burned grass indicate the overuse. A $5 million capital campaign will begin by year’s end, Roberts says. “We will need
some big donors to step up,” he says. “We’ve got a lot of the
$20 donations.” So far, $700,000 has been raised.
American Lake’s modest fees generate enough money
to maintain the course but not to improve it. In-patients
at the VA hospital play for free with clubs, balls, tees and
carts provided. Veterans and active-duty personnel pay
$12 for an all-day ticket with their guests charged $15.
Yearly passes are $150. Carts are $5 per nine and range
balls are $2 for a small bucket and $4 for a large. Last
year, McKenty says, 25,000 people signed in to play.
The procedure for new players is to go from the simulator in the learning center to the driving range to the
three-hole short course and then to the regular course.
“This is the most rewarding job I have ever done in my
life,” says Wicks. “To watch someone who never thought
they would play golf again actively stroke a golf ball,” he
says, shaking his head and searching for words.
“We have helped change a lot of lives out here,” says
assistant manager Roger Gatts, a 20-year Army vet who
coordinates the volunteers. “I had one woman tell me we
saved her husband from suicide.”
Stephen Kupcha waS an active-duty
Navy SEAL stationed in San Diego when he
and a few friends decided to go to the 2001
Buick Invitational—now the Farmers Insurance Open—at Torrey Pines. At a luncheon
for the military the Tuesday before the tournament, Kupcha met PGA Tour players Jerry
Kelly, Frank Lickliter II and Davis Love III. Out
of that fortunate happenstance came Kupcha’s post-military career as senior manager,
public relations & community outreach for
the PGA Tour, a role in which he spearheads
fundraising events for Birdies for the Brave,
an initiative begun by Phil Mickelson and his
wife, Amy.
“From 2001 to 2008 we had awareness
programs each year with PGA Tour play-
ers, everything from weapons shoots to
parachute jumps,” say Kupcha, who was a
SEAL for 12 years before being medically dis-
charged after a back injury in 2008 and be-
ing hired by the tour the following year. “I had
met some executives, and we had hit it off.
When they found out I was getting medically
retired, they offered me a position here to as-
sist with military outreach.”
Since 2005 PGA Tour Charities Inc., more
than a dozen players and various corporate
partners have raised millions of dollars to
meet the special needs of wounded warriors
and military families. In addition to Mick-
elson, Love, Kelly and Lickliter the military
programs are supported by Rory Sabbatini,
Corey Pavin, Bubba Watson, Jim Colbert,
Jason Gore, Vijay Singh, Nick Watney, Boo
Weekley, Ted Purdy, Bob Duval and David
Duval. Among LPGA players, Stacy Lewis
and Jennifer Johnson are involved with the
Wounded Warrior Project.
“I probably receive 150 emails a week say-
ing ‘thank you’ from different veterans who
attend the events to the active duty who get
to participate in the wonderful promotions
we do around tournaments,” says Kupcha,
whose missions with the SEALS included
“Iraq, Afghanistan and some other areas
they still don’t disclose.”
The PGA Tour runs a variety of events
for military personnel. They include: free
tournament admission and complimentary
hospitality areas; showers for expectant
mothers who are deployed or retired; the
opportunity to caddie for a player for a
hole; gift packages sent to troops overseas
and support help for the families at home.
“We’ve tried to raise the bar and broaden
our outreach,” says Kupcha. To see how you
can help, go to: birdiesforthebrave.org —R. S.
