Pillar Grants Will Help 13 Facilities Grow the Game

Mar 25, 2019

Recipients of the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation’s Pillar Grants were announced during the 2019 Spring Business Meeting on Monday, March 25. The mission of the Pillar Grant Program is to provide financial assistance to facilities within the geographic boundaries of the Colorado Section to develop and/or significantly enhance growth of the game programs that align with the Three Pillars of our Foundation to attract and retain new golfers.


“Following the direction of our Board of Directors and our Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Trustees, we updated the grant program this year to support programs that directly align with the three Pillars of our Foundation – Youth, Military and Diversity & Inclusion,” comments Ben Welsh, PGA, President of the Colorado Section. “We couldn’t be more proud of the programs that were selected and to support our PGA Members in using the resources raised by our Trustees to further grow the game of golf here in Colorado and make a direct impact on the communities they serve.”


Grant awards and Foundation Pillars align as follows:


  • Youth Development Programs – Golf in Schools and PGA Junior League;
  • Supporting Our Military Programs – PGA HOPE; and
  • Diversity & Inclusion Programs – Specifically reaching, benefits and involving Women and Minorities.


Colorado PGA REACH Trustee Chair, Spencer Zinn, continues by saying, “I believe I speak for the entire Board of Trustees for Colorado PGA REACH when I say that we are very pleased to be able to support all of these programs through our grant program. It’s programs like these, and the many outstanding Colorado PGA Professionals that run and facilitate them, that are the driving force behind the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation being responsible for moving the needle in growing the game of golf in Colorado.”


The Colorado PGA REACH Grant and Scholarship Committee recommended to the Board of Directors the approval of the following Pillar Grants:


  • Leighton Smith Golf – Leighton Smith – “Swingin’ Teens” High School Mentor Program
  • Legacy Ridge Golf Course – Joseph Carlton – Golf Westminster Youth Player Development
  • Flatirons Golf Course – Tom Buzbee – Tuesday Morning Youths
  • River Valley Ranch/ Youth Golf Colorado – Stephen VanDyke – Golf in the Park
  • Eagle Vail Golf Club – Ryan Flamm – Ladies on the Links
  • The Golf Club at Bear Dance – Cyrus Twete – PGA HOPE
  • Buffalo Run Golf Course – Paul Hebinck – PGA HOPE
  • Fossil Trace Golf Club – Jim Hajek – PGA HOPE
  • Plum Creek Golf Course – Bo Heidrick – PGA HOPE
  • Vail Valley – Ryan Flamm – PGA HOPE
  • 1st Tee Pikes Peak – Maggie Hartman
  • 1st Tee Denver – Scott Rethlake
  • 1st Tee Green Valley Ranch – Matt Byrant



“It has always been the goal of the Foundation and our Trustees to increase the level of financial support we are able to provide to our Colorado PGA Members. Through recent growth of our Colorado PGA REACH Foundation, we’re now able to give back to our Colorado PGA Members and their families more than ever. We couldn’t be more delighted to share this growth and we will continue to look for additional ways to support our membership,” said Jim Hajek, PGA, Vice-President of the Colorado Section and Board Liaison to the Colorado PGA REACH Board.

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Colorado Springs, CO (September 25th, 2023) – The first-ever UMB Bank PGA HOPE Colorado Cup was a major success this past Monday at the beautiful Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs. The team of five from Commerce City, led by PGA Professional Jordan Leblanc, took first place with a score of -13. They will have the opportunity now to represent Colorado and the PGA HOPE Colorado program at the PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup. The Broadmoor, which will host the 2025 US Senior Open Championship, hosted 17 teams composed of PGA HOPE graduates and their instructors. They played on the West Golf Course at The Broadmoor and played a 5-person scramble format. A tournament-high 13 birdies paved the way for Leblanc and Commerce City to win. Click here to view the full results. Click here to view photos from the event. The Colorado PGA extends its gratitude to The Broadmoor Golf Club, PGA Director of Golf Russ Miller, and its staff for playing host to this beautiful event. We also thank Wilson for providing custom PGA HOPE Colorado golf balls, Branded Bills for providing hats for all those who participated in the event, and UMB Bank for being a great sponsor for the inaugural edition of the Colorado PGA HOPE Cup. An upcoming opportunity to support PGA HOPE will begin on Tuesday, October 11th as the National Day of HOPE campaign opens. This fundraiser will be open through November 11th and all funds will go directly towards efforts to ensure the program remains entirely free for current and future Veterans. For more information on PGA HOPE Colorado: Click Here Colorado PGA HOPE Lead: Justin Limon, PGA, (720)-390-1160 About PGA HOPE Colorado: PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Colorado is the flagship military program of PGA REACH Colorado, the charitable foundation of the Colorado Section, PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. PGA HOPE includes an introduction to the sport of golf, golf instruction, playing opportunities, and social events. All programs are funded by PGA REACH Colorado, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans. About PGA REACH Colorado: The PGA REACH Colorado Foundation works daily to support our over 850 Colorado PGA Professionals to make a difference in our local communities. Programming tries to ensure that regardless of your age or background, cost will never inhibit one’s involvement and enjoyment of the game of golf. The mission of the PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections, and the game of golf. About the Colorado PGA: The Colorado Section of the PGA promotes the game of golf for the golfers of Colorado, Eastern Wyoming, and a small part of South Dakota. The purpose of the Section is to promote enjoyment and involvement in the game of golf and to contribute to its growth by providing services to golf professionals and the golf industry within the Section. The Section accomplishes this purpose by enhancing the skills of its professionals and the opportunities for amateurs, employers, manufacturers, employees, and the general public within the Section. The Colorado PGA has more than 850 members and associates.
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