Bobby Weed is an accomplished golf course architect who will leave behind a lasting legacy through his work. But the Weed who’s out to change the world, one letter at a time, is Lanier, his 24-year-old non-verbal autistic daughter. “She has a lot of things she wants to achieve,” Bobby says. “She’s just a beautiful young lady, inside and out.”

Lanier Weed’s story, in both video and words, can be found on firepitcollective.com. Lanier's life changed when, at 14, she was introduced to facilitated communications, which involves an autistic person spelling out words on a keyboard or similar device while their hand or wrist is physically supported by another person.

Lanier Weed was 14 when she got in front of her first keyboard. Her opening salvo? 

“Thank you for releasing my voice.”

This podcast, featuring an interview with Bobby Weed and his wife Leslie, is a follow-up to that video feature on the Fire Pit Collective’s website and YouTube channel. We hear about where Lanier Weed is now, ten years after typing her first sentence. We hear about the foundation the Weeds founded 20 years ago, HEAL (Helping Enrich Autistic Lives), and its ongoing impact. The Weeds talk about Arnold Palmer, Dean Beman and Jay Monahan, just some of the people who have helped them along the way. Bobby and Leslie also reflect on Pete and Alice Dye and what Players Championship week means to them and their community.

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