Vets turn out for PGA HOPE Sun Country Cup

SANTA ANA PUEBLO — It was a sight to behold: Nearly 50 United States military veterans standing in neat lines, white and grey quarter-zips blazing in the morning sun, hats over hearts as the national anthem was played and the second annual RBC Heritage PGA HOPE Sun Country Cup teed off.

The veteran-focused golf tournament is part of the PGA “Helping Out Patriots Everywhere” program (HOPE). HOPE is the flagship military program from PGA REACH, the charitable arm of the PGA. Sun Country Golf Foundation in Rio Rancho is the entity that hosted the event for PGA HOPE.

“This is only the second year where we’ve been able to celebrate a season and really recognize and reward those veterans as well as their PGA professional program leaders who were most engaged in their PGA HOPE programs,” said Sun Country executive director Cory Armstrong. “We’re honored, we’re humbled, we’re privileged to be able to provide this opportunity for just a fun day of golf and fellowship.”

This year, Sun Country invited each of the region’s six groups — Farmington, NMSU, El Paso, Santa Ana Pueblo, Kirtland AFB and North Albuquerque — to send two teams of golfers apiece. Armstrong said 10 teams were able to attend. Each team consisted of four golfers and a PGA professional for a best-ball format.

PGA HOPE is a 6–8-week session of lessons generally targeted toward veterans who face physical or psychological challenges after their terms of service.

“It’s about giving them a place to go learn golf,” Anderson said. “[A place] to learn how to play golf as a rehabilitative tool, but most importantly, as a place to go be with individuals of shared experiences.”

The tournament featured numerous such veterans.

“There is a gentleman out here with his wife, and this is pretty much his first time out of the house in nearly two years,” said PGA HOPE ambassador Sgt. Dan Hon, USMC. “But he is out here now, and on a team, and just seeing him out there having fun and smiling, it’s why we’re here.”

According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, nearly 7% of military veterans suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The National Institutes of Health says PTSD is “associated with elevated risk for several psychiatric conditions and suicidality.”

“For some of them, it’s life-changing,” said Armstrong. “For some of them, it’s lifesaving, and we are humbled to be allowed and able to provide that.”

For more information on PGA HOPE, visit pgareach.org.