PGA REACH New England is excited to continue its spotlight series dedicated to sharing the goodwill and support of local communities by our PGA Professionals. Chipping In trumpets the story of individual PGA Professionals and his or her efforts to differentiate their facility and personal PGA Brand within the community. This month, we share the story of Jason Howard, PGA, of Kirkbrae Country Club.
About Jason:
I am a PGA Professional dedicated to serving my community and supporting our nation’s heroes. Based out of Kirkbrae Country Club, I have focused much of my effort on giving back to the veteran community through the game of golf. In recognition of this commitment and service, I am incredibly honored to be named the 2026 New England Section Patriot Award Winner.
What is the name of the organization or program you would like to highlight?
PGA HOPE – Lincoln
How long have you been active with your charitable organization?
This is currently my 6th season serving as the Lead for PGA HOPE Lincoln.
What is the most rewarding thing about giving back to the community?
The direct interaction with the community is incredibly fulfilling. It is amazing to see just how appreciative the participants are to be a part of the program. It’s deeply rewarding to help them, whether it’s through teaching them the game of golf or supporting them through other positive changes in their lives that we might not even necessarily see on the surface. If you haven’t had a chance to attend a PGA HOPE session yet, I highly encourage you to give it a try—seeing how PGA Professionals make a real difference to the veteran community is truly rewarding.
What other organizations do you support?
In addition to my work with PGA HOPE, I also actively support PGA Reach and Operation Play Day.
How do you determine which charities to support?
For our family, charity is a collaborative decision. We actually sit down with our 4-year-old daughter on a quarterly basis to discuss who we will be donating to during that time of the year. It is a wonderful way to involve her and help her make the decisions on who to support.
Any recommendations on how someone can start to support their community?
My biggest piece of advice is to just go dive in and help. Being a part of PGA HOPE has been the most gratifying thing I have done as a PGA Professional. You don’t need a massive operation to get started; you can truly make a difference just by donating your time and your knowledge of this game. At the end of the day, it’s what being a PGA Professional is all about.