LINCOLN, NE – PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, will host the inaugural PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week from October 25-28, 2019, at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
This event is designed to be a unique opportunity for PGA HOPE graduates as they learn new sets of skills focused on advanced golf instruction and impactful wellness training. Each PGA section chose a veteran as their representative in said event.
PGA REACH Nebraska has chosen David Karl as the veteran and PGA HOPE graduate to represent the Nebraska Section PGA in the PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week. Karl began his journey in the game of golf back in 1965 when he first picked up a golf club. He is a retired Master Sergeant for the United States Air Force and he served 21 years from 1971 to 1992.
Just over 19 years removed from the service, Karl was job searching and on his walk back to his house, he rolled over his ankle and snapped both bones in his ankle. After 2 surgeries, the incisions in his foot became infected and the doctors decided that amputation was the only option. Karl’s left leg was amputated below the knee on January 30th, 2013. After the amputation, Karl wasn’t able to run or jump, but he was able to play golf and the game has been a “life saver” to him.
“The PGA HOPE program and the Nebraska PGA both have given me the opportunity to play a game I love much more often and at a much higher level,” Karl said.
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a national program that introduces golf to military Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE helps veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction the game provides.
“The game of golf and the PGA HOPE program allows veterans to get out of the house and onto the golf course and it seems like every one of us has benefited from the instruction from the Nebraska PGA Professionals,” Karl said.
Karl is ‘beyond excited’ to represent the Nebraska Section PGA at the PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week and he hopes to bring back golf training tips, exercises and other recommendations that will take Nebraska’s PGA HOPE program to the next level.
About PGA REACH Nebraska
The PGA REACH Nebraska Foundation is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization and philanthropic arm of the Nebraska Section PGA, one of the 41 PGA sections in the United States of America. Our members across Nebraska and parts of Iowa/South Dakota are committed to serving our communities and growing the game of golf through our three pillars- Youth, Military, and Diversity & Inclusion. For more information, please visit https://nebraskapga.com/foundation/. You can also find PGA REACH Nebraska Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @PGAREACHNEB!
About PGA HOPE
PGA HOPE Nebraska (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is an adaptive golf program offered by our PGA Professionals as a rehabilitation tool to improve our veterans’ quality of life by enhancing their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being. There is NO COST to our veterans. With your support, we serve our veterans at two locations (Lincoln and Papillion) with an emphasis on helping those with physical and emotional disabilities that would most benefit from our initiative. We are so excited for where the PGA HOPE Nebraska program is headed and we hope to spread it even further.