President's Message
I am so proud of the progress we continue to make every day at the New Jersey Golf Foundation as we remain committed to positively impacting lives and communities throughout New Jersey, through the game of golf.
As Veterans continue to use golf as a form of therapy, US Army Veteran Charlie Wilcox spent a week in Washington DC for specialized golf and wellness training and is now the New Jersey PGA HOPE Ambassador. This rehabilitative golf program is making a difference while changing and saving the lives of our Veteran community.
NJGF is a proud supporter of Special Olympics Golf, and what a treat it was for New Jersey to host the Special Olympics North America Golf Championships. It was truly inspiring to watch an incredible group of athletes from New Jersey and across North America tee it up alongside their unified partners. We also enjoyed hosting Special Olympics NJ golf athletes for a skills challenge at the Inspiration Golf Range.
PGA Jr. League continues to grow, and it was terrific to see teams from New Jersey compete with pride, passion and sportsmanship at the regional championships in Virginia. Shout out to all the kids, and the PGA of America Golf Professionals that lead these teams.
Special thanks to the Donavan family and Fiddler’s Elbow CC for your continued support of the NJGF. Your generosity through the annual Mixed Stix is much appreciated.
As always, we appreciate the commitment from our partners & donors, as your continued support allows us to make a more meaningful impact in communities across the state. If you are looking to get involved, please contact the NJGF’s Executive Director, Chris Hunt at chunt@pgahq.com or (732) 465-1212 and follow us on twitter @NJGF for updates throughout the season.
Mike Attara, President, NJGF
United States Army Veteran Charlie Wilcox Assumes Role of PGA HOPE Ambassador
United States Army Veteran Charlie Wilcox of Branchburg, NJ was named a PGA HOPE Ambassador following the completion of a specialized training program during the PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week at the famed Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, MD. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a rehabilitative golf program that positively impacts nearly 12,000 Veterans each year living with physical and cognitive challenges such as PTSD, TBI and amputees.
As a PGA HOPE Ambassador, Wilcox, a United States Army Veteran (1987-2004) who served 4 tours in Iraq, will help champion the program throughout the New Jersey PGA Section. Today, Charlie runs outside operations at the Inspiration Golf Range & Activity Center located on the Lyons Campus of the VA New Jersey Health Care System, in Bernards Township.
Honor Charlie and all Veterans by supporting the Walkway of Heroes project at the Inspiration Golf Range...
PGA Jr. League Continues to Thrive in New Jersey and Nationwide
The New Jersey PGA Jr. League Championship was hosted at Clearbrook Golf Course on August 10th and 17th.
Due to inclement weather, It was a rain-shortened event with Fiddler's Elbow Team #1, coached by Jeremy Eccles, PGA capturing the 13U Division and the First Tee West Nine Blue team coached by Bill Castner, PGA and Pete Aloisio capturing the 17U Division.
Both teams qualified and competed in the Regional Championship at Kingsmill Resort in Virginia.
They were joined by the 13u team and 17u team from Haworth Country Club (2022 Champions) who qualified via the Regional Leaderboard.
Each of the respective teams from New Jersey advanced through the stroke play portion of the event and qualified for Sunday’s Match Play, with a berth in the PGA Jr. League National Championships at stake.
Both the Haworth 13u team and the First Tee West Nine 17u advanced to the Regional Championship match, before being ousted by teams from the Middle Atlantic PGA Section.
The kids played with passion, pride and displayed incredible sportsmanship, making their families, clubs, and the entire New Jersey PGA Section proud.
Mixed Stix Raises Nearly $56,000 to Support NJGF Programming
The 6th annual Mixed Stix charitable event, hosted by Fiddler’s Elbow Country Club served to benefit the R&C Donovan Family Foundation and the New Jersey Golf Foundation.
Northeast Lock once again served as the title sponsor of the event, which featured an exciting line-up of outdoor activities highlighted by a golf pro-am, a golf shamble for amateurs only, fly fishing and a pickleball exhibition showcasing the popularity of the fastest growing sport in America.
Thanks to the generosity of the Donovan Family Foundation, the 2023 event raised nearly $56,000 in support of NJGF programming.
Click Here for photos from the Day
Special Olympics Athletes Shine at Level I Golf Skills Challenge
The NJGF is a longtime supporter of Special Olympics NJ golf programming, which includes hosting a series of skills challenges each year. The Inspiration Golf Range, which serves as a training site for Special Olympics Athletes as they prepare for State, Regional, National & International golf competitions, hosted the 7th Annual Special Olympics NJ Level 1 Skills Challenge on Saturday, October 8th.
Massive congratulations to the athletes who participated, demonstrated their golf skills and took home a medal!
The NJGF is proud to support and positively impact hundreds of Special Olympics golfers and their unified partners each year.
New Jersey hosted the 22nd Annual Special Olympics North America Golf Championship, as more than 300 athletes, unified partners and delegation members from North America competed in a 3-day tournament Oct 2-5 at Seaview Resort in Galloway, NJ.
New Jersey Section PGA staffers Greg Zohovetz, Christina Paulsen and Chris Hunt spent 4 days officiating the #SONAGolf National Golf Championship.
Congratulations to all Special Olympics Athletes and unified partners that participated, it was pure joy watching these incredible athletes compete for love of the game.
Joe Oliveri Named PGA WORKS Fellow
The New Jersey Golf Foundation and NJPGA recently announced Joe Oliveri, of Bridgewater, N.J. and a graduate of Temple University as a PGA WORKS Fellow. The PGA WORKS Fellowship, established in 2017, provides the opportunity for a one-year, paid immersion in a PGA Section’s Foundation operations.
PGA Sections oversee the 41 regions of the PGA of America across the United States and help create the network of communication and community for PGA of America Golf Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide. There is more info in the release below.
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the most valuable, entry-level opportunities for individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to gain experience in all facets of the golf industry. The Fellowship gives recent college and university graduates a first-hand look at everything that a career in the $102 billion golf industry can provide.
The primary responsibilities of a PGA WORKS Fellow is to support and execute philanthropic initiatives for the charitable foundations of their respective PGA of America Sections. Joe will be supporting programs and initiatives in conjunction with the New Jersey Golf Foundation, highlighted by PGA HOPE programming, junior golf initiatives, such as PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip & Putt, and programming for special needs, among other responsibilities.
North Jersey Country Club Donates $20,000 to Support PGA HOPE
Shout out to Brian Mackey, PGA, Director of Golf Instruction; General Manager, Chelsea Creo; Assistant GM and Controller, Lalta Persaud and the membership North Jersey Country Club for their incredible commitment to the NJGF. The $20,000 donation is earmarked to support PGA HOPE NJ programming, our life saving rehabilitative golf program for military Veterans.
Find out which one is best for your heart health.
Everyone knows that exercise is good for the heart. But what kind of exercise is most beneficial for optimum heart health—cardio or strength training? Anthony Altobelli III, MD, Clinical Chief of Cardiology, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) and RWJBarnabas Health (RWJBH) Medical Group, sheds some light on this decades-old debate.
When it comes to cardio vs. strength training for heart health, is one more beneficial than the other?
The scientific evidence is still building around which form of exercise is best to prevent chronic disease. Historically, aerobic (or cardio) exercise was always recommended for heart and lung health with little attention paid to strength (or resistance) training. What’s clear now, however, is that strength training is as important to heart health as aerobic exercise and that a combination of both yields the best heart outcomes with regard to blood pressure, body composition, fitness, strength and metabolism. In turn, beneficial change in a person’s physiology yields a lower risk of diabetes, hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), heart attack and stroke.
What’s the best way to combine these exercises?
Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, a 2018 report from the Department of Health and Human Services, recommends that each week, adults aged 18 to 64 do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or an equivalent combination of both. Strength training should be performed at least twice a week on nonconsecutive days to allow a period of rest for the muscle groups being stressed.
How does age affect the type of exercise(s) a person should do?
As we age, safety becomes an issue. The aging adult should do both forms of exercise, but participation should take into account chronic medical conditions, such as musculoskeletal disorders, that may place the individual at risk for injury. For people at risk for falls or with balance issues, resistance exercises, such as chair squats, heel lifts, rowing, resistance bands, bicep curls and shoulder presses, may be effectively and safely performed. Research continues to support strength/resistance training for older individuals.
What advice do you have for the average person who wants to start an exercise regimen to improve their heart health?
Recommendations are based on age and whether the individual is new to an exercise program. First, choose exercise that you may find enjoyable. Second, set realistic expectations for how often and how long you’ll exercise. Third, choose exercises that you can safely perform. Fourth, consider partnering with others for motivation and socialization. Fifth, communicate with your physicians.
Whoever your heart beats for, our hearts beat for you. Learn about heart and vascular services at RWJBarnabas Health. To connect with a top cardiovascular specialist, call 888-724-7123.
Special Thank you to our Corporate Partners
Your support of the NJGF allows us to make a more meaningful impact throughtout the communities we serve.