KemperSports and Illinois PGA Foundation Team Up to Host PGA HOPE Clinics

Six-week, complimentary clinics across five KemperSports facilities serve to introduce the game to veterans to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 4, 2023 – KemperSports, a leading golf, sports, entertainment and hospitality company based in Chicago, and the Illinois PGA Foundation have again partnered to host PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) clinics for veterans and active-duty military for the 2023 season. The six-week, complimentary clinics will visit five KemperSports facilities across Chicagoland from May through October.

“Supporting our veterans and service members who have given so much for our country is a shared commitment across the KemperSports family,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “PGA HOPE is an incredible program, and thanks to the support and partnership of the Illinois PGA Foundation, we’re excited to be able to give back to those throughout Chicago who give so much to us.”

“KemperSports’ commitment to our nation’s veterans in and around the Chicagoland area is evidenced by their support to provide PGA HOPE programming at five of its premier golf facilities in 2023,” said Carrie Williams, Executive Director of the Illinois PGA and Illinois PGA Foundation. “Their team of PGA Professionals, who have been specifically trained to teach veterans programs, will bring physical, emotional and social well-being to scores of veterans this summer by introducing them to the game of golf.”

Free, six-week PGA HOPE clinics will be held at the following times and five KemperSports courses throughout the 2023 golf season:

• Harborside International Golf Center (Chicago, Ill.)
  • Six weekly sessions on Wednesdays at 2:30 p.m.
  • Wednesday, May 24 – Wednesday, June 28

• Winnetka Golf Club (Winnetka, Ill.)
  • Six weekly sessions on Thursdays at 4:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, May 25 – Thursday, June 29

• Cantigny Golf (Wheaton, Ill.)
  • Six weekly sessions on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, June 20 – Tuesday, August 1

• Bolingbrook Golf Club (Bolingbrook, Ill.)
  • Six weekly sessions on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, June 7 – Wednesday, July 19

• Deerpath Golf Course (Lake Forest, Ill.)
  • Six weekly sessions on Thursdays at 5:00 p.m.
  • Thursday, August 31 – Thursday, October 5

Taught by PGA Professional instructors trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency, PGA HOPE introduces the game to veterans and active-duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America, and is administered locally by the Illinois PGA Foundation working in conjunction with RevelationGolf. The program is free to veterans and will cover several aspects of the game including driving, chipping, putting, and long iron work. The culmination of each clinic will result in an on-course session that will allow the veterans to put their skills to the test.

To learn more about PGA HOPE, visit www.pgahope.com.

About KemperSports

KemperSports is a leading sports, entertainment and hospitality company that delivers operational excellence in property and experience management. Headquartered in Chicago with regional offices throughout the U.S., KemperSports manages more than 140 golf courses, private clubs, sports venues, and destination resorts nationwide. It has more golf properties named among the top 100 U.S. public and resort courses as rated by GOLF Magazine, Golf Digest and Golfweek than any other management company. For more information about KemperSports, visit www.kempersports.com.

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About the Illinois PGA/Illinois PGA Foundation

The Illinois Section of the PGA of America is a professional organization serving men and women golf professionals in northern and central Illinois who are recognized experts in growing, teaching, and managing the game of golf. The Illinois PGA is responsible for the administration of competitive golf tournaments, educational opportunities, support programs, and growth of the game initiatives. With over 760 members and associates, the Illinois PGA is one of the 41 regional Sections that comprise the PGA of America. The Illinois PGA Foundation focuses its community efforts on promoting the goodwill and growth of the game with an emphasis on activities that benefit youth. Foundation initiatives include: GolfWorks Illinois, youth-based Scholarship funds, PGA HOPE (Helping our Patriots Everywhere), Illinois PGA Birdies for Charity, and the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame. For more information about the Illinois PGA and the Illinois PGA Foundation, please visit www.ipga.com and join us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

About PGA HOPE

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to veterans and active-duty military to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.

The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, led by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA Section Foundations, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans. PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables direct referrals to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy. To learn more about PGA HOPE, visit www.pgahope.com.

Media Contacts:

Gehrig Parker, KemperSports

gparker@kempersports.com | 847-977-3400

Kevin Quinn, Illinois PGA Communications

kbquinn@pgahq.com | 708-336-1294