19th Hole

Alexander Fisher
PGA Instructor
THEgolfacademy Whirlwind Golf Club
Chandler, AZ
http://alexanderfisher@pga.com

More Information

Supporting the Troops

In recent years the PGA has worked hard to try and grow the game of golf. The nationally recognized Play Golf America program has done a great job promoting the game and has brought a number of new comers to the sport. As a PGA Professional I have a duty to grow the game of golf and one of their initiatives really hits home for me. 

Backing up for a second to 2001, when I moved to Arizona from England, my wife Mary introduced me to one of her new co-workers Anne Paulus. Over the years we have become very good friends with Anne and her husband Tim. We have watched both of their daughters and only son grow up, graduate from college, get married (well two of them at least) and move back to their native Ohio.

After graduating from ASU, Bobby Paulus decided that he wanted to join the Marines. A far cry from the goof ball I remembered him being, he is now First Lieutenant Robert Paulus, Charlie Company Executive Officer and Patrol Leader  in Karamanda, Afghanistan. Obviously we are all proud of Bobby and can’t wait for him to return home safely to his wife Betsy, however talking to Anne and Tim made us realize that we didn’t truly understand the sacrifice these brave solders make to protect our Country.

As a PGA Professional I thought to myself, how can I show my support to the troops that are fighting for our freedom. Four years ago the PGA of America created the Patriot Golf Day Event. The program raises money through donations, which benefits the Folds of Honor Foundation, and provides educational scholarships for children and spouses of military servicemen and servicewoman killed or disabled while serving our nation. The first three years it raised more than $5.4 million dollars and has awarded more than 1,200 scholarships.

This year alone, there will be over 40 golf courses in Arizona who will hold Patriot Golf Day between September 3rd and 6th. As citizens of this fine country, it is all our duties to give back to the people who are making the ultimate sacrifice to protect our country. Do the right thing, attend a Patriots Golf Day and show your support for the troops!

See you on the lesson tee!