PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, announced that 12 teams consisting of four military Veterans and one PGA Professional will compete in the 2022 PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup on Monday, May 16 at The Club at Indian Springs in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. The Secretary’s Cup is a spirited nine-hole golf competition that kicks off PGA Championship week and features military Veterans who have participated in the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program hosted by their local PGA Section.

PGA HOPE, the flagship military program of PGA REACH, introduces golf to Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.

Members of PGA HOPE Georgia:

  • Tom Gilmore, United States Army (3 years); 2021 Georgia PGA HOPE Ambassador and Purple Heart recipient (Vietnam War)

  • Karen Cooper, United States Army/Civil Servant (14 years/22 years)

  • James “Butch” Vincent, United States Army (22 years)

  • Funmilayo “Funmi” Aranmolate, United States Air Force (6 years)

The Georgia Team will be led by PGA Professional Jason Kuiper, the Director of Instruction at Bobby Jones Golf Course. Kuiper has led the Atlanta PGA HOPE program for the past three years.

“We are so proud of our PGA HOPE program and we look forward to participating in this special event,” said Scott Geary, Executive Director, Georgia PGA. “Thanks to our dedicated PGA Members, PGA HOPE Georgia has grown to include seven chapters serving veterans throughout the state. Tom, Karen, Butch and Funmi have all helped us grow our program and truly exemplify the spirit of service shown by our service men and women. The Secretary’s Cup is a wonderful event and we are fortunate to be represented by such a dedicated group of individuals.”

All teams arrive in Tulsa, Oklahoma on May 14. They will participate in practice rounds on May 15, and will have an opportunity to attend a PGA Championship practice round at Southern Hills Country Club on May 17.

“PGA HOPE is enhancing, changing and saving lives, and when you hear that message directly from the family members of participating Veterans, it’s very powerful,” said Jim Richerson, President, PGA of America. “Veterans have sacrificed so much, and the work that our PGA Professionals are doing is truly making a difference. I’m so proud to be part of this program, and of the PGA’s commitment to grow PGA HOPE.”

Led by PGA Professionals, PGA HOPE has helped thousands of Veterans. Programs are currently being offered at more than 210  locations in the U.S. today, across 47 States and 40 PGA Sections, to serve 7,500 Veterans in 2022. It is the only adaptive golf program that has an MOU with the Department of Veterans Affairs, which enables VA Facilities to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy.