From Captain to Coach: A PGA HOPE Story
Greensboro, NC – The past nine months have been nothing short of a movie for U.S. Marine Corps Captain Joseph Reese.
It is November 11, 2023. You may remember the 50-yard walk-off chip heard across the Carolinas to lift Team PGA HOPE Parris Island over Team PGA HOPE Charlotte in the sixth annual PGA HOPE Cup presented by TD Bank. Yes, that was him. He helped earn his team a berth at the 2024 Secretary’s Cup in Louisville, Kentucky in association with the PGA Championship. More on that to come.
Second-generation military veteran Joseph Reese was born in Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and raised in western Georgia – Columbus, GA to be exact. While golf has been part of his journey since early childhood, he did not hesitate to play other sports. Encouraged by his grandmother, a devoted Tiger Woods fan, young Joseph embraced golf despite the lack of representation in the sport.
After discovering golf through the influence of his father and the direction of The First Tee, Joseph became a three-sport athlete through high school with his additional participation in basketball and football. He began his collegiate career playing basketball at Valdosta State University and spent the remainder of his college days playing football at Mercer University.
Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps. Subsequently, golf’s presence in Joseph’s life blossomed. “It’s a way to relate to other people – I want to spread the game and make people feel comfortable…”, Reese asserted while discussing the potential impact golf can have on community building.
Since commissioning into the Marines, he has gone out for the All-Marine Golf Team twice and even helped coach the team. At this point, he knew he wanted a future in the golf industry; he just didn’t know what that future looked like. Enter Jeff Harris, PGA, and the PGA HOPE program.
“PGA HOPE is great for helping vets get back on their feet and back out enjoying life. The HOPE Cup at Kiawah Island Resort was awesome… it was just a crazy experience”, he reflected when asked about his experience with the program designed to improve our Veterans’ quality of life by enhancing their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being.
In the Fall of 2023, Reese graduated from the PGA HOPE Parris Island program in Parris Island, South Carolina. He developed a bond with his PGA of America Professional and his soon-to-be teammates for that year’s PGA HOPE Cup over 8 weeks of camaraderie and instruction. Through hard work, preparation, and some admittedly good breaks on the course, Team Parris Island worked their way to the top of the leaderboard and through a high-stakes chipping contest to earn a ticket to the Secretary’s Cup in Louisville, Kentucky.
The PGA HOPE Secretary’s Cup celebrates the PGA HOPE Program by providing a unique and memorable experience for our military Veterans and the PGA Professionals who work tirelessly to positively impact Veterans’ lives. This annual event, in conjunction with the week of the PGA Championship, began in 2016 and is named after the Secretary of Veteran Affairs in recognition of the Memorandum of Understanding between PGA REACH and the Department of Veteran Affairs. Each team is made up of four Veterans from a PGA HOPE program and one PGA or LPGA Professional.
According to Joseph, the high point of the PGA Championship experience was playing in the Secretary’s Cup. “The biggest thing is we were one under (-1) through 4 holes… we had a crazy finish. It didn’t feel real – it was like a movie even going back to the PGA HOPE Cup in the Carolinas”, he said looking back on May’s adventure. Team Parris Island was on a tear for the last five holes finishing the event seven under par (-7) and earning the victory by one stroke. “The whole experience we were treated like heroes & professional golfers. The tournament itself was awesome with our own lockers, the trophies, and the personalized tee gifts…”
To top the entire trip off, teams were invited to attend a day at the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club. With this being Joseph’s first major championship, he was excited to watch Tiger Woods navigate the course during his practice round. Additionally, he had a moment of reconnection with PGA of America Professional and member of the Corebridge Financial Team, Wyatt Worthington II, through one of the employees at the Legends at Parris Island golf course who was his roommate at Benedict College – it’s truly a small world.
With his military career winding down, Joseph is contemplating his future in golf. As of July 1, 2024, he is officially a registered PGA Associate in the Carolinas PGA Section. Through the mentorship of Jeff Harris, PGA, Joseph aims to create more opportunities for underserved players and give back to the community. He believes that his path is to be a coach at the high school or collegiate level. “It’s huge for me to give a platform to players who are good, but may not have the resources to be seen on a national level.”
The best piece of advice Captain Reese had for veterans who want to follow a similar path of pursuing golf as a profession was to simply volunteer your time. Find out what you like to do and what drives you. The next step is to hone your skills on the course. From there your passion and skill can take you anywhere.
As of August 5, 2024, he is walking confidently in the direction of his dreams as the Assistant Golf Coach for the Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs for North Carolina A&T Aggies – a historically black college in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joseph will be coaching under the guidance of former PGA Director of Collegiate Championships, Scooter Clark, PGA. Coach Clark says “We are honored and excited to have Captain Reese as a member of North Carolina A&T Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs. His leadership, character, and passion for the game are invaluable assets that he brings to A&T.”
“I am honored to be given an opportunity to assist Coach Clark with the Men’s and Women’s Golf Programs at North Carolina A&T. I want to thank Coach Clark as well as Athletic Director, Earl Hilton, for an opportunity to be a part of North Carolina A&T athletics. Aggie Pride!” – Joseph Reese
A fitting movie title – from Captain to Coach.