PGA HOPE Secretary's Cup in Louisville to honor military veterans

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Military veterans will be honored at the annual PGA HOPE Secretary's Cup this May in Louisville.

The PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program gives military veterans and active duty military a unique experience learning golf from PGA professionals trained in "adaptive golf and military cultural competency."

The 6-8-week program teaches all golf techniques. Classes provide a "shared veteran experience" and are hosted at facilities such as Topgolf, municipal and military golf courses, and more.

Leaders said the program has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veterans Affairs that allows doctors and staff to refer veterans to the program as a form of therapy to "create a physical and emotionally healthier veteran and active duty community through the game of golf."

The Secretary's Cup, which began in 2016, celebrates the program and its partnership with the VA. It's played with teams of four veterans from the program and one PGA or LPGA professional.

This year's cup will be held on May 13 at the University of Louisville Golf Club. It's held in conjunction with the week of the PGA Championship, which is being held in Louisville this year.

PGA HOPE is funded by PGA REACH, which is the PGA of America's charitable foundation. It has served over 17,000 veterans and service members this year alone.

For more information or to donate to the PGA's REACH Foundation, click here.

The 2024 PGA Championship runs from May 13-19 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville.

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