Military Veterans Living with Physical and Cognitive Challenges Utilize Golf as a Form of Healing Thanks to PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Rehabilitative Golf Program
Warminster, PA. – Spirit Golf Management, a division of The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), and a leading provider of golf management services, has announced four military Veterans and a PGA of America Golf Professional from Five Ponds Golf Club (Warminster, PA), will be representing the Philadelphia PGA Section in the 2026 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup, on Monday, May 11th at Chester Vally Golf Club in Malvern, PA.
Hosted by the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, The PGA Hope Secretary’s Cup is a spirited nine-hole golf competition that kicks off PGA Championship week and features 12 teams of (4) military Veterans who have participated in the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program hosted by their local PGA Section alongside one PGA of America Golf Professional that supports military programming.
PGA HOPE is a rehabilitative golf program for Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Participants include military Veterans living with physical or cognitive challenges such as Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and amputees, among other challenges.
After capturing the PGA HOPE Philadelphia Cup in 2025, PGA of America Golf Professional Rick Flagler, the lead PGA HOPE instructor at Five Ponds Golf Club, will lead a team of Veterans that graduated from the PGA HOPE program at the facility.
Participating Military Veterans/hometowns:
Joe Dooley (Doylestown, PA) United States Navy (30 years)
Mike Rudart (West Norriton, PA) United States Air Force (8 years)
Craig Adams (Chalfont, PA) United States Air Force (8 years)
Steve Fisher (Warminster, PA) United States Navy (21 years)
PGA HOPE offers golf instruction through a developmental, six- to eight-week curriculum taught by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. Programming is free to all Veterans, and today, PGA HOPE is being offered at 600+ locations positively impacting more than 17,000 Veterans across the nation annually.
Led by PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA HOPE is the only adaptive golf program that has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables VA Facilities to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.
Following the Secretary’s Cup all participating military Veterans will have an opportunity to attend a PGA Championship practice round at Aronimink Golf Club on Tuesday, May 12th.
About Spirit Golf Management
Spirit Golf Management, a division of The Sports Facilities Companies, is a full-service golf management firm that specializes in golf course operations, marketing, and customer experience for facilities. Spirit Golf supports a portfolio of municipal, public, residential, and private properties with a focus on operational excellence, community engagement, and long-term growth. The company is also home to Spirit Golf Academy, which offers instruction and player development programs for golfers of all ages and skill levels. Visit www.spiritgolf.net for more information.
