days of golf feel right at home.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Whether you competed for a medal, chased a low score, volunteered at a hole, sponsored an event, shared your story or simply cheered someone on, thank you for being part of an unforgettable two days at Owl’s Nest.
Because across three tournaments, the best stories from the green weren’t really about golf.
They were about what happens when sport gives people the opportunity to compete, connect, lead and dream bigger.