join means that probably 99% of all golfers are
eligible to be VGA members. “Family members
play a huge part to support our service
members who are down range in harm’s way,”
assures Peyton. “Spouses who are keeping the
household together while their loved ones
are deployed is an incredible thing. We make
sure that the family members are treated with
the same respect as the other VGA members,
because without the family, soldiers couldn’t
accomplish their mission.”
Growing up in a military family in Sumter,
SC, Peyton knows the importance of family as
his dad was a career Air Force officer. Peyton
remembers, “When I joined the Army, I said,
‘How do I stay close to home?’ The Army recruits
said, ‘If you jump out of airplanes, then I’ll
station you at Fort Bragg,’ and the rest is history!”
In looking back over his military career,
Peyton exclaims, “I’m proud of my service to
America, and I think I’m lucky that I can continue
to serve the Veteran community through the
Veteran Golfers Association. It’s nice to not have
to wake up at 6:00 every morning, but it’s still
nice to feel like you’re a part of that community.”
Fortunate to be a part of the Village of
Pinehurst, the VGA looks forward to meeting
more locals at the Clubhouse and being a part
of this community. “We’re so proud to be a
part.” Peyton continues, “Moore County is—
special! The Village is special; the community is
special; the people are special. It’s such a great
community wherein to raise your family; the
golfing community here is just incredible!”
From the national stage to the local, from a
military career to the golf course, to welcoming
veterans and their families, the VGA uses a
hashtag that proclaims, “It’s more than just a
game,” which pretty much encompasses the
whole organization. Peyton agrees, “We’re
playing golf, but we are really changing lives
through connecting with other military
members who share stories, create new bonds,
get out of the house and engage on the golf
course.”
So much more on so many levels, the VGA
team invites you to visit the Clubhouse in
the Village and follow them on Facebook and
Instagram for more information. Once you visit,
you’ll feel at home with the VGA family because,
“It’s more than just a game.” ☐
Physical: 100 Magnolia Rd.
Pinehurst, NC 28374
Facebook: @VGAGolf.
Instagram: @VGAGolf.
Online: vgagolf.org.
GIVING BACK con't from p. 2
GIVING BACK continued GIVING BACK continued
GIVING BACK con't next column
GIVING BACK con't next column
Ninety VGA members participating in the
2018 VGA Championship at
The Olympic Club in San Francisco.
Right to left, VGA President & Co-Founder
CPT Joshua Peyton. 2015 VGA Men’s Champion,
SSG Micah Tilley. 2015 VGA Women’s Champion,
CW3 Kris Engelhaupt at Pinehurst No. 2.
an infantry officer, and Army Ranger, with most
of that time in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 4th
Brigade Combat Team & 3rd Brigade Combat
Team. I’m proud of my service, but the thing
I’m the most proud of is my work with the VGA
which has grown from an idea, to a national
organization, to changing lives.”
The VGA mission remains, “To enrich the
lives of Veterans and their family members
through the camaraderie and sportsmanship of
golf.” Members fall under several categories and
compete in such divisions as: Veterans, Females,
Wounded, Family, Seniors. With registration and
events available online at VGAgolf.org, it’s easy to
get involved. Hosting more than 5,000 members
nationwide and a Chapter in every state, there
are more than 90 volunteers who serve as State
Directors and Assistant State Directors. These
volunteers secure golf courses for events and
negotiate great prices. Golf courses like to give
back to the community, and they do so through
discounting our events. Always negotiating to
keep the costs down for VGA members, Peyton
assures, “Using top notch golf facilities, our
members are fortunate to get an opportunity to
play these courses.”
Offered March through July all across the
country, the 350 VGA tournaments hosted over
8,000 rounds of golf last year, for an economic
impact of over $4 million to the golfing industry.
Members earn points from the competitions
throughout the year, which helps them advance
to the sub–regional playoff competitions. From
the four regions of America—north, south,
central, and west—each region has playoffs that
lead to a regional championship. From those
regional championships, 80 players advance to
our annual national VGA championship. Josh
says, “We raise money each year from sponsors
and donors for the players who advance to
our national championship; we cover the golf,
the lodging and food for a four-day PGA tourlike
experience. To make it to our national
championship and be a part of something that
they’ve earned is a life–changing experience!”
The first national championship was played
in Pinehurst in 2015. Another was held at the
world renowned Olympic Club in San Francisco.
The 2019 VGA Championship will be hosted by
The Greenbrier in West Virginia this October.
Additionally, VGA members enjoy other benefits
such as obtaining a golf handicap through the
VGA, 30% off all Cleveland/Srixon products,
discounted greens fees at golf courses, and a free
t-shirt from Grunt Style. For veterans and their
family members 50+ years of age, the VGA hosts
a Senior VGA Championship at the Dormie Club
in Pinehurst each July.
Currently, there are around 24 VGA events
in North Carolina where local VGA members
can participate in. In other states, members
may enjoy about five or six. Members can pick
and choose which events to attend, and they
don’t have to be an incredible golfer. Peyton
emphasizes, “Ultimately the VGA offers an
opportunity for veterans to reconnect with the
military through golf.”
Established 5 years ago in 2014, by CPT
Joshua Peyton, LT Aaron Ojard and CPT Joe
Caley, the VGA inspiration stems from military
service. After several deployments, Peyton was
injured in 2011, and almost lost his right hand
in Iraq. “I spent two years at Walter Reid in
Washington DC going through surgeries and
recovery,” begins Peyton. “I met a bunch of guys
who were using golf as a recovery tool. Golf
became a get–a–way from the hospital, from our
injuries and from the different struggles we were
facing. Golf provided a chance to get out on the
course and have a good time with one another.
We figured that if we were going through these
struggles, then there may be other veterans
who were going through similar struggles. From
300 members the first year, to now over 5,000
members nationwide, we are growing by around
2,000 members per year, and should have more
than 7,000 members by the end of the year!”
In gathering veterans through golf, Peyton
explains,“We try to stay away from being labeled
a therapeutic entity, but I think that we definitely
impact veterans lives positively. We concentrate
on creating new bonds through camaraderie
and sportsmanship; other organizations focus
on PTSD and recovery. However by the sheer
nature of our organization, we impact these
issues greatly.”
p.30 The Pinehurst Gazette, Inc. No. 135 Inviting family members of any veteran to
/vgagolf.org
/VGAgolf.org