Hello dear friends,

First of all, I’m really excited for two of our OGO Veterans that will be participating in the first ever “The Links at Petco Park” sponsored by the San Diego Padres and Callaway Golf on Monday, November 9th, 2016, with a tee time of 6pm. Its a great way to kick off the Veterans Day Week.

Speaking of Veterans Day, OGO will be hosting twenty of our combat injured on Veterans Day with a round of golf and dinner at Morgan Run Resort.

Operation Game On has had another successful year thanks to your most generous donations and continued support. I thank all of you for that. Our last session for 2015 will be November 16th for eight of our Veterans and will be getting fit at Taylor Made’s the Kingdom in December. We already have eleven more Veterans that will start their beginner golf lessons in January 2016 and ten in our more advanced class. I have been working with the Veterans Hospital La Jolla to recruit those Veterans that still suffer from their injuries, but it turns out that word of mouth from our troops is the best source as they know who their fellow combat injured are and know they would benefit from OGO. A big shout out to our pros, Ted Norby, Randy Reznicek, and Bob Knee, for their passion, patience, and unselfishness in taking their own time to share their expertise in the golf swing to our Heroes. Another shout to the Del Mar Golf Center’s Matt Clay and Chris Lesson.

Our second annual 15″ Cup Hole-in-One Challenge is booked for January 25th, 2016 to be held once again at the driving range at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. Last year turned out to be a big networking party for various businesses while at the same time enjoying our fantastic food and grog, great music, and the chance in making a Hole-In-One. We had 21 who did. For those of you that live in the San Diego area, please spread the word and come on out!. I’ve attached a video magazine for your review. My son, Pat, has committed to attend and to bring along some of his PGA Tour pals. Should be entertaining.

Fairbanks Ranch Country Club 15-inch Cup Challenge

Well folks, I’m in an awkward position. On one end, I’m very happy that we, at OGO, are helping our combat wounded Heroes and have quite a few waiting to join us. On the other end, I’m saddened that there are still so many that still need our support. According to the Congressional Research Service report dated September 2014, there are 128,496 troops suffering from PTSD and 1,573 suffering from Amputations. I discovered that quite a few live in Southern California area and our goal for 2016 will be to reach out to them.

I can’t say enough that without your support, OGO cannot do what it does to continue its mission. I was really taken back when one of our Heroes told my son at our OGO Golf Classic banquet that OGO saved his life and that he now realizes he wants to live. Pat said “that was strong!”.  This is so real as I see this each week. It gives me great inner joy and my heart grows each week to hear the laughter and see the turnaround.

veterans-day-we-thank-you

Next week for Veterans Day, don’t just tell them “thanks for your service”. They hear that too often. Please just say,

“thank you for protecting my freedom, for my family, my friends, and our beloved United States.

You are truly America’s Heroes”.

May God Bless and protect our troops that are again in harms way, May God Bless all of you, and may God Bless America!

Tony