BY JOBY FAWCETT
Times-Shamrock Writer

Chris Snee joked, he never uses his lower body when he swings a golf club any way.

So, as he is rehabilitating his surgically repaired hip, the All-Pro right guard from the New York Giants is taking part in charity golf outings when he can. And there is none bigger than the one coming up in his hometown of Montrose, where he was an All-Region player in high school.

On Saturday, June 1, Snee will take part in the fifth annual Montrose Minute Men Inc. golf tournament at the Conklin Players Club. The event helps to raise funds for the nonprofit ambulance company that serves the community.

While he has been cleared to swing a golf club, he doesn’t plan to overdo anything, and is looking forward to the tournament.

“Any time I can help out and come back, I try to do so,” Snee said Tuesday after attending his first Organized Team Activity with the Giants. “I’ve done this event a couple of times. That’s what I wanted to do since the first day I left, is to come back and help when I can, I just have to make sure the weekends are available.

“When they asked me again to play, I didn’t hesitate.”

The Montrose Minute Men organization is excited about having the two-time Super Bowl champion at the event. It is a captain-and-crew format and teams can register up until May 31. Cost of the tournament is $100 and includes green fees, cart and meal. Proceeds are going to help the group, which receives no tax dollars, pay on its $500,000 ambulance building.

“This tournament really helps us a lot,” said member and committee member Jim Krupinski. “Having Chris come is so great. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion. He’s played in this a couple of times before and he’s got a couple of classmates and friends who are on the ambulance crew.

“It should be a good time.”

This offseason has been one to get healthy for Snee, who was selected to play in the Pro Bowl for a fourth time after his ninth NFL season. The 6-foot-3, 305-pound veteran battled through the latter part of the season with his hip injury. Following the Pro Bowl, he had surgery is maintaining his rehabilitation schedule.

“I feel great,” Snee said. “The hip feels good. I am moving the sled a little bit and working out, but I am not going to participate in practices this spring. August is the most important time to be back and that is the goal.”

Snee, 31, a second-round draft choice out of Boston College, has started 138 games at right guard and has been recognized as one of the best at his position. In addition to being named to four Pro Bowls, he is a three-time All-Pro selection and is under contract with the Giants until 2014.