Walpole, Mass. – The New England PGA Foundation, PGA REACH New England, was proud to host the fifth annual Northeast HOPE Invitational at Walpole Country Club on October 19th. This one-day tournament celebrated the healing power of golf for military veterans.
The Northeast HOPE Invitational is a collaborative effort between the Connecticut Section, Northeastern New York Section and New England PGA of America Section. This tournament is a continuation of PGA HOPE’s mission to introduce golf to veterans and active-duty military as a form of physical and mental rehabilitation.
The event brought together 20 representatives from each of the three participating Sections; Connecticut, Northeastern New York, and New England, including graduates of the PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program and supporting PGA Professionals. The players competed in an 18-hole tournament focused on camaraderie and competition.
Sgt. Daniel M. Clark, known as “The Singing Trooper,” opened the day with patriotic renditions of American Soldier, The National Anthem, and hymns of all military branches to commence the event.
Additionally, the event kicked off in grand fashion with three service members arriving aboard a military Humvee, highlighting the powerful connection between our armed forces and the PGA HOPE community.
After a competitive day of golf, The Northeastern New York Section claimed the Cup once again this year, making history as the very first section to capture back-to-back victories following their 2025 win and inaugural 2022 title. While New England fell short of the title, our squad put on an incredible showing, finishing the day at 10-under par.
Following the competition, players and supporters gathered for a dinner and awards ceremony, where several Veterans shared powerful stories about how PGA HOPE has helped them mentally and physically.
“PGA HOPE gave me a reason to get out of bed in the morning,” said Jonas Klemm, a 2026 graduate of the PGA HOPE Dover program. “After the military, I got to the point where burnout, depression and anxiety destroyed me and put me on a path where I probably wouldn’t have been here”.
A retired Coast Guard official, Klemm spent 13 years bouncing between unfulfilling jobs and struggling to find joy in life before connecting with a VA counselor to rediscover past passions.
“I had a counselor at the VA who brought up PGA HOPE so I signed up,” Klemm shared. While taking the first step and showing up on day one was daunting, he goes on to explain how PGA HOPE changed the trajectory of his life. “My reason for opening my eyes in the morning was to get up and go hit a ball at the driving range. That grew into a passion. PGA HOPE gave me a reason to put my foot back on the gas. I am the happiest I have been since I walked out of the coast guard.”
This year’s event was proudly presented by the Eversource Veterans Association. The New England PGA Foundation extends a sincere thank you to Eversource Veterans Association, Walpole Country Club, and all Veterans who were a part of this special day. We look forward to traveling back to the Northeastern New York Section when the competition returns in the fall of 2027.