Military News - Military Times

Charity helps get wounded vets on golf course

TRENTON, N.J. — Brian Coleman was never in the service and has no ties to the military. But when he began looking for a cause to support after his retirement, he decided helping wounded veterans was the way to go.

Now the 62-year-old spends anywhere from 35 to 70 hours a week running Golf Supports Our Troops, a nonprofit that raises money to donate golf equipment to military hospitals and rehabilitation facilities.

“My intent was not to teach these guys to be golf pros,” Coleman said. “It was to have some fun, maybe get golf into their recovery, but it was the health benefits of the equipment that I thought would be interesting.”

Coleman retired from the graphic arts/printing field eight years ago, but after two years of boredom, decided to start a small golf company. Then, a year and a half ago, he decided he’d had enough. Left with a huge inventory, he thought he could do something good with it and Golf Supports Our Troops was born.

He began by selling golf accessories and collectibles, including military ball markers, and donated money to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Homes for Our Troops.

But Coleman, who follows news about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan closely, wanted to become involved with the rehabilitation of those who are wounded.

He approached the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Center for the Intrepid at Brooke Army Medical Center about donating golf swing training mechanisms.

The systems, donated by Explanar Golf USA, were shipped out in the beginning of the year.

“Our patients appreciate any extras they get,” said Pat Cassimatis, of the Walter Reed public affairs office. “We have many organizations that do wonderful things. This one, along with so many more, we thank.”

Coleman, who is helped by his wife, also reached out to the Department of Veterans Affairs. He offered any VA hospital the golf swing training systems, driving net systems and other equipment.

Nineteen facilities accepted, according to Laura B. Balun, director of the VA’s Voluntary Service Office, who coordinated the donations. The equipment, some donated and some purchased by GSOT, has been shipped out in the past couple of weeks.

Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan “have unique and different needs than many older veterans and require unique and different methods to deal with many of their injuries and readjustment issues,” said Larry Long, director of recreation therapy services for the VA. “Recreational therapists are using different activities, such as golf, which leads to life quality and feelings of well-being.”

Other nonprofit groups have embraced golf as a way to help soldiers, including the recent Patriot Golf Day, which asked those who hit the links over Labor Day to contribute $1 for educational scholarships benefiting families of those who have become disabled or lost their lives in the line of duty.

Coleman said he’d like to supply even more VA facilities with golf equipment, but is now also working on getting high-tech wheelchairs that would allow occupants to be elevated to a near-standing position.

He’ll soon be traveling to Walter Reed along with European golfer Anthony Netto to demonstrate the equipment, which will be harder to get because it’s expensive. But Coleman hopes a fundraiser he’s holding at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus on Monday will help him achieve the group’s goals.

Wounded veterans will be in attendance and autographed items that Coleman’s collected over the years, some specifically for GSOT, will be auctioned off.

His plan also includes mobilizing golf clubs to run a local tournament supporting GSOT.

Coleman said he’ll continue to run GSOT, hopefully with some help, as long as it’s making progress. He would be happy if it could improve the life of one wounded veteran, and after seeing a picture of one using a donated swing trainer, he is.

“My friends say I’m trying to buy my way into heaven,” Coleman said jokingly. “I said I’m way past that, I can’t do enough good to do that.”