On Course Foundation Kicks Off Annual Fundraising Campaign During Military Appreciation Month

On Course Foundation kicked off its annual fundraising campaign during Military Appreciation Month (May) to benefit wounded veterans who use golf as a vehicle for physical and mental recovery, and harvest newfound confidence into careers in golf.

Corporate and individual contributions of financial and business resources are earmarked to expand On Course Foundation's impact in new regional markets across America. The organization currently conducts free programs in 15 states which help active and retired, injured Service members develop golf business and playing skills.

Sponsors include Apollo Wealth Management, Barclays, Charles Schwab, CSX, J.P. Morgan, KPMG, Callaway, Clubessential and Summit Golf Brands. Countless individual donors also salute the military, the game of golf and vastly improving lives which otherwise would have spiraled downward.

"Golf is an extremely powerful tool," says John Simpson, Founder of On Course Foundation and former agent to Nick Faldo and 17 major tournament winners. "The support we receive betters those who sacrifice their lives for our freedom; they go from unhappy to happy, and their transformations to enjoy family, professional, social, financial and athletic aspects of life are incredible beyond words."

Thousands of On Course Foundation members have benefitted from the organization's golf education and career services. Exhibiting profound changes of character, they are placed in full-time jobs with Callaway, ClubCorp, Marriott Vacations, TaylorMade, Topgolf, TPC Network and other golf companies, golf courses, clubs and resorts. Members also learn playing skills with many achieving low, single-digit handicaps and qualifying for the annual Simpson Cup where U.K. and U.S. teams square off in Ryder Cup-style matches.

A poignant video about On Course Foundation and the Simpson Cup is here.

Testament to On Course Foundation programming is Shad Newton, a National Guard veteran who sustained traumatic brain injury and right hip nerve damage in combat in Afghanistan:

"The organization saved my life. It got me out of the house and on the course with my brothers and sisters in arms; otherwise, I would have ended my life a long time ago. Rehab through golf is an outlet for us to experience other than four walls."

To further exposure to the golf business, 10 On Course Foundation members worked at Augusta National during the 2022 Masters tournament. Others will help produce the Royal and Ancient's Open Championship, the PGA Tour's Charles Schwab Challenge and the PNC Championship.

In 1999, Congress designed May as Military Appreciation Month, a time to pause to remember the sacrifice and service of past and present members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marines, Space Force and National Guard. May also marks Military Spouse Appreciation Day and Armed Forces Day. There are more than 4.5 million wounded, injured and sick Service people in the U.S.