PGA Hope Sessions hosted by Golf Courses in the Mohawk Valley

Amsterdam Municipal Golf Course is hosting one of the seven PGA Hope programs while Fox Run Golf Club in Johnstown hosted a six-week session in March-April.

The six-week programs for Mohawk Valley military veterans offer free instruction through PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to veterans and active duty military members to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Amsterdam’s sessions began in early May and are ongoing through June. Fox Run Golf Club held a winter session that begins with indoor simulations and moves outside when the weather permits. Their 2023 session ran from March-April 2023. Rich Scott, past President of the Northeastern New York Section of the PGA said,

“We finished our second year of participating in PGA Hope in April and look forward to doing it again next year. Many of my family members served in the military so this is a very important program to me.”

Purpose

The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, led by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA Section Foundations, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans. PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables direct referrals to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.

About the Northeast New York PGA

Formed in 1927, the Northeastern New York PGA is home to approximately 180 PGA members and associates, the Northeastern New York PGA is one of the smallest sections in the country. Boundaries run north to the Canadian border and west to Massena, NY, on the St. Lawrence River. From there, the boundaries stretch down to Old Forge, NY, and through Oneonta, NY, to the Catskill Mountains. The southern border runs through the Catskill Mountains to Kingston, NY. Finally, the eastern boundaries encompass eastern New York and cross the New York/Massachusetts state line and encompass Berkshire County of Western Massachusetts.