Travelers Championship Honors the Military

June 23, 2011

By PGA TOUR Staff

CROMWELL, Conn.—This week’s Travelers Championship at TPC River Highlands is making sure members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families know how much their service and sacrifice are appreciated. The tournament is hosting a series of military-appreciation activities throughout the week as part of Birdies for the Brave—a national military outreach initiative supported by the PGA TOUR.

Among other activities, the Travelers Championship is providing complimentary admission to all active-duty, retired and Reserve members of the military and their dependents all week, and is also extending discounted any one-day tournament tickets to veterans.  Fifty percent of the net proceeds from the sale of the veteran tickets will benefit Birdies for the Brave, in support of nine military homefront groups that provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded warriors, military members and their families. 

Birdies for the Brave activities kicked off June 20, with a military-appreciation ceremony attended by, among others, U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Michael E. McLaughlin.  The Connecticut National Guard 102nd Army Band performed.

Military outreach activities continued June 22 when 26 active-duty military members and wounded warriors from military bases throughout the state had the opportunity to caddie for a PGA TOUR player on the 17th hole during the Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am.  Wearing their specially designed Birdies for the Brave camouflage caddie bibs, the military caddies enjoyed the unique opportunity to experience a PGA TOUR tournament from inside the ropes, walking shoulder to shoulder among some of the world’s best players. 

The pro-am field included a group of three wounded warriors playing alongside PGA TOUR player Chris DiMarco. The wounded warrior threesome included Daniel Perry, who received an honorary membership to TPC River Highlands as part of the TOUR’s Adopt-A-Wounded Warrior program.  Under the program, each club within the TOUR’s TPC Network of clubs donates an honorary membership to the Wounded Warrior Project—one of the nine Birdies for the Brave military homefront groups, which then presents the membership to a wounded warrior in the club’s local community.  The program is designed to aid in the rehabilitation process as well as show appreciation for the wounded warrior’s military service.  Also playing in the group were John Faulkenberry and James Gordon, both affiliated with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, one of nine military homefront groups that are part of Birdies for the Brave.  As a gesture of gratitude, each of the wounded warriors enjoyed a Ping club fitting and received a custom set of Ping clubs and a Ping golf bag.

“All of these military outreach activities are designed to express our gratitude for the innumerable sacrifices made by our courageous American heroes and the families who make their service possible,” said Travelers Championship Tournament Director Nathan Grube.  “We are indebted for their dedication and inspired by their patriotism.”