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Published by SMGA, 2020-01-08 14:17:05

2018 Annual Report

2018 Report

2018 Annual Report

Our Mission

“EMPOWERING WOUNDED VETERANS, ONE FAIRWAY AT A TIME.”
The SMGA’s mission is to provide rehabilitative golf programs, experiences and family inclusive golf
opportunities for post 9/11 wounded war veterans in an effort to improve the quality of life for
these American heroes. Eligible veterans and service members include those wounded or injured in
post 9/11 military operations, including those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and/or
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Board of Directors

Pete Bechtel | Chairman
Jamie Winslow | Co-Founder/President
Jim Knorr | Vice President
John Barnes | Treasurer
Brian Finan | Secretary
Anthony Fernandez | General Counsel
Matt Anderson | SMGA Member
Charles Eggleston | SMGA Member
Chris Johnson
Andrew McCann
Dewitt Osborne |SMGA Member
Dan Pfleiger
Brad Roberge
Bob Winegard

Staff

Jim Estes | Co-Founder & Director of Instruction
Dan Pflieger | Executive Director
John Reviere | Manager of Golf Programs and Equipment
Margy Hughes | Bookkeeper

2018 Year in Review

The SMGA enjoyed another successful year in 2018. Since 2007 the SMGA mission has been to
provide rehabilitative golf programs, experiences, and family inclusive golf opportunities for post
9/11 wounded war veterans in an effort to improve the quality of life for these American heroes.
Nationwide Adaptive Golf Programming
The SMGA delivers its adaptive golf programs in two ways. The first are our Warrior Golf Clinics
which expose the veteran and their families and care givers to all aspects of the game. In 2018, our
seven chapters conducted our 8-week Warrior Golf Clinics at over 25 locations offering over 60
clinic series. For veterans who do not live close to one of our chapters. We offer our American
Golfer Program. With the American Golfer Program, we help veterans identify a local PGA
professional who can administer our program.
Through our Warrior Golf Clinics and the American Golfer Program, the SMGA offers programs
nationwide to our veterans, no matter where they are located.

In 2018 alone:
More than 1000 Hours of Instruction
Over 400 Veterans and Their Families Served

Programming

Chapter Programs

The SMGA currently operates Warrior Golf Clinics
from our seven existing chapters:

• SMGA Carolinas
o Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune & Pinehurst

• SMGA Colorado
o Ft. Carson/Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course

• SMGA Hawaii
o Schofield Barracks

• SMGA Maryland
o Walter Reed Military Hospital/Olney Golf Park

• SMGA New England
o Numerous locations in all six New England states

• SMGA NY - Adirondacks
o Fort Drum

• SMGA Pacific Northwest
o Joint Base Lewis McChord and Chambers Bay GC

American Golfer Program

The American Golfer Program has become the SMGA’s largest program, larger than all of our
chapters. This program affords participation in SMGA golf instruction for veterans and service
members who are not located near an SMGA chapter. As with the Warrior Golf Clinics. We currently
budget for approximately 100 new American Golfers each year.

Equipment, Instruction, & Adaptive Golf Aids

Eligible veterans who complete an SMGA adaptive golf program are issued custom-fit golf clubs,
apparel, and golf aids. This is one of the larger line items in our budget as each new SMGA member’s
equipment costs us approximately $1200. Many of our programming locations utilize para-golfer
(pictured below) or solo-riders for our golfers who are physically disabled. Capital resources will be
needed periodically to repair or replace that equipment.

Strategic Chapter Growth & Expansion

We have worked with the Department of Defense to identify locations where dense populations of
wounded veterans are located. We are considering possible expansion to Georgia, Delaware,
Oregon, Jacksonville, FL and San Antonio, TX in the near future. Warrior Golf Clinics may be held at
some of these locations in 2019 to help test the viability of their outreach and impact.

Impact

The Salute Military Golf Association aims to
meld a love of country and love of golf in an
effort to support the mental and physical
rehabilitation programs of post-9/11
wounded and injured veterans. SMGA golf
professionals, skilled in teaching adaptive
golf, understand the unique needs of veterans
returning home from service and have
witnessed first-hand the powerful benefits
the game of golf can provide in improving the
quality of life of wounded servicemen and
women. Golf embodies strength, flexibility,
endurance, balance, and mental discipline, all
central qualities of a successful rehabilitation
program. The camaraderie and lasting
friendships SMGA warrior golfers forge
among themselves have helped many return
to active duty or successfully reintegrate into
civilian life.

Featured Events

Each year, hundreds of SMGA members are afforded the opportunity to participate in unique
playing opportunities, tournaments, and golf experiences. These events offer our members not just
a chance to connect with local communities, but are often, one-in-a-lifetime.

Hootie & the Blowfish Monday after the Masters

The SMGA was honored to receive invitations to send members to one of the country’s premier
celebrity Pro-Ams. Thanks to Del Monte and Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, SMGA members were
treated to an all-expense paid trip to play golf, meet, and hang our with some of the biggest
celebrities in music and sports.

The Masters Tournament

Thanks to SMGA Board Member, Bob Winegard, six SMGA members were treated to an all-expenses
paid trip to the Masters Tournament. SMGA members played golf before the trip at Ft. Gordon, one
of the country’s top military golf courses, and had the chance to meet Gary Player in addition to
watching one of the world’s most famous sporting events.

Russell Wilson Celebrity Classic

Thanks again to Del Monte, four SMGA members represented the organization at the Russell Wilson
Celebrity Classic in the Cascade Mountains of Washington state.

Bush Institute Warrior Open

Over half of the participants in the 2018 Bush Institute Warrior Open had ties to the SMGA. Three
SMGA Chapters were represented as well as eight American Golfers.

SMGA Member participants:

James Barclay (American Golfer)
Dillon Behr (SMGA Maryland)
Joseph Byrne (American Golfer Program)
Joseph Garrido (American Golfer Program)
Colby Geeker (SMGA Colorado)
Andrew Gitto (American Golfer Program)
Rodney Gorman (SMGA Carolinas)
Jim Herring (SMGA Carolinas)
Michael Jaborek (American Golfer Program)
Robert Kilmartin (American Golfer Program)
Dan McGuire (American Golfer Program)
Adam Napier (American Golfer Program)
Denis Oliverio (American Golfer Program)
Jack Schumacher (SMGA Maryland)

Fundraising
The SMGA continues a varied approach to fundraising. We will continue to identify new sources of
income to support a growing demand for programming.

2018 Income: $722,922 2017 Income: $864,000
2018 Expenses: $781, 148 2017 Expenses: $854,000

Booz Allen Hamilton Tournament Series

For the past 9 years, Booz Allen Hamilton, an international leader in
management consulting, has supported the SMGA by hosting a series of
golf tournaments around the country. The 2018 Wounded Veteran
Tournament Series raised over $125,000 for the SMGA.

Annapolis, MD
Augusta, GA
Bethesda, MD
Charleston, SC
Colorado Springs, CO
Dayton, OH
Fayetteville, NC
Huntsville, AL
Norfolk, VA
San Antonio, TX
San Diego CA
St. Louis, MO
Troy, MI
Warner Robins, GA

Sgt. Ramon Padilla
US Army (Retired)
It’s a big part of my life and who I am now. It
has helped me to believe in myself and become

a better man… [and] once you achieve
something, as simple as hitting a ball high into
the air, you can feel you can do anything.


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