Monday's rain and wind could not stop Eli Manning from making his annual visit and blindfolded putt at the Mount Kisco Country Club.
The New York Giants star quarterback has made local visits for several years to support Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a Yorktown-based non-profit group that serves as a guide dog school. It also runs a service dog program for autistic people called Healing Autism.
Guiding Eyes benefitted this year from two golf events: the Corcoran Cup on Sunday, which involved a competition of blind golfers, and Monday's 36th-annual Guiding Eyes for the Blind Golf Classic, which has held in Mount Kisco. In addition, Fairview Country Club in Greenwich served as a co-host.
Manning was joined this year by Dick Pomo, an Arizona golfer who competed in the Corcoran Cup and took a shot on the putting green with him. Pomo was joined by his wife, Shannon, and guide dog Tanya, who he got from Guiding Eyes in 2007.
Talking to reporters, Pomo was asked about what he looks forward to from the event. He compared it to "coming home because I got Tanya here." Pomo, who planned on taking Tanya out during golfing, said he would get to play with people at several holes, adding, “i'm able to thank them and show them, you know 'hey, here's what your money goes for.” Although Tanya's preference is for staying home rather than golf, Pomo said that she is “just as mellow as can be.”
For Manning, who was met with several reporters and photographers, the appearance also involved taking questions about sports in general and the upcoming Giants' season.
Manning was asked about an upcoming game in the fall between the Denver Broncos, which includes his brorther, Peyton, as quarterback and would mark the third NFL face off between the two. Asked if the game was hard on him, Peyton or his parents, he replied, “probably the parents.” Manning is hoping to get his first win against his brother, who was on the winning team in the previous two games.
On the start of the pre-season, which is roughly two months away, Manning said that he thinks there is some great talent on the team and guys who are committed.
To see video of Pomo and Manning taking their shots, click here.
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