30 PGA HOPE Volunteers, 5 Military Veteran Standard Bearers, Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge and more
Editors: For photos of PGA HOPE Veteran Standard Bearers, click here
FARMINGDALE, New York – The 2025 Ryder Cup will proudly honor military Veterans and spotlight PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) with various fundraising opportunities, volunteer involvement, the Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge and charitable contributions through the Ryder Cup Merchandise Shops and memorabilia auctions.
PGA HOPE Fundraising and Awareness Opportunities at the Ryder Cup:
- 35 PGA HOPE graduate Military Veterans volunteer at Ryder Cup
- Five PGA HOPE Ambassadors will serve as standard bearers inside the ropes
- The Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge presented by American Airlines
- Ryder Cup Merchandise round up and PGA HOPE Co-Branded Merchandise
- Ryder Cup Memorabilia Auction
In all, 35 Military Veterans who have graduated from PGA HOPE will serve as Ryder Cup volunteers at Bethpage Black in various capacities, including as standard bearers, grandstand marshals, ticket information personnel and cashiers in the Ryder Cup Merchandise Shops.
Five PGA HOPE Ambassadors from the Tri-State Area will be inside the ropes with the best players in the world as Ryder Cup Standard Bearers.
PGA HOPE Standard Bearers:
- Scott McAllister, U.S. Army, Connecticut PGA Section
- Nick Martone, U.S. Marine Corps, Western New York PGA Section
- Michael Slater, U.S. Army, Connecticut PGA Section
- Tamari “Tee” Watkins, U.S. Army, Metropolitan PGA Section
- Charlie Wilcox, U.S. Army, New Jersey PGA Section
“We are incredibly proud to honor our nation’s heroes through the 2025 Ryder Cup,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “PGA HOPE stands as a testament to the transformative power of golf and community for our Veterans and active duty military. It is our privilege to support these men and women during the Ryder Cup, as well as each and every day.”
All week long, fans can show their support to PGA HOPE at the Ryder Cup Merchandise Shop by choosing to round up their transactions or purchasing PGA HOPE co-branded merchandise. Every $330 raised allows a Veteran or active duty military member to participate in PGA HOPE at no personal expense.
On Wednesday, September 24, Glen Oaks Club in Old Westbury, New York, will host the Ryder Cup Captain’s Challenge presented by American Airlines, an 18-hole fundraiser organized by the PGA of America REACH Foundation to benefit PGA HOPE and the Metropolitan PGA Section Foundation HOPE Programs in the New York Metropolitan area.
The event will feature PGA REACH Foundation supporters playing with six past Ryder Cup Captains: Dave Stockton, Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw, Corey Pavin, Tony Jacklin and Bernard Gallacher. The past Captains will engage with participants on Glen Oaks’ par-3 holes and provide a fireside chat for attendees following play. Additional special guests include retired New York Islanders players Matt Martin and Cal Clutterbuck, alongside retired NBA small forward and current New York Knicks color analyst, Wally Szczerbiak.
PGA of America REACH Foundation Trustees Frank and Diane Murphy will match all contributions made through the Captain’s Challenge, up to $500,000, helping to positively impact Veterans and active duty military service members’ lives through the power of golf.
Ryder Cup fans also can join the cause and purchase authenticated Ryder Cup collectibles through the 2025 Ryder Cup Memorabilia online auction. Net proceeds from the auction will directly benefit PGA HOPE. Items include Ryder Cup hole flags, used caddie bibs and other tournament-used paraphernalia. The PGA has partnered with The Realest and its TRuEST Verification Technology to provide authentication services during the Ryder Cup to authenticate all items in the auction.In honor of all the men and women serving in the Armed Forces, the Ryder Cup has offered complimentary daily grounds tickets to verified military personnel—active duty, retirees, reserves and National Guard—along with one accompanying guest for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of Ryder Cup Week.
Celebrating over a decade of impact, PGA HOPE—the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America—has a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Veteran Affairs, which enables direct referrals to the program as a form of .
Led by PGA of America Golf Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency, PGA HOPE has served more than 50,000 Veterans through more than 650 locations in all 50 states. In New York State, 31 program locations will serve more than 800 Veterans this year.
For more information about PGA HOPE, click here.
For more information about the Ryder Cup, visit RyderCup.com.
Ryder Cup archive content (1927 – present) is available to license via IMG. Browse content: https://tinyurl.com/3ynfjh4n.
About PGA HOPE
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of the PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) 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. For more information, visit PGAREACH.org, follow @PGAHOPE on Instagram, X and find us on Facebook.
Media Contacts:
Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, jdodson@pgahq.com
Ari Edelman, Mastro Communications, aedelman@mastrocomm.com