Exclusive news and research on the wine, spirits and beer business

The winds were blowing on Monday, March 17, adding a test of nature to the already difficult game of golf, but the breeze couldn’t temper the enthusiasm for the large group of golfers who were ready to tee it up at Old Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. This wasn’t just any round—it was the 17th Els For Autism Pro-Am.

The event, created by star pro golfer Ernie Els, his wife, Liezl Els and Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado, raises money for the Els Center of Excellence, a state-of-the-art education and information center in Jupiter, Florida, that helps autistic children and their families.

Each team was led by a professional golfer. The field included Els, who has won four major championships (two U.S. Opens and two Open Championships); the legendary Gary Player, who won nine majors and is one of only five men to have won the career grand slam in golf; Nick Price (three majors); Retief Goosen (two majors); Darren Clarke, who won the 2011 British Open; two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer; Camilo Villegas; K.J. Choi and many more. The event raised $830,000 for the charity. Cigar Aficionado has a full recap.