Fans could show their support for PGA HOPE at the Ryder Cup Shops by choosing to round up their transactions or by purchasing PGA HOPE co-branded merchandise. Every $330 raised helps allow a Veteran or active-duty military member to participate in PGA HOPE at no personal expense.
Two days before the Ryder Cup began, Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, hosted the Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge presented by American Airlines, an 18-hole fundraiser organized by the PGA of America REACH Foundation to benefit PGA HOPE and the Metropolitan Section PGA Foundation HOPE Programs in the New York Metropolitan area.
The event featured Foundation supporters playing with six past Ryder Cup Captains: Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Corey Pavin, Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher. PGA of America REACH Foundation Trustees Frank and Diane Murphy matched all contributions made through the Captain’s Challenge, up to $500,000, providing more funds to positively impact Veterans and active-duty military service members’ lives through the power of golf.
There also was a Ryder Cup Memorabilia Auction, including authenticated Ryder Cup holes flags, used caddie bibs and other tournament-related memorabilia that raised more dollars for PGA HOPE.
“We are incredibly proud to honor our nation’s heroes through the 2025 Ryder Cup,” says PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr. “PGA HOPE stands as a testament to the transformative power of golf and community for our Veterans and active-duty military. It is our privilege to support these men and women during the Ryder Cup, as well as each and every day.”
At the PGA of America’s other premier event, the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, the 10th annual PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup was held at nearby Carmel Country Club in mid-May to celebrate the military personnel and the PGA of America Golf Professionals who support them. The event was won by Team North Florida.
PGA HOPE relies on a lot of coordination for its success. The PGA of America has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veteran Affairs, which enables direct referrals to the program as a form of therapy.
But the greatest factor in PGA HOPE’s continued success and growth goes back to the thousands of PGA of America Golf Professionals who are trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency, and unselfishly give of their time to give the Veterans a second chance on life.
According to the PGA’s most-recent PGA REACH Impact Report, more than 15,000 Veterans and active-duty military went through PGA HOPE classes in the last year, an increase of almost 25 percent since the 2023 report, during more than 1,000 six-to-eight-week sessions at 620 program locations.
PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship – Following PGA WORKS’ mission to bring the game to more communities, the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship brings top athletes from HBCUs and minority-serving Institutions to compete at the highest level. In 2025, 80 percent of PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship student-athletes identified as non-white and 35 percent identified as women. The Championship was founded in 1986 when HBCUs were not invited to participate in some post-season championship golf. Today, the Championship’s 37-year vision remains strong: opening doors for athletes who are underrepresented in the game. PGA WORKS stands shoulder to shoulder with these athletes and future leaders – broadening their worldviews, creating career opportunities, and hosting them at the country’s leading Championship courses.
PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week – For thousands of Veterans, golf is being used as a way for them to find wellness, community and healing. PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week is a unique opportunity for these heroes who have graduated from a PGA HOPE program to take the next step in their journey and represent their community on a national level. In October, 20 PGA HOPE graduates gathered near Washington D.C. to add to their toolkit and become empowered to foster the game of golf to fellow Veterans through PGA HOPE in their communities and PGA Sections.
TCS New York City Marathon – Over the past 50 years, the TCS New York City Marathon has become one of the world’s most popular and largest marathons – boasting over 50,000 finishers annually. Since 2017, the PGA of America REACH Foundation has teamed up with the New York Road Runners to welcome over 70 PGA of America Golf Professionals to raise support and awareness for the Foundation by running the five boroughs of New York City. PGA of America Members have raised nearly $500,000 for the benefit of the REACH Foundation and its programs.
