Jordan LeBlanc’s role as a PGA HOPE-certified National Trainer fits as perfectly as an interlocking grip. Not only has he gleaned the expertise of teaching more than 650 Veterans through PGA HOPE the values and nuances of golf, he literally walked in their shoes.
LeBlanc spent four years in the U.S. Army as an artilleryman between 2010 and 2014, being deployed for 18 months on the island of Bahrain, near Saudi Arabia.
“I have seen both sides of the coin,” LeBlanc says. “I know what Veterans are going through. I saw my share of things, as you can imagine. I got lucky compared to some of my battle buddies. I do have some lingering back and neck pain from a Humvee rollover.
“A lot of the invisible stuff and the mental side of it is where I struggled.”
After leaving the Army, where he had been stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, LeBlanc moved to Houston and started working for the First Tee of Houston. He had been exposed to the game early in life by his grandfather, and Jordan always enjoyed golf’s pace and structure.
“I noticed the parallels of Army values and the values instilled in golf,” says LeBlanc, “such as integrity, respect for the course and others. The Army rekindled my love for the game.
“And golf helped me through some dark times. My biggest challenge was PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) as I tried to reintegrate myself back into society. The First Tee really helped me over the hurdles.”
In 2015, LeBlanc relocated to Denver, where he was hired as a golf shop assistant at Buffalo Run Golf Course. His passion for the game grew en route to being elected to PGA of America Membership two years ago. He’s currently the First PGA Assistant Golf Professional at Buffalo Run.
When the facility held a meeting on ways to expand business in 2023, LeBlanc suggested they start a program for Veterans since Colorado has a dense Veteran population. It quickly became very successful. The PGA of America soon approached Buffalo Run with an idea to rebrand the program into PGA HOPE. It became even more popular.
LeBlanc, 35, has also spent the last three years as a PGA HOPE National Trainer teaching other PGA of America Golf Professionals how to best conduct PGA HOPE lessons. Among his advice: Don’t talk about wars unless the Veteran brings it up; most of them would prefer other thoughts. Also, don’t treat every branch of the Service the same.
“A lot of times Veterans get put into the same pool. But an Army guy talking to a Marine Corps guy is going to have completely different perspectives,” LeBlanc points out.
“I tell PGA of America Golf Professionals to open the door to the Veterans and watch what happens. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Provide a forum for Veterans to connect and be together. PGA HOPE is 1,000 percent about the Veterans.”
LeBlanc adds that he doesn’t hesitate to mention his service to a Veteran on the practice tee. It earns him instant respect and is one more thing they share in common.
A presenter at the 2025 PGA Teaching & Coaching Summit during PGA Show Week who addressed his tireless work with Veterans and active-duty military personnel (pictured), LeBlanc says another 2025 highlight was playing in the Secretary’s Cup at Carmel Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the week of the PGA Championship. The Colorado team earned its spot after winning the 2024 PGA HOPE Colorado Cup.
Mother Nature didn’t help with the festivities – most of the golf was played in heavy rain – but LeBlanc said the conditions didn’t take away from the joy of the week.
“If I could use one word to describe the week it would be ‘camaraderie,’ … that’s what that week is all about,” LeBlanc said. “I had an idea of what the week would be like, but it just blew me away. The bonding that went on that week was incredible.”
LeBlanc adds that as successful as PGA HOPE has been for Veterans (like himself) and PGA of America Professionals (like himself), he knows it can be even better.
“I’d like to see PGA HOPE thrive in every one of the PGA of America Sections,” he says. “And we have to find a way to keep all the Veterans in the game. We need them as much as they need us.”
