By Mike May
PGA REACH, a program for disabled golfers operated by the PGA of America, has announced the inaugural PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week will take place from October 25-28, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a national program that introduces golf to military Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE helps veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game provides. 
Through a partnership between PGA REACH and the Congressional Country Cclub, a group of Veterans who have graduated from their local PGA HOPE program will participate in the four-day program, which provides advanced golf instruction and wellness training. Each participating Veteran will receive a specially designed golf and wellness tool kit that includes golf training tips, exercises and other recommendations for healthy living.
“Golf is proven to be an effective part of the therapeutic rehabilitation process for many Veterans, and it’s inspiring to see PGA HOPE making a difference in their lives,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley. “PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week and PGA National Day of HOPE serve as a centerpiece of growth, as we remain committed to elevating the program nationwide.”
Jason Epstein, Congressional Country Club’s PGA Director of Athletics, and his PGA staff will provide the instruction for PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week. The wellness and healthy living training will be conducted by leaders in Veteran healthcare from Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) in Stamford, Connecticut. The overall curriculum will cover topics including nutrition, stress management, mental health and life skills. Group dinners will provide the Veterans with an opportunity to engage with well-known golf figures, as well as national political and business leaders, and will encourage the participants to share stories of how golf has impacted their lives on and off the course.
The final day will include a golf event at the Congressional, where U.S. Veterans will play with participating dignitaries, prior to returning home to serve as Ambassadors for PGA HOPE.
The week will also serve as a prelude to the 3rd PGA National Day of HOPE that will occur on Veterans Day, Sunday, November 11. PGA National Day of HOPE celebrates the heroes who protect our freedom with Veterans’ golf events in conjunction with active PGA HOPE programs across the United States.
“Our goal with PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week is to create an event that reinforces the positive impact of the PGA HOPE program on so many Veterans,” said PGA HOPE Military & Veteran Liaison Chris Nowak. “Veterans will not only receive the very best golf instruction and wellness training through this unique program, but they will come together with influential leaders to share their stories of inspiration and motivation.”
“Congressional Country Club has been hosting PGA HOPE programming since 2017, and we see first-hand the vast benefits this program is providing to U.S. Military Veterans,” said Bev Lane, President, Congressional Country Club. “These Veterans are America’s heroes, and PGA HOPE is a terrific program that utilizes golf as a way of aiding them as they transition back in society.”
Teaching professionals like Mark Croft in Yuma, Arizona, Ty Anderson in Alabama and Rich O’Neil in South Carolina have been at the forefront of developing local PGA Hope Chapters and have seen the powerful affects helping our military veterans can have.
PGA HOPE is offered at no cost to U.S. Veterans. There are currently more than 90 PGA HOPE Chapters scattered across the country.
For more information on PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week and PGA National Day of HOPE visit: PGAREACH.org.
