The PGA HOPE program in St. George, Utah began servicing Active Military service personnel and Veterans in 2020. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans and Active Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
Since 2020, PGA HOPE St. Gorge has impacted over 100 Veterans and plan to serve 40-50 Veterans each year. Utah’s PGA HOPE Ambassador, Jayme Turner, is a graduate of the St. George program.
For the first time, PGA HOPE St. George has been selected to participate in the PGA of America’s annual Secretary’s Cup golf tournament. The Utah team will head to Louisville, Kentucky May 11-13 for a welcome reception at Churchill Downs, practice rounds, and a 9-hole scramble tournament at the University of Louisville Golf Club.
The Secretary’s Cup is named after the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, recognizing the Department of Veterans Affairs and the PGA of America’s PGA REACH program assisting Veterans in need. The Secretary’s Cup celebrates teams of Veterans and their local PGA Professional playing together in a 9-hole golf tournament of 12 teams competing from around the country. The Secretary’s Cup coincides with the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, May 16-19.
The PGA HOPE St. George team members:
Tom Brown, an Air Force Veteran. Tom has 20 years of active duty and 25 total years in the military. According to his wife he found it very hard to return to civilian life. For the last eight years, he has worked with St. George area youth, running Junior ROTC programs at the High School level. The program provides leadership training to youth, serving 220-315 kids per year. Both he and his son, soon to be an officer in the Army, went through the PGA HOPE program in fall of 2023. His wife was grateful that this program came about for Tom and the fact he could do it with his son was priceless. It helped him further connect with his family as well as recover from recent hip surgery due to an injury caused during his service. PGA HOPE has been instrumental in his leadership of young recruits and has helped him mentally and physically as he has returned to civilian life. Being able to play in the Secretary’s Cup with his son prior to his son’s deployment will be an amazing experience.
Dallin Brown (Tom’s son) is currently enlisted and recently graduated from the Southern Utah University’s ROTC program and is active in the Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. He will be heading to Virginia immediately after the Secretary’s Cup for service. He never played golf before entering the PGA HOPE program but his athletic background, like his father’s, allowed him to quickly make huge strides toward improvement and playing. Over the course of his military career, he will have the opportunity to use the game of golf to not only play and improve but also to build relationships throughout his service and after. Tom and Dallin now have a great bond of not only the military, but also, the game of golf. Golf will be very instrumental as an officer in the Army and his entire military career. For PGA HOPE to have a young officer be able to share his experience in the program and understand what the game has done for himself and can do for other servicemen and Veteran’s that struggle, will be quite impactful long term.
Brett Gibson is an Air Force Veteran of over four years with two tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan as part of the security forces. He is now a local police officer in the St. George community. He was also able to go through PGA HOPE with his father Craig. It provided time together that they were not getting and playing together gives them both time together and an outlet. Brett uses golf as a channel to get away from the crime he faces daily as part of the police force. The Secretary’s Cup is an amazing opportunity for him that he never thought was possible being a part of the military and most importantly spending quality time with his dad, and playing a game he loves, golf.
Utah PGA HOPE Ambassador Jayme Turner never played golf before and has now been playing for just a year and a half. Jayme graduated from the PGA HOPE St. George program in the Fall of 2022. Hooked on the game, Jayme is actively recruiting Veterans to the HOPE program. He has served both in the Navy and in the Army, re-enlisting after 9/11terrorist attacks. He has served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn. Serving as a Senior Line Medic and medical operations staff to the operations command center in Iraq. He has been awarded the ARMY Combat Medical Badge, the ARMY Combat Action Badge, the Bronze Star, and the prestigious John R. Teal Leadership Award. After retiring from the service in 2012, he has worked in the medical field, as a Care Technician for the VA helping Veterans daily with their medical issues.
Rob Krieger is a Member of the PGA of America since 1996 and a native of Cleveland, Ohio. He transplanted in the west in 2009 to open a golf facility for a golf management company and now makes his home in St. George. Rob is a Utah PGA Section Player Development award winner and multiple year nominee for his instruction and player development. He began the first PGA HOPE Program in Utah and it continues to grow annually, locally, and statewide.
“PGA HOPE is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.” Krieger said.
He feels deeply that he has a duty to give back to those that have sacrificed, because he didn’t have too. Thrilled that the PGA HOPE St. George, Utah was selected to participate in the Secretary’s Cup, believes the tournament will be a “life-changing event and a once in a lifetime experience.” He is looking forward to meeting other Lead Coaches and Veteran’s from other programs while competing in Kentucky.
“Having our small program selected and recognized for the accomplishments is both very fulfilling and rewarding personally and professionally. These experiences will help make PGA HOPE an even more important part of the Southern Utah Community,” said Kreiger. “It is the right thing to be doing for those that have done so much for us.”
Story provided by Rob Krieger, PGA. Photos by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.