JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you asked Don Moore, a 21-year Army veteran, a decade ago whether he would ever play golf, he would have laughed.
Now, Moore and his team of veterans from North Florida are gearing up to compete in the Secretary’s Cup, a nine-hole golf match set for Monday to kick off PGA Championship week.
Jack Aschenbach, a PGA of America golf professional and 23-year Navy veteran, expressed optimism about their performance.
“Hopefully we’re going to come back victors, although that’s not really the reason we’re going there,” Aschenbach said. ”We’re going to spread the message about the PGA HOPE program, but we’re going to bring back that trophy, though."
Aschenbach and his team are among 12 teams participating in the PGA HOPE program’s Secretary’s Cup. PGA HOPE stands for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere. This nationwide initiative is available at over 550 locations and has assisted more than 17,000 veterans living with physical and cognitive challenges.
“We’re ambassadors for this whole program,” Moore said. “Encouragement for people to get out and play this game. It’s therapy.”
The rehabilitative program utilizes golf as a form of healing.
“Golf has really, in a nutshell, saved my life,” Moore added.
Veterans participate in a free developmental curriculum for over two months, taught by PGA of America golf professionals like Aschenbach, who also serves as the executive director of the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation. This year, 48 veterans were selected to compete at Carmel Country Club, and for the first time, that includes golfers from North Florida.
“To represent the North Florida PGA is certainly an honor for me,” Aschenbach said.
Moore emphasized the importance of camaraderie among veterans.
“Bringing these people together from all of the different branches after we’ve left something that was a comfort zone for us for so long is the key,” Moore said. “Golf doesn’t just stop you from being able to do that with the group that you go through this program with; it exposes you to a community of people.”
Local veterans are excited about the opportunity to hit the course and compete with their peers.
“As an instructor, I’ve instructed over 100 veterans, and these guys right here are the cream of the crop,” Aschenbach said.
In addition to the competition, veterans will have the chance to attend a PGA Championship practice round at Quail Hollow Club on Tuesday.