PGA of America REACH Foundation programming utilizes the expertise of PGA of America Golf Professionals. To better understand the impact PGA HOPE, PGA WORKS and PGA Jr. League are having, PGA Magazine spoke to PGA of America Members and a PGA Associate at different types of facilities about what they’re doing to bring these programs to life.
PGA HOPE
PGA HOPE Committee National Co-Chair,Rob Elliott Golf Academy,Pewaukee, Wisconsin
During his 30-plus years as a PGA of America Golf Professional, Rob Elliott has witnessed all of the PGA of America’s initiatives to help grow and improve the game. But he believes one program rises above all the others when it comes to making an impact.
“PGA HOPE is the best program we run at the PGA of America and the only one that actually saves lives,” says Elliott with conviction. “I have been told by Veterans that the only reason some of them get out of bed on Saturdays is because of PGA HOPE. That’s powerful.”
Elliott should know. Not only has he been running PGA HOPE programs (pictured) at the Rob Elliott Golf Academy in Pewaukee, Wisconsin, for six years, he’s the national co-chair for the PGA HOPE Committee. He has seen firsthand the power of PGA HOPE and the amazing impact it can have on Veterans and PGA Professionals alike.
Sure, Veterans learn golf skills. But they also get to share their experiences with others.
“They talk about the dark places they’ve been in,” Elliott explains. “One of our students told me a story about what happened to him in Vietnam more than 50 years ago. I was the first person he had told that story to. I was thrilled to hear it, but frustrated that somewhere a mental-health expert hadn’t heard this story before.”
Once Elliott learned of PGA HOPE, it didn’t take him long to know he wanted to be involved. He has no military connection himself, but three uncles are Veterans.
The first thing Elliott does when he starts a class is have the Veterans introduce themselves and what branch of the military they served in. He lets them decide if they want to add details such as when and where they served.
“I want them to know they are with people who are just like them,” he says. “It might be a different branch, but they’ve been through similar experiences.”
Usually assisted by several other PGA of America Golf Professionals, Elliott then introduces the Veterans to the three components of golf during their five-week sessions: the full swing, chipping and pitching, and putting. He will have PGA of America Golf Professionals who specialize in those three areas pass on their knowledge.
In the final session – he calls it Graduation Day – the Veterans go to a nearby course and play a nine-hole scramble accompanied by a PGA of America Professional to help them through their round.
Elliott says he’s had one student who was blind, but none of them were amputees or physically disabled. “All the Veterans I have dealt with have issues you can’t see,” he points out, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
How much do the Veterans care about their PGA HOPE classes? Elliott remembers a miserable day in Wisconsin, temperatures in the low-50s and rain coming down sideways, and yet all the students were on their range greeting him with smiles.
“Kind of a crummy day, huh?” Elliott said. “I’ve been in much worse,” a Veteran replied.
Elliott’s message to other PGA of America Golf Professionals who are considering getting involved with PGA HOPE is simple: “Get trained and get involved as soon as you can. You won’t regret it.”
Teacher & Coach,Legacy Ridge Golf Course, Anada, Colorado
Three years ago, Visanu Tongwarin received a call from the Colorado PGA Section. They were looking for PGA of America Coaches to get involved in PGA HOPE. They needed someone who worked north of Denver, and his Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Anada hit the sweet spot.
Tongwarin, a Thai-American, had no idea how sweet the offer would be.
On the first day during his trip to Maryland for PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week, he was impressed with how the presentation was so professional and detailed. The next day, when he played nine holes with Veterans, is when his life as a PGA of America Teacher & Coach changed.
“At the end of play, they brought us all together and asked the Veterans how did you enjoy your time with the Professionals,” Tongwarin recalls. “One Veteran said it was a time he didn’t have to think about other things in life he had been worried about. He broke down in tears while others consoled him and, at that moment, I knew I had another purpose in my career and life.”
Tongwarin had been a PGA of America Golf Professional for almost a quarter century, yet his career changed in the span of 24 hours. That’s the kind of impact PGA HOPE has on PGA Professionals.
He finished the training and immediately knew he wanted to start working in the PGA HOPE program. He wrote a speech, mapped out his classes and waited for Veterans to sign up.
And he waited.
“I got my first email, then a few days later another one,” Tongwarin says. “Then, on one Saturday morning, I got 15 emails. Turns out the local VA had sent out a link to the Veterans. By the end of the week, I had 90 Veterans on a wait list.”
Fortunately for Tongwarin, fellow PGA of America Golf Professional Rob Grall was on the range observing the first session, and quickly volunteered his services. Having a second PGA Professional involved helped the program immensely, and not just because of the extra support.
“It’s good to give the Veterans a choice,” Tongwarin explains. “Some may like me better or Rob better. Once they open up to one of us, eventually they’ll open up to both.”
Having Grall involved has helped in another sense: Grall’s wife organizes galas for fundraisers, and Tongwarin knew his PGA HOPE classes could use some financial support. Thus, the inaugural HOPE Fore Heroes Gala was held last May, with support from the Colorado PGA Section. The gala raised $35,000.
One of the key components of Tongwarin’s PGA HOPE program is that he wants to keep the graduates involved long after their sessions are over. That can be tricky because classes fill up quickly, but the Veterans serve an important role.
“We are starting a PGA HOPE cycle where we have a few graduates who went through what they are going through, and they are giving back by spending time with them and giving us the necessary updates and progress,” says Tongwarin.
Not surprisingly, Tongwarin won the Colorado PGA Section’s Patriot Award in 2024 and Grall received the same honor this year.
Tongwarin points out golf can be an intimidating sport for newcomers because of all the Rules and etiquette. He quickly learned the value of being on time when working with Veterans and active-duty personnel.
“They always arrive early, because that’s what they’ve done in the military,” he says.
And to think Tongwarin’s career pivot all started with a call. And a calling.
“I always knew that golf can do so much for the people who play it and fall in love with the game,” he explains. “Using it for the people who may need it the most is absolutely necessary if they’re shown the right way.”
PGA WORKS
Player Development Manager,Sun Country SectionAlbuquerque, New Mexico
Things happen in life for a reason. We just don’t know it at the time. There was a reason why Taylor Harvey’s father won tickets to the PGA TOUR’s WM Phoenix Open in 2009 when she was 8. While there, they saw a First Tee of Phoenix tent she visited. That experience introduced her to the game of golf in her hometown. Her life path soon changed course.
She quickly got hooked on the game. Harvey became a solid junior golfer, earning a spot on her high school team and full-ride scholarships to play at Prairie View A&M University and Delaware State.
During her final college season, she was offered a PGA WORKS Fellowship to the Sun Country Section in New Mexico. That led the 24-year-old Harvey to her current position as the Player Development Manager for the Section.
It’s amazing how attending a golf tournament 16 years ago continues to shape her life. When asked how her world would be different without attending the Phoenix event, she shrugged her shoulders.
“Who knows?” Harvey says. “I’m happy I don’t know that answer. Everything happened for a reason. There’s definitely a reason why I’m here.”
She runs the Sun Country Section’s Junior Tour and oversees PGA WORKS, PGA HOPE and PGA Jr. League programs. But Harvey’s experiences while playing as a junior and at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) prompted her to do more.
She established a women’s golf and networking series through the Sun Country Golf Foundation to provide opportunities for more women to get involved with the sport. It was somewhat of a risk to get started — she was “scared that nobody would show up.”
She didn’t need to worry.
“Each event was sold out with a waiting list,” says Harvey. “It proved there was a demand for women in golf. I know for a fact that women love to play golf. Sometimes we have to make our outreach a little louder.”
Harvey was introduced to the PGA of America when she played in the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship during college. She said it was the one event every year that stood out on her schedule.
“It’s a place that celebrates you as a person, not just your golfing ability,” she explains. “The PGA of America made it special and different.”
Now she’s the one making a difference. Harvey doesn’t know what the future holds – things continue to happen for a reason – but she is convinced she’s in the correct place.
“I allow my passion to speak for me,” she says. “I’m not shy about being an advocate for minorities and juniors. When I have an opportunity, I will shout it from the rooftop.”
