Golf’s long tradition of military support

For a long time now, golfers have maintained a lasting tradition of aiding military members. This relationship’s origins are traced World War I, when the PGA began raising funds for a Red Cross ambulance as the war was going on.

Following this initiative, golf only continued its support of the US military. The 1942 Masters Tournament, for instance, funded the installation of a driving range and putting green at Camp Gordon, also providing playing equipment for those stationed there.

Carrying on the tradition

Today, golf/military relations are as strong as ever in the US. There are a variety of benefit events and programs that carry on the tradition started by the Red Cross ambulance project. PING, for example, has implemented a military mail-in rebate program where active military members can mail in to receive clubs ranging from drivers to wedges. The company also provides clubs to military members stationed in various war zones around the world.

But these efforts are just the tip of the iceberg. This month, Billy Casper Golf will hold its 7th annual “World’s Largest Golf Outing.” The event’s name is self-explanatory; it strives to be the largest golf event held on one day — and it aims to benefit veterans and communities across the US.

Furthermore, Stetson University College of Law will hold its third annual “Sgt. Jessie Davila Memorial Classic Golf Tournament” this month to “benefit a scholarship for veterans and the St. Petersburg Vet Center.”

These events are just a small example of golf’s continued impact on the military community.

To continue reading, visit http://dougalbers.org/teeing-off-for-the-troops/