HOPE. Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Hope promotes a feeling of trust. This is what PGA Professional Jeremey Beacher has been providing to Veterans through his PGA HOPE program in the Tri-Cities chapter since May of 2022.

Elected to PGA membership in 2018, Beachner always knew he had a passion for helping others through the game of golf. “I wanted to be a PGA Teaching Professional to help people do what they love to do, but at a higher level. When I first got into the business I would hear so many people say that they weren’t getting any better, getting frustrated and didn’t want to spend 4.5 hours being mad. In addition, I saw the joy a good round would bring people. How excited someone would be to set a tee time the following weekend and maybe see them on the practice area mid week in hopes of setting their personal best again. That’s what I enjoy the most about teaching.”

“The most rewarding feeling for me is when a student looks back after a shot and says, “That was it! I finally did it!’ Seeing the faces of my students when they hit that perfect ball for them. It’s like they never ever thought they could do that. I love bringing joy/happiness to people especially when they don’t think they can.”

PGA HOPE – Helping Our Patriots Everywhere – is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America.  The 6-to-8-week program covers golf fundamentals to playing 9 holes, and uses the game as a form of therapy – ultimately helping Veterans and Active Duty Military enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being.

In 2022, after going through adaptive training, Beachner raised his hand to help establish the first PGA HOPE program in the Tri-Cities Chapter of the Tennessee PGA Section. Through just four sessions Beachner runs one of the fastest growing PGA HOPE programs in the state – and he’s just getting started. 

What follows are Beachner’s thoughts on PGA HOPE and how he hopes other PGA Professionals and Veterans alike can get involved. 

 

Why does PGA HOPE resonate with you?

Beachner: My brother is a Marine and my family has seen what happens when veterans try to adjust back to civilian life. It isn’t always easy, and this is why I wanted to help bring PGA HOPE to the Tri-Cities. If PGA Hope Tri-Cities helps one veteran, make the adjustment to civilian life easier or help with PTSD or just make them forget about their current situation for 2-hours then it was all worth it!

What does it mean to be one the first PGA Professional to host a PGA HOPE program in Tennessee? 

Beachner: It makes me happy because helping veterans and juniors is my passion and I hope to inspire other PGA Professionals to help or lead a PGA Hope program in their area. I only wish we could have started this program sooner!  We’ve had nearly 120 veterans that have come through our local Hope program and seeing the enjoyment in these veterans’ faces while we’re out there is what it’s about. Lets keep this momentum going to SERVE all of our veterans!

This program also would not have been possible if it wasn’t for my fellow PGA Professionals: Cody Weems, PGA , Bryan Bentley, PGA , and Adam Dean, PGA and of course Pine Oaks GC for allowing us to take up the facility on Tuesday afternoons.

Some PGA Professionals may be intimidated to go through adaptive training or lead a program.  What would your advice be to them?

Beachner: This question describes how I felt two years ago to a T. I told myself you haven’t served in ANY branch of service, what makes you qualified to help veterans? Then I thought if not me, then WHO? Yes, you have no military background, BUT you are a PGA Golf Professional with golf knowledge, you do have empathy and understanding, you do love the game of golf and helping others SO WHY NOT YOU! 

Going through adaptive training can be somewhat overwhelming when you think about applying it to a veteran. When you are in the moment and applying adaptive training, it just kicks in. As PGA Teaching Professionals we are wired to help the student get the ball up in the air and it is no different in this scenario. You just figure out a way to adapt to the situation and help the student/veteran make that happen.

What impact have you seen PGA HOPE have on Veterans in your program?

Beachner: One word, community. PGA Hope lets veterans come together and know they are not alone. They have brothers and sisters who are happy to lend a hand. They have been through similar situations and understanding. I have several stories but the two that stick out most in my head from these questions are the following:

A veteran is battling cancer and all he wants to do is learn to play golf and hit a drive in the fairway. He scheduled his chemo treatments around our 6-weeks together and graduated. And yes, he did crush that driver shot into the fairway on number one at Pine Oaks! 

The second story is about a veteran who lost his wife who was also a veteran, and he wasn’t sure he would be able to complete the program as golf was their therapy together. I told him he could come just watch and participate as much as he would like. He meets a fellow Navy veteran who was struggling to hit balls on the range, and he helps his brother out. A couple sessions went by, and this fellow veteran asked if he would play on his scramble team as he was nervous and could tell he knew a lot about the game. You could tell the experienced veteran was taken back and what I can only assume as a flood of emotions thinking of his wife, but he said I would be happy to. They went on to finish in second place and now play in a regular Tuesday group at Pine Oaks!

What impact has teaching PGA HOPE had on you?

PGA HOPE has been a great experience from the beginning! It has opened my eyes to a whole new perspective on the world. Some veterans have been gracious enough to share some of their experiences with me from being on the battlefield, losing brothers and sisters and transitioning back into civilian life. Hearing their stories is truly inspiring. I have learned to celebrate and cherish the small victories. I have learned the importance of having a brotherhood/family support system in place to help you fight when you’re tired and don’t feel like fighting. PGA Hope has made me a better teacher, but more importantly a better human. PGA Hope has changed my life!

Help make an impact and change the lives of Veterans in Tennessee through the game. Our PGA HOPE programming has expanded into all 5 regions of our Section, but we need your help to impact more Veterans through additional programming in those 5 regions. From now until the end of November please consider making a donation to our PGA HOPE National Day of Hope campaign by visiting our fundraising page here. All funds raised will be matched up to $10,000. Every donation will count to impact the lives of Veterans in our community.