Memorial Day Weekend Marks a New Beginning for Patriot Golf Day

PGA REACH, the 501(c)3 charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and the Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled service members will jointly host the 15th Patriot Golf Day over Memorial Day Weekend. This is the first time the nationwide annual fundraiser will be conducted in conjunction with the holiday that commemorates those that paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country.  

Patriot Golf Day began as a grassroots fundraising initiative over Labor Day Weekend in 2007, with golfers nationwide encouraged to add an extra dollar to their green fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships for families of fallen and disabled Veterans. Over the last 14 years, the effort has grown to encompass a variety of fundraising events, tournaments and golf marathons led by PGA Professionals and golfers in all 50 states and 41 PGA Sections. As a result of these events, and other year-long fundraising activities, more than 29,000 scholarships have been funded.

This marks the second year the two organizations have joined together to expand and grow annual fundraising efforts for both PGA HOPE and Folds of Honor, to better serve the needs of Veterans and their families through the game of golf. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a developmental six- to-eight-week curriculum taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. In 2019, PGA HOPE programming impacted 2,500 Veterans nationwide.

“We are proud of the work that PGA Professionals have done through PGA HOPE to utilize the game of golf as a dedicated means of therapy and rehabilitation for Veterans,” said PGA President Jim Richerson. “By partnering with Folds of Honor on Patriot Golf Day over Memorial Day Weekend, we are expanding our outreach to the families of those we serve through golf. This is a natural extension of our long-standing mission to support our nation’s heroes.”

“We are grateful for the support over the last 14 years that the golf community and individuals have provided Folds of Honor and the military families we serve,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, PGA, Founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Working closer with the PGA, we can now offer opportunities and services that benefit both our Veterans through PGA HOPE and their families through educational scholarships funded by Folds of Honor. I am very proud to stand with my fellow PGA Professionals and work with PGA HOPE, to honor those who have sacrificed so much for our country.  Join us this Memorial Day for the most heroic round of the year, go to patriotgolfday.com and register -- this is your call to duty.” 

Golf properties across the country can get involved in Patriot Golf Day by registering at patriotgolfday.com.