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$3.5M DONATED TO DATE

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces golf to veterans and active-duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8-week curriculum led by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf as well as military culture. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by the Southwest PGA Foundation, so the cost of programming is free to all veterans.

The success of PGA HOPE is driven by collaborative efforts with the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, local Veteran Administration hospitals, and host sites that provide friendship-building PGA instruction. This sport for a lifetime proves every day to be an excellent activity for friendly competition and needed rehabilitation, enabling military veterans to assimilate back into their community through the game of golf.

Upon successful completion of a training session, participants receive a PGA HOPE membership card, entitling them to special deals at these participating facilities.

LEARN MORE ABOUT PGA HOPE

PGA Hope Program Ambassador

CASEY DORRELL

SOUTHWEST PGA SECTION – UNITED STATES ARMY – SERGEANT 1983-1998

Working with PGA HOPE since 2018, Casey Dorrell serves as a true ambassador for the program, checking in with his fellow HOPE graduates and setting up outreach events to help others learn more about PGA HOPE. Casey helped launch the PGA HOPE West Coast Meetups, an annual tournament series held for veterans, and the American Heroes Golf Tour, a military/first-responder golf league in metro Phoenix. Both provide space for veterans to enjoy camaraderie-building competition.

During his service, Casey received the Expert Field Medical Badge; Combat Medical Badge: Aircraft Crewman Wings; served six overseas tours; and received the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service with the 4th Squadron/3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment during Operation Desert Storm.

To learn more or ask questions, please contact Ambassador Casey Dorrell at c.dorrell@cox.net.

PGA Hope Program Ambassador

COLLEEN McBRATNEY

SOUTHWEST PGA SECTION – UNITED STATES AIR FORCE – COLONEL 1996-2021

After graduating from PGA HOPE in June 2023, Colleen discovered a purpose in playing golf as a key piece of her own health and wellness journey to recover from military service.  She was selected as an Ambassador in July 2023 and volunteers at PGA HOPE sessions in the Tucson area to connect with other veterans and help them experience the health and wellness benefits of golf as well.  She works closely with the PGA HOPE Southwest section lead professional, Danny Medina, and the Ambassador in the Phoenix area, Casey Dorrell, to find and coordinate opportunities to bring veterans into PGA HOPE and keep those who have graduated engaged with each other through golf.

Thanks to PGA HOPE, Colleen has learned that veterans are drawn to golf because it reflects the things they most valued during their military service.  The golf course provides a safe, outdoor environment for a sport that is based on integrity, respect for others, and trust that everyone follows the same rules and holds themselves accountable.  All of the human performance skills that it takes to be good at golf are the same ones that made veterans good at their military jobs.  As a PGA HOPE Ambassador, Colleen wants to use her military sports medicine and leadership experience to help other veterans have this same realization about golf and be successful in their lives after military service too.

2024 PGA HOPE Training Sessions

Supporting Organizations

PGA HOPE Participating Facilities

PGA HOPE Southwest Certified Instructors