Golf Trips for Special Operations Wounded Veterans.
Miami: October 2023
OGA VETS is an outgrowth of various golf trips that a group of us have organized and funded to benefit special operations wounded veterans. These trips took us to Birmingham, Miami, Myrtle Beach, Orlando, and Utah. This year’s trips will be in Salt Lake City, Utah, from April 30th through May 4th and in Birmingham, Alabama, from October 1st through 5th.
An OGA VETS trip begins with veterans and sponsors arriving on a Tuesday afternoon or early evening. We play golf on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and depart on Saturday morning. Each day includes an informal breakfast and a sit-down dinner, frequently in private dining room facilities provided by the hotel (at a cost). Each veteran has a travel allowance, meals, a hotel room, and golf. Golf pro and on-site physical therapy assistance are also available to the veterans.
The camaraderie among the veterans is evident, particularly among those who have gotten to know each other primarily through prior trips with and among the sponsors. However, this camaraderie is pleasantly contagious. Mostly, there is little discussion of the veterans’ overseas experiences except perhaps among themselves. Laughter, pleasantries, and golf hyperbole abound. Golfers of all levels are encouraged to participate, sometimes on the course and sometimes just on the driving range with our golf pro. (We typically have brand new golfers among the veterans.) The golf outings are not played in a competitive environment but one of friendship and only the type of light fun that golf can offer.
Watch our comprehensive video to learn more about our organization.
Team Members
Casey Edwards
Casey is the Golf Performance Coach at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. He spent the beginning of his career working as a physical therapist with a specialty in orthopedic manual therapy, complex spinal conditions, and chronic pain. In 2017, he got certified as a Titleist Performance Institute Medical Provider and expanded his clientele to include working with golfers as a performance coach. In May 2022, he joined the Golf Instruction Staff at Congressional Country Club.
Aaron Fagan
Aaron grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and moved to Orlando, Florida in 2000. He quickly became the youngest Leadbetter Certified Golf Instructor worldwide at 24. After ten years at the Leadbetter Headquarters, Aaron took his knowledge of the golf swing to various courses in the Orlando area. Aaron resides in Jupiter, Florida, where he is the Director of Instruction at the Turtle Creek Club. During the summer, Aaron is the Director of Instruction at The Misquamicut Club in Watch Hill, Rhode Island. Aaron uses his cause-and-effect approach to quickly assess the areas of the golf swing that need the most improvement. Having taught more than 15,000 players over his 20-year teaching career, his systematic approach to improvement is time-tested. Aaron has worked with all talent levels, from beginners to PGA Tour players.
Alexandria Jacobsen
Alex grew up in Palm City, Florida. She has a Bachelor’s degree from Stetson University in Sport Management and Business Administration. Alex was a women’s golf team member at Stetson, where she won nine collegiate titles. After graduation, Alex played five years of professional golf on a combination of the LPGA, Symetra, and Ladies’ European Tours. In 2017, she retired from playing professionally and went into the club side of the business. 2019, she received her Class A certification from the PGA of America. Alex spent summers as an Assistant Golf Professional at The Misquamicut Club and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. She recently took a year-round position at The Everglades Club in Palm Beach, Florida, as the Head Golf Professional.
