By Craig Dolch
Photos courtesy of Darren Carroll/PGA of America, Ryan Lochhead/PGA of America, Mike Stobe/PGA of America, Scott Taetsch/PGA of America
It has been almost a decade since the PGA of America launched its PGA of America REACH Foundation programs, relying on a mission statement to positively impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations through golf. Mission accomplished.
Nearly 10 years after its inception in 2016, the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has turned heads with its success, outdistancing its goals when it comes to growing the game and making it a more welcome setting. Whether it’s introducing the next generation to the game through PGA Jr. League; the truly life-saving PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program for Veterans and active-duty personnel; and the life-altering PGA WORKS that opens doors for historically underrepresented groups by shaping future leaders through the business of golf, these three pillars of the PGA of America REACH Foundation perfectly represent the Association’s “So all can Love this Game” motto.
What’s not to like about how the PGA of America has transformed a sport many once viewed as only for the elite, placing the welcome mat out for everyone, regardless of age, physical abilities or skin color?
By virtually every metric, the PGA of America REACH Foundation has surpassed its goals of making golf better for all. It’s not just the new golfers who play with smiles on their faces; so do the thousands of participating PGA of America Golf Professionals who graciously give their time to help others feel at home on the course.
“The PGA of America REACH Foundation is very important to the Association and its Members,” says PGA of America Chief Executive Officer Derek Sprague, PGA. “It really shows the impact of what our PGA of America Golf Professionals do day-in and day-out, whether it’s running PGA Jr. League programs and growing the game at that level with young people to PGA HOPE, where we’re really saving lives and helping America’s heroes enjoy golf as a therapeutic activity, and PGA WORKS, where we’re getting golf to look more like America as a whole.”
The PGA of America recently used its premier event – September’s 45th Ryder Cup at New York’s Bethpage Black – to showcase PGA HOPE. Thirty-five Veterans who graduated from PGA HOPE served as volunteers during Ryder Cup Week in various capacities.
Five PGA HOPE Ambassadors from the Tri-State area served as standard bearers walking inside the ropes alongside the world’s best players. They included: Scott McAllister, U.S. Army, Connecticut PGA Section; Nick Martone, U.S. Marine Corps, Western New York PGA Section; Michael Slater, U.S. Army, Connecticut PGA Section; Tamari “Tee” Watkins, U.S. Army, Metropolitan PGA Section; and Charlie Wilcox, U.S. Army, New Jersey PGA Section.
In addition, other PGA HOPE graduates served as grandstand marshals, ticket information personnel and cashiers in the Ryder Cup Shops. The PGA offered complimentary daily grounds Ryder Cup tickets to verified military personnel – active duty, retirees, reserves and National Guard – along with a guest during the practice rounds.
Military Veterans – PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is helping Veterans thrive and find community through the game of golf. In 2025, nearly 15,000 Veterans were served through PGA HOPE programs at 620 locations in all 50 states. Led by over 5,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who have been trained in adaptive military cultural competency, PGA HOPE is positioned to continue its mission of serving those who served.
Youth – PGA Jr. League is committed to removing barriers and opening doors for families to create new memories through the game of golf. In 2024, over 5,000 girls and boys learned the benefits of playing the game of golf through needs-based and military scholarships. Additionally, PGA Opportunity Leagues were piloted at three locations.
Underserved Communities & Inclusion – PGA WORKS is designed to holistically open doors for young leaders. There were 30 PGA of America Section offices that hosted a PGA WORKS Fellow, while 25 John & Tamara Lundgren PGA WORKS Scholarships were awarded. The signature career connection event - Beyond the Green - brought together more than 370 young leaders to showcase the power of golf in their careers. Finally, the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship hosted its 38th edition at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin.
