Thursday, September 18, 2025 | Bedford Valley Golf Course
The Michigan PGA Section will conduct the third annual Operation: Hero Challenge aimed to benefit PGA HOPE Michigan. The goal of this event is to support our PGA HOPE programs and foster new locations as we continue expanding our effort of growing the game of golf and serving our Veteran population.
Two PGA HOPE Graduates will team up to compete in a two-man best ball scramble along with a skills competition during the round featuring the three fundamental skills utilized in golf: driving, chipping, and putting.
Participants are tasked with a fundraising goal of $1,000 per team in support of our PGA HOPE Michigan program. All funds raised from this event will be in contribution to directly support PGA HOPE efforts in Michigan in 2026, including session facility and instructor expenses, program training equipment, post-programming activities for our graduates, branding materials for PGA HOPE program locations, and more.
How to Donate
1. If you’d like to donate to a specific team, click the link next to the team below you’d like to support or choose the general donation link
2. Click “Donate”
3. Choose a dollar amount
4. Under Donation Summary, click the dropdown and select “other” to avoid additional fees
5. Enter in payment information
If you would like to donate by check, please make it out to PGA REACH Michigan
Checks can be mailed to:
Michigan Section PGA
P.O. Box 4399
East Lansing, MI 48826
Teams Coming Soon!
Teams
| Team Name | PGA HOPE Graduate | PGA HOPE Graduate | Team Donation Link |
| Kelsey/Rizor | John Kelsey PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Rapids “PGA HOPE is an amazing opportunity to get outside, stay active, and connect with fellow veterans. It gives me the chance to meet new people, test my skills in a fun, competitive environment, and play a ton of golf with other veterans. Working with the coaches is awesome! They help me improve in ways I never thought of!” |
Al Rizor PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “It is a great opportunity to play golf on courses I have not been to before and meet new people along the way!” |
Donate Here |
| Brown/Brown | Shane Brown PGA HOPE Graduate, Plymouth “When I was medically retired from the military, I felt lost. I had lost interest in the things I once enjoyed. That changed when I attended the PGA HOPE program.” |
Troy Brown PGA HOPE Graduate, Plymouth “PGA HOPE gives veterans an opportunity to learn how to play golf and to build relationships that can change their life. Its an opportunity to meet like minded veterans and to play a sport that brings us together.” |
Donate Here |
| Francis/Johnston | Noah Francis PGA HOPE Graduate, Rochester “PGA Hope is more than just a golf program, it’s a lifeline. As a Veteran the transition to civilian life can feel isolating and disorienting. The program gave me a place to reconnect not only to the sport I love but to a community of people who understand the challenges that come after service.” |
Jim Johnston PGA HOPE Graduate, Midland “I quit playing golf years ago and the program rekindled my desire to play again. I’m so glad to be able to play again and give back to an amazing program. The people I’ve met and the golf lessons have meant the world to me. Meeting all the Veterans in the program and the camaraderie that goes along with it is special.” |
Donate Here |
| Cooley/Sprague | James Cooley PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “PGA HOPE provided an incredible opportunity to exchange the battlefield for the fairway. It welcomed us into a brotherhood where we could share our remarkable stories over a series of golf lessons. I had the honor and privilege of attending the class with a few veterans I deployed with, making the experience even more special. These classes were profoundly therapeutic for me in many ways.” |
Jay Sprague PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “PGA Hope has helped me find a sense of community while enjoying and learning more about golf. It also sparked a sense of personal improvement and shown me a pathway to be involved in sports despite service connected injuries. PGA Hope represents a belonging, growth and the kind of therapy that you can’t get in a clinical setting. It comes from the course, and swing by swing.” |
Donate Here |
| Scott/Wilson | Johnathon Scott PGA HOPE Graduate, Schoolcraft “Being able to have a program that helps veterans hone in a new skill set is such a useful tool.” |
Brandon Wilson PGA HOPE Graduate, Schoolcraft “One of my favorite things about this program is playing with and meeting new people!“ |
Donate Here |
| Glessner/Green | Edward Glessner PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “PGA HOPE provided me with a unique opportunity to get outdoors with fellow service members and at the same time build the skills to continue golfing on my own.” |
Mitch Green PGA HOPE Graduate, Schoolcraft “I chose PGA HOPE because I wanted to participate in an event with other service members to have a great time on the links. This program has allowed me to gain a lot more confidence in playing golf.” |
Donate Here |
| Centers/Clark | Tom Centers PGA HOPE Graduate, Gaylord “PGA HOPE allows me to get together with other veterans in the area and letting lose for a couple hours. I chose to participate in the Hero Challenge because it is a great program for veterans to bond with other veterans. PGA HOPE has impacted me by teaching me the correct way to golf. It also allowed me to meet new friends and reconnect with others that I had served with previously. My favorite part was our instructors Russ and “Brother” Dave. They kept it light hearted and fun.” |
Scott Clark PGA HOPE Graduate, Gaylord “PGA HOPE allowed me to learn a great sport and make friends with other veterans. PGA HOPE has affected my drive to pursue, enhancing my skills in golf and passing those to my family. My favorite part was the comradery between all participants and the support during the learning process.” |
Donate Here |
| Le/Wellman | John Le PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Rapids “PGA Hope means a lot to me. The support of the PGA and golf community/golf courses throughout the state have humbled me. These organizations love and support our veteran golf community and back it up. We can’t do what we do without the support and backing of our wonderful citizens.” |
Chris Wellman PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Rapids “PGA Hope, made getting back into the game easy and fun. PGA Hope, reintroduced the game of golf and reminded me how much I enjoy playing. Now, I get to share, with great joy, the game with my kids. They look forward to going to the range or playing a few holes. My favorite part of the program was the weekly lessons. There was a lot of laughs and learning.” |
Donate Here |
| Glynn/Robeck | Cecilia Glynn PGA HOPE Graduate, Pierson “I chose to participate in the 2024 Operation: Hero Challenge as an opportunity to golf and continue to improve my game. It also gave me the opportunity to raise funds so that other veterans could experience this great program like I did.” |
Catherine Robeck PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “PGA Hope has helped me understand the game of golf better and has given me the confidence to play.” |
Donate Here |
| MacFadden/Rathbun | Gary MacFadden PGA HOPE Graduate, Big Rapids “PGA HOPE has revived my purpose in life by encouraging me to be active and challenging my mind while connecting with other Veterans. Being able to share good times with my Brothers and Sisters, creating many laugh filled days on the course and having long lasting memories. ” |
Chuck Rathbun PGA HOPE Graduate, Big Rapids “The PGA Hope program is a fantastic way to meet and bond with fellow Veterans. Even though I’ve played golf for years, the instructors have helped me improve my game and the enjoyment of playing. Above playing the game, the opportunity to play with fellow Veterans as well as to participate in this event to help to provide the same opportunity to other Veterans is by far the most rewarding.” |
Donate Here |
| Libby/Tijerna | Josh Libby PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “PGA HOPE is a good opportunity to be around other military veterans and share the love of the game. It has helped my overall golf game and introduced me to other veterans in the area.” |
Jaime Tijerina Jr. PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “It’s given me the ability to get better at a sport that I love. Its given me the confidence to play more golf and challenge myself to continue and grow more. “ |
Donate Here |
| Drullinger/McMeekan | Joshua Drullinger PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “To me PGA HOPE means to integrate a fun skill/ hobby into struggling veteran’s lives. It’s a great way to meet new people on the course and helps build self confidence on and off the course.” |
Greg McMeekan PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “I believe it’s an amazing experience for veterans to learn a great game, and keep that bond with there brothers and sisters of service!!“ |
Donate Here |
| Petz/Merice | James Petz PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “PGA HOPE helped me to open up about life issues and it allowed me to create a fellowship with fellow veterans.” |
David Merice PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “PGA HOPE gave me a place to connect and reconnect with veterans and enjoy the game of golf. A bad day on the golf course is better than any other day not on the course.” |
Donate Here |
| Bolt/Knight | Ryan Bolt PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Rapids “PGA HOPE is an awesome way for me to enjoy golf, meet great people, and have fun. It’s given me new skills, new friends, and lots of good memories. I’m proud to be part of it!” |
Zachary Knight PGA HOPE Graduate, Rochester “I love this program because it’s given me something to look forward to and it’s gives me a group of people that have been through the same things or know the things Veterans have to deal with everyday. And I love golf!” |
Donate Here |
| Malone/McCoy | Corey Malone PGA HOPE Graduate, Midland “Events like these allow us to bond over the sport. It has helped me find vets in my area, I can call friends now and go and play golf.” |
Will McCoy PGA HOPE Graduate, Belmont “It has given me the opportunity to connect with other fellow veterans in my area and share the love for golf.” |
Donate Here |
| Mason/Rodea | Russ Mason PGA HOPE Graduate, Grand Haven “Serving for such a long time in the Navy I struggled with some anger issues and focus, PGA Hope helped me to learn more self control and how to better handle myself. I am really looking forward to being more involved with PGA Hope and connecting with other Veterans.” |
Ruben Rodea PGA HOPE Graduate, Midland “PGA Hope means the bringing together of veterans from different backgrounds that share a lot of the same experiences from the military. I chose to participate in the 2025 Hero challenge, because I wanted a chance to try and help other Veterans enjoy the same program that I was able to participate in.” |
Donate Here |
| Glibert/Sluyter | Steve Gilbert PGA HOPE Graduate, Comstock Park “PGA Hope has allowed me to learn more about golf, but mostly I have had the pleasure of meeting so many veterans.” |
Dave Sluyter PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “This program gave the the chance to enjoy the game of golf. Previously, I hadn’t had the experience or skill to participate regularly. The PGA HOPE program allowed me to learn skills while building a community.” |
Donate Here |
| Kile/Shunkwiler | Edward Kile PGA HOPE Graduate, Flint “It gave me the opportunity to meet fellow Comrades and work on some of my aspects of the game of golf.” |
Kim Shunkwiler PGA HOPE Graduate, Livonia “This is a great program to not only learn and improve my golf game, but to meet like-minded fellow Veterans! I find peace and power being around Veterans who love the game of golf.” |
Donate Here |
| Hathaway/Saintclair | Cameron Hathaway PGA HOPE Graduate, Battle Creek “PGA Hope is a direct link to me for hope and aspiration. It has been a unique experience transitioning into civilian life and finding connections where a competitive spirit is not just accepted but appreciated. After my most recent spinal surgery PGA Hope gave me an avenue of competition with like minded individuals who don’t desire to let physical limitations impact performance or outcome. It’s home when most places feel foreign.” |
Alexander Saintclair PGA HOPE Graduate, Taylor “PGA Hope is an incredible program designed to help veterans enjoy golf and was truly fulfilling for me!” |
Donate Here |