As a critical element of their involvement with Project Golf‘s PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere), PGA Professionals undergo special training to help our wounded veterans learn and enjoy the game through adaptive means. Hear from PGA HOPE National Instructor Brian Oliver and PGA REACH Carolinas Programs Director Jessica Asbury on the impact this effort is having on veterans in need.
Brian Oliver:
So today as being a national trainer, we work with other PGA professionals, and we talk to them about what PGA HOPE is about and how we can help our veterans that are in a wheelchair, or how we help our veterans that might have a lower or upper limb loss, or battling PTSD or traumatic brain injury. And we’re using golf as a form of therapy, and we’re giving our professionals the means of adaptive golf, where they can try different ways to get our veterans to hit a golf ball.
Jessica Asbury:
Having these trainings through the MOU with the VA hospitals allows our PGA Professionals to have a better understanding of these veterans’ abilities, so they don’t have to worry about their disabilities, such as PTSD, TBI, such as those invisible wounds, and then also having those actual physical wounds they deal with on a daily basis. It’s key going through these trainings.
Brian Oliver:
I think what the trainees got out today was very impactful. I think that they were impressed with the scope of what we covered today, and how we can help our veterans.
Jessica Asbury:
A key word they were saying is blessed, just due to the fact that every single day we wake up, we have two arms, two legs, and our worst thing on the day is honking at a car through traffic. And these veterans fought for our country and the least we can do is giving back this program and it makes us really understand the capability, how much an impact this program has on these veterans’ lives. It’s physically changing, shaping, and saving their lives.
Brian Oliver:
It’s priceless for our veterans. We may have veterans that may struggle seven days, and for the two hours they come to PG, I hope they’re not thinking about anything negative.
Jessica Asbury:
I’ve seen this program save marriages. I’ve seen this program help with opioid addiction. This program will be so beneficial, and it will physically help grow this great game. And thanks to our PGA Pros, they are actually helping these veterans continue what they’ve done and that they lost through war and their commodities they lost. Actually coming back and actually building those relationships with their brothers and sisters again.
Brian Oliver:
HOPE, it’s apply named. It gives our veteran hope, and it gives them a sense of being and sense of purpose to come out and use golf as therapy, and give them new meaning in life.
