WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — (October 8, 2019): The
Veteran Golfers Association (VGA) has selected The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, to host its
2019 VGA National Championship golf tournament Oct. 27-30. The Greenbrier carries a stellar global reputation for its spectacular golf courses, having hosted the Ryder Cup in 1979, the 1994 Solheim Cup and a PGA TOUR FedExCup event since 2010. This year,
A Military Tribute at The Greenbrier began the 2019-20 PGA TOUR season.
“The Greenbrier is thrilled to host the VGA National Championship,” said Dr. Jill Justice, President, The Greenbrier. “Our courses have a long tradition of hosting golf’s biggest events, and The Greenbrier has a deep connection with the military that dates back before the Civil War. We are excited to host these incredible athletes, and we look forward to providing an experience they will long remember.”
“It’s an honor to add The Greenbrier to our roster of prestigious VGA Championship sites, which includes Pinehurst #2, Fallen Oak, The Olympic Club, and TPC Harding Park,” said VGA President and CEO Joshua Peyton, a retired Army Captain and Army Ranger.
For the VGA, the 2019 season-ending event will showcase the determination and accomplishments of players and their families, as wounded veterans and Purple Heart recipients will make up nearly half the field. Competitors range from enlisted personnel to two-star generals, spanning the Korean War through Post 9/11 veterans. The field features 95 players advancing from four regional championships that will compete for a coveted Red Jacket, which is ceremoniously awarded to the overall male and female VGA National Champions from four divisions of competition: Male Veteran, Female Veteran, Combat Wounded (Purple Heart), and Family Member. Each division contains four flights of competitors as determined by their handicap index.
For the players, the opportunity to travel and compete for the VGA National Championship is an honor in and of itself, as the season encompassed 350 tournaments for over 7,000 VGA members from 48 states over a six-month period. Since being founded in 2014, the VGA has hosted over 1,500 golf tournaments and more than 100,000 rounds of golf nationwide for Veterans and their family members.
“The VGA utilizes golf as an alternative therapeutic activity, offering Veterans and their families an impactful way to connect and compete on the golf course,” Peyton added.
VGA membership is open to all U.S. veterans – wounded, non-wounded, disabled, active duty and retired – as well as to their family members, who are at least 18 years of age. More information is available at www.vgagolf.org.
The public is encouraged to attend the championship and cheer on the troops.
About The Veteran Golfers Association
The VGA is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to promoting the game of golf to veterans and their family members. The organization develops programs that allow members to compete, socialize and remain physically active. For more information, visit www.vgagolf.org. Note to media: Media Credentials are available, as are Images and Videos.
About The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a luxury mountain resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. With a history dating back to 1778, the resort is situated on a breathtaking 11,000-acre playground with championship golf, private casino, sportsbook, mineral spa, boutiques, shops, restaurants, cafés and lounges. The Greenbrier Clinic has been practicing diagnostic medicine since 1948, and The Greenbrier Sporting Club is the pinnacle of luxury real estate. For more information,www.greenbrier.com.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jack Glasure, Director of Public Relations, The VGA
Email:
jglasure@fwv-us.com; cell 813.415.4454
Cam Huffman, Director of Public Relations and Content, The Greenbrier
Email:
cam_huffman@greenbrier.com; cell 304.536.5215