Patriot Golf Days Return Memorial Day Weekend 2022

Patriot Golf Days Return Memorial Day Weekend 2022 

Since 2007, Patriot Golf Days have helped to raise money for the Folds of Honor Foundation, which provides scholarships for the families of fallen or disabled veterans.

In 2022, Patriot Golf Days will be held Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-30). Courses and players can register and donate or register at patriotgolfdays.com. It is an eminently worthy cause.

Over the years, Folds of Honor has provided more than 29,000 scholarships worth $145 million dollars.

The first Patriot Golf Day was a rather spontaneous event held at Grand Haven Golf Club in Michigan. Since then, it has grown with the support of PGA professionals around the country, and has partnered with PGA REACH and PGA HOPE.

Grand Haven Golf Club has since been completely reworked by Jack Nicklaus and has become American Dunes, a spiritual home for the Folds of Honor Foundation. You can read GolfBlogger’s American Dunes Review at the link.

Folds of Honor Founder, USAF Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney is also a PGA Professional. His family owned the Grand Haven Golf Club before it closed in 2018.

“It’s exciting that Patriot Golf Days will again be held during Memorial Day weekend.,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “The partnership between Folds of Honor and PGA HOPE helps both Veterans and military families. As a PGA Professional, I’m grateful to my fellow PGA Members, the golf businesses participating in Patriot Golf Days and patriotic Americans who contribute to our mission. All money that is raised will directly benefit individuals and families in the community and the PGA Section where it was raised, and provide financial resources for Folds of Honor academic scholarships and PGA HOPE programs.”

The story behind Folds of Honor is both heartbreaking and inspiring. In 2007, Rooney was on a commercial flight returning to Grand Rapids from this second tour of duty in Iraq. As they landed, the airline pilot announced that the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin were on board and asked the passengers to remain seated as the casket disembarked.

Half the passengers got up and left anyway. All the while, Bucklin’s family, including his twin brother and young son Jacob stood tearfully on the tarmac.

It was at that moment, Rooney says, that he decided to devote his life to ensuring that the sacrifice of American soldiers would never again go unappreciated. Folds of Honor is the result.

Corporal Bucklin’s son was the first Folds of Honor scholarship recipient.

PGA REACH, the 501(c)3 charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that provides educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members, will jointly host the nationwide annual fundraiser. The two organizations will help PGA Members and golf facilities put on fundraising efforts throughout the weekend.  

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) introduces golf to Veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a six-to-eight-week golf instruction curriculum taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency.

Patriot Golf Day is not the only way in which golf contributes to Folds of Honor and PGA HOPE. Local courses also hold events. Last summer, my home course, Washtenaw Golf Club held an outing benefiting Folds of Honor.