Welcome to The SMGA-NY

The Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation whose mission is to provide rehabilitative golf experiences for combat-wounded veterans in an effort to improve the quality of life for these American heroes.

SMGA's Support for Combat-Wounded Veterans:

The SMGA believes the rehabilitative benefits of golf can improve the mental and physical condition of each and every wounded warrior returning from combat. The SMGA provides golf instruction, equipment, and playing opportunities for combat-wounded American veterans injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

SMGA Brochure
Partnership

SMGA's History and Inspiration:

The SMGA was founded after Jim Estes, Director of Instruction at Olney Golf Park in Olney, MD, saw first-hand the positive effects the game of golf could have on combat-wounded soldiers. The following articles from ESPN.com tell how several trips from Walter Reed Army Medical Center to Olney Golf Park eventually evolved into a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation aimed at supporting injured veterans: VIEW WEB VIDEO

The SMGA-NY Message from the Regional Manager

“Nearly 1.5 million Americans have served in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2002; of these, close to 30,000 have returned home with some form of injury. The Salute Military Golf Association, a 501(c) (3) non-profit Corporation, was formed in early 2007 in an effort to bring the game of golf to our nation’s combat-wounded veterans as a form of mental and physical rehabilitation.” Many of these wounded warriors were accomplished atheletes in in high school and college before suffering their wounds. They never thought they would be playing sports again let alone swinging a golf club when they suffered loss of a limb, PTSD or TBI.

As the SMGA-NY Regional Manager, it continues to be an exciting and heartwarming privilege introducing residents of our North Country communities to the rehabilitative benefits the game of golf offers to those who felt they would never, because of their injuries, be involved in the game. Through the use of fundraising tournaments golf clinics are held so that wounded warriors returning home may continue their rehabilitation via this medium. A medium that has proven its effectiveness to over seven-hundred wounded warriors, leading them on to a speedy recovery because of the game's demand for concentration.

The clinics will be taught under the expert guidance of local PGA Golf Professionals who have completed an “Adaptive Golf Certification Course” designed by Jim Estes and Judy Alvarez in cooperation with the University of Pennsylvania. Wounded warriors taking part in these clinics will receive their equipment, meals, range-balls, and greens fees free-of-charge during their eight-week training period. At the conclusion of the course, they will be awarded a set of golf clubs thanks to the generosity of a major golf manufacturer. In 2011 this benefactor was the Taylor Made golf company. Since it is not always possible for some wounded warriors to attend organized clinics, individual lessons will also be available at designated golf courses.

I urge all North Country golfers to play in at least one of our “SMGA-NY Wounded Warrior Golf Tour” tournaments. All tournaments, with the exception of the Championship Tournament, are open to the golfing public; they are not just for veterans or our wounded warriors to play in. Become a part of the “healing process:” for our combat -wounded, sign-up for one of our tournaments and help us to “Help Our Nation’s Heroes, One Fairway at a Time” If you are not a golfer, help us by making a financial contribution, just click on the “donation button” found on this site.

“You will get a wonderfully warm feeling watching a wounded warrior standing on two titanium prosthesis hit a ball 300 yards down a fairway knowing you played a small part in getting them there.”

Frank P. Dorchak Jr.
SMGA NE/NY Regional Manager

The SMGA-NY 2013 Championship Golf Tour is dedicated to SGT Carlton Alan Clark.

The 2012 SMGA-NY WOUNDED WARRIOR CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM shown receiving the "SMGA-NY Wounded Warrior Perpetual Trophy from SMGA-MD Executive Director Gretchen Hamm and SMGA-NY Reg. Mgr. Frank Dorchak.The team of Lawrence Maxwell, Don Mortensen, Chip Nagle and Rhett Colby garnered the championship with a score of 57.

The trophy will be displayed at the Saranac Lake Veterans Club and the Lake Placid American Legion during the 2013 golfing season.