HOCKEY PLAYING PGA GOLFERS VS. RED WINGS AT MSU’S MUNN ICE ARENA, FEB.18
Michigan PGA Team, Detroit Red Wings Alumni to Faceoff to Help Veterans’ Charities
EAST LANSING – The golfers of the Michigan Section PGA and the Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association (DRWAA) are once again dropping the puck and helping veterans.
For the second consecutive year they will demonstrate golfers can play hockey and in the process contribute funding to charity groups that serve veterans of the armed forces.
The second Michigan PGA Red Wings Alumni Game is planned for Sunday, Feb. 18, at Munn Ice Arena on the campus of Michigan State University. The first game was played last February at the Belfor Training Center at Little Caesars Arena and raised $85,000.
This year’s funds will be presented to a trio of veteran’s service organizations that help Michigan veterans – PGA HOPE (Helping our Patriots Everywhere), Folds of Honor and Spike’s K9.
The 1 p.m. game with two 30-minute run-time periods will feature a team of Michigan PGA golfer/hockey players taking on the Red Wings Alumni. Spectators will be admitted for free, and they will have an opportunity to donate to the charity groups on game day.
Red Berenson, Mickey Redmond, Joe Kocur, Mike Knuble, John Ogrodnick, Ed Mio, Danny DeKeyser and Kevin Miller are among those scheduled to appear for the Red Wings Alumni.
The PGA players and their honorary coaches for the game are raising a minimum of $500 each for the veterans’ groups and sponsorship opportunities for the event are available to purchase.
George Bowman, the PGA Head Golf Professional at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Clarkston, is also the secretary for the DRWAA and is leading the partnership effort for the game once again.
“Hockey players love to play golf, and a lot of golfers love hockey, and this game will show you that some golf professionals made a successful transition from hockey to golf while helping veterans all at the same time,” Bowman said.
Bowman will play with the PGA professionals and the Red Wing alumni team. Former NHL player Dean Kolstad, past president of the Michigan PGA Section and Director of Golf at Gull Lake View Golf Club & Resort near Kalamazoo, will take to the ice, too.
Several members of the Michigan PGA squad have collegiate, club, and even professional hockey experience like Mark Versteeg-Lytwyn (Indian Hills), Brandon Scero (Salem Hills Golf Club) and Doug Kreis (Battle Creek Country Club).
Among the honorary coaches for the Michigan PGA Team will be John Lindert of Country Club of Lansing, the current president of the national PGA of America, Stephanie Jennings, current Michigan PGA president, and Kevin Helm, executive director of the Michigan PGA.
“The Red Wings are the stars on ice and they do it for fun while helping groups raise money for charitable causes,” Bowman said. “The PGA players are also raising money in this effort and getting to fulfill a dream of playing hockey against some of the world’s finest professionals.”
TO SPONSOR AND HELP VETERANS: Contact George Bowman, PGA Professional and Secretary of the DRWAA at 248-343-2589. https://www.nhl.com/redwings/team/alumni-association
ABOUT PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere): The flagship military program of the PGA of America introduces golf to veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Golf Professionals across Michigan volunteer and the program is free. Visit www.pgahope.com
ABOUT FOLDS OF HONOR: Folds of Honor provides life-changing scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen or disabled military as well as America’s first responders. On our watch, those who protect our freedoms and our families know they are not forgotten. Visit www.foldsofhonor.org
ABOUT SPIKE'S K9: Spike's K9 Fund was founded by James Hatch, a retired Special Warfare Operator. As a K9 handler on several deployments, James’ life was regularly spared by the work of K9s – one of the most memorable was Spike. Visit www.spikesk9fund.org