Ernie Els is a former World No.1 with 80 professional victories to his name, including four Major Championships, one Senior Major, two World Golf Championships and a record seven World Matchplay titles.

Away from the golf course, Ernie has transcended his sport by virtue of his groundbreaking charitable endeavours. Ernie and his wife Liezl founded The Els for Autism Foundation in 2009, which led to the opening of The Els Center of Excellence, a world-class site hosting leading-edge programs and services for individuals with autism. In addition, Ernie founded The Ernie Els Foundation in South Africa in 1999, delivering educational assistance and golfing opportunities to young individuals predominantly from families of limited resources. Listed among its former members are tournament winners Louis Oosthuizen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Thriston Lawrence.

Ernie’s increasingly diverse range of business interests successfully encompass golf course design and hospitality, an award winning wine portfolio created by Ernie Els Wines in South Africa, an innovative range of pet products, and a student-athlete recruitment program.

Last week another significant chapter was written in the story of The Els for Autism Foundation, with Ernie and Liezl Els leading a groundbreaking ceremony for a specialized autism-friendly recreation complex at The Els Center of Excellence in Jupiter, Florida. Construction begins soon and when completed it will feature a gymnasium, therapeutic area, splash pad and competition pool. It will be the first complex of its kind in the US.

"It was the missing link," commented Liezl Els, co-founder & managing director of Els for Autism. “It will bring so much more to our campus, all designed with the autism community in mind.”