FARMINGTON HILLS – Dusty Hull, a former Michigan Army National Guard Sergeant who in 14 years in the military was deployed to conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, said he struggled to find his identity in civilian life after leaving the service in 2019.
PGA HOPE Michigan, a program for Veterans and a part of the non-profit PGA REACH Michigan Foundation, came to the rescue.
“They gave me connection and purpose,” said the Muskegon native and Lansing resident who has been named a PGA HOPE Michigan Ambassador. “It’s so much more than some golf lessons. I believe it’s life-saving. We find out someone recognizes us, that they find value in us and want to teach us something. I can’t express how much that means.”
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces and teaches golf to Veterans and Active-Duty Military to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Led by PGA of America Golf Professionals, the program is inclusive of a developmental six-week curriculum. All programs are provided at no cost to all participating Veterans.
PGA HOPE Michigan has been named the 2026 winner of the Champion of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award, an award presented annually since 2022 by the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM). It is intended to recognize individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in golf.
Glenn Pulice, a PGA Professional and the general manager at the Royal Oak Golf Center, is a member of the GAM Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee and nominated the PGA HOPE Michigan for the award. He hosts instruction programs annually at the golf center.
“We see first-hand what it does for our Veterans, and the Michigan PGA has continued to facilitate and grow the program and do great things through golf,” he said. “The impact is incredible. You can see the reaction of the Veterans. They interact and connect with the pros and with each other and then they tell you how much it means.”
Michigan PGA Executive Director Kevin Helm said the section is humbled and honored to be selected by the DE&I Committee.
 “Our professionals and our staff see the benefit of the impact it makes in the life of Veterans, and it makes us want to do even more,” he said. “It’s a great program and we are so pleased the GAM has recognized that.”
Helm said Madison Maurier, Player Development Coordinator and PGA REACH Michigan Activities Director, displays passion in running the PGA HOPE program for the section.
“She is all in with seeing the changes in lives the program makes,” he said. “You can see her heart is in it, and she is all about positioning the PGA REACH Michigan Foundation to do even more. PGA HOPE is the key part of that.”
Maurier called PGA HOPE the favorite part of her job.
“It is a pleasure to give back to the Veterans who have done so much for us,” she said. “The PGA Professionals that instruct the programs, many haven’t served in the military, but they truly enjoy finding this way to serve the Veterans. I’m honored to be involved. Everybody, I feel, is honored to be involved.”
Maurier said as part of the program participating PGA Professionals attend PGA HOPE certification training to gain knowledge on military culture and adaptive golf.
“There is a classroom part to learn about the disabilities they may face in working with Veterans, physical and mental, and they learn about the military to better understand who they will be working with,” she said. “Then there is the hands-on instruction part because that can be different than their usual instruction programs at their clubs and courses.”
Maurier started with the program in 2022 with just three program locations and has witnessed dramatic growth. In 2026, there will be 26 program locations at Michigan golf facilities with 52 six-week sessions presented across the state. They expect to serve 600 Veterans this year through PGA HOPE.
“It’s a collective effort to serve and we plan to keep growing,” she said. “The camaraderie that occurs through the program is incredible. The Veterans are always telling us how surprised they are that PGA Professionals care about them and are willing to help them gain access to the game. They are surprised, and yet we think they should be recognized every day for what they have done for us.”
The Michigan PGA will receive the award in ceremonies this spring at the GAM’s Annual Meeting.
IN PHOTO: PGA Professional Dean Kolstad, arms raised, celebrates a made putt with a group of PGA HOPE Veterans.
MEDIA CONTACT: Greg Johnson, GAM consultant, 616-560-8996, gjohnson@gam.org