Keiser University Flagship Campus College of Golf faculty member Donna White recently reached out to assist veterans as part of the South Florida PGA’s Helping our Patriots Everywhere (HOPE) Program.
White, a member of the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Hall of Fame, joined PGA professionals Judy Alvarez and Dave McNulty to share the key fundamentals of golfing with a group of 16 veterans.
“Using the game of golf to enrich the life of another is such a rewarding experience. These types of programs enable veterans of all ages and abilities to be together in a very non-intimidating environment to not only learn a few golf skills, but to enjoy a positive social and emotional setting in which they can meet and greet other veterans who have shared experiences,” said White.
Please click here to view a recent PGA CBS Special highlighting the story.
The program, which marked the first of six sessions, will also provide the veterans additional golf opportunities to help keep them involved in the game.
The 25th inductee into the prestigious LPGA Teaching and Club Professional Hall of Fame since its inception in 2000, White, a graduate of the University of Florida earned her LPGA Tour card in 1977, winning three times on the LPGA Tour before retiring in 1992. She then transitioned from a professional golfer to a golf professional, becoming one of the first women to own and operate a golf professional concession company, Golf Professional Services, Inc. In 1995, she co-founded the Junior Golf Foundation of America to serve as the junior golf development arm of her business. In 2010, White semi-retired from her company and now enjoys her ‘encore career’ as a professor at the Keiser University College of Golf & Sport Management, where she recently earned her Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Teaching and Learning.
PGA HOPE is a program designed to introduce golf to veterans with disabilities in order to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Through PGA HOPE programming, the SFPGA Foundation is in position to make a more meaningful impact on the lives of America’s military veterans. As many veterans struggle with the transition back into civilian life, the game of golf delivers a new level of enjoyment.
My instructors believed in me. They were more than instructors, they tried to get to know you as a person and tried to understand your goals so they could push you towards them. Student services helped me find a job before I even graduated. Everyone was dedicated to my overall success.
