Meet Ted Simons of Patriot Golf Foundation in Scottsdale

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ted Simons.

Ted, before we jump into specific questions about the organization, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
After a lifetime in sports, and sports marketing, and most recently spending 18 years developing golf academies around the world for Mr. Jack Nicklaus, I embarked into the world of starting a nonprofit foundation. A former Director of Instruction of mine, Seth Glasco, envisioned the Patriot Golf Schools after listening to Lt Col Dan Rooney from Folds of Honor tell his story of ‘why’ he started the Folds. Then hearing the stories from actual recipients of the Folds Scholarships who qualify because one of their parents were either killed or disabled defending our freedom, Seth came up with a path to give back to military veterans and their families through golf schools. Fast forward to today, Seth contacted me with his vision and we decided to start the Patriot Golf Foundation and bring the Patriot Golf Schools to market.

We host Patriot Golf Schools across the country and designate revenues from our schools to military veteran charities, including Folds of Honor, Wounded Warrior Project, K9s for Warriors, Feherty’s Troops First Foundation and more. In addition to providing financial assistance to these foundations, we involve veterans throughout each of our 1, 2 or 3-day Patriot Golf Schools. We believe in “the Healing Power of Golf” and know from our veterans how much golf has positively impacted their lives, and in many cases, saved their lives. With 22 veterans taking their own life each day from the negative, but real effects of PTSD, the time spent receiving golf instruction, practicing, playing a round of golf, and spending time with their fellow service members goes a long way in their rehabilitation program. The benefits physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially are amazing to experience first hand.

We have assembled one of the finest teaching staff in the country to deliver on our mission. Our National Master Instructor Staff is lead by Mesa resident Mike Malaska, 2011 PGA National Teacher of the Year and the Patriot Golf Schools “Dean of Instruction”. I have known and worked with Mike for over 20-years, so the match was perfect. Many of our 26 staff members are former Nicklaus-Flick Golf School instructors who were based out of Desert Mountain in the early days of the development. Nicklaus-Flick was the preeminent corporate golf school for Fortune 500 companies to bring their employees, clients, suppliers and more to for three-day schools at Desert Mountain. This concept is being revisited except now the tuition is paid to a nonprofit foundation that supports military veterans and their families – and provides access to golf to our American Heroes.

Another Arizona based nonprofit, VetTix.org, support our veterans by providing donated tickets to concerts, sporting and cultural events, and more to their registered members. We have partnered with VetTix as our avenue to promote the Patriot Golf Foundation and donate the Patriot Golf School sessions to the veterans at no cost to the veteran. For the one-day golf school we hosted in February at the JW Marriott Camelback Golf Club, VetTix notified their 50,000 Arizona members of the opportunity. We hosted the six selected veterans at our day-long golf school. I am confident our instructors enjoyed the day with the veterans as much as the veterans enjoyed their day of golf instruction and on-course time.

We have a large three-day event coming up April 15-17 at The Patriot Golf Club outside of Tulsa, OK. The Patriot Golf Club is the home of Folds of Honor and we anticipate giving a check to the Folds in excess of $30,000 – and importantly, involving 18 different veterans in all of the activities over the course of the three days. This is a Win-Win-Win for our veterans and the fantastic foundations and charities that support them.

Has it been a smooth road?
Starting a non-profit is the same as starting a new business. Yes, there are challenges around every corner. Getting the message out about the Patriot Golf Foundation and our mission has gone very well. We have a great cause and a unique platform. Golf events are a natural avenue to raise money for various foundations, including military veteran foundations. The Patriot Golf Schools are the only one that has decided to use golf instruction as our vehicle to generate new revenues for these charities, but also involve the veterans alongside our sponsor/patrons the entire experience.

Securing sponsors and donations is our largest hurdle to date. With the right level of sponsorship donations to the Foundation, we hope to be able to donate 100% of our revenues from each of the Patriot Golf Schools to the veterans. The sponsorships will cover our operating expenses and allow us to expand our footprint at a faster rate so we can put on more events, raise more money, and share golf with more and more of our veterans.

Reaching the right C-Suite executive that is a Patriot, loves to support our military veterans and their families, and appreciates the many benefits the game of golf provides to everyone, is a focus locally, as well as nationally. And being based in one of the greatest golf markets on earth and one of the hottest markets for business in the US helps.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Patriot Golf Foundation story. Tell us more about your organization.
We are in the golf entertainment business, so to speak. Corporate or group golf instruction is a different animal than taking a private golf lesson. Our renowned instructors know how to teach golfers of all abilities – at the same time – which is an art form. We keep our student to teacher ratio at 4:1, so every student gets the hands-on attention they deserve. We focus on ‘keeping it simple’ so players at any level will see an improvement in the swing, in their game. And we keep it ‘fun’. Golf is a sport, not a job, and fun should be priority #1. When our students leave one of our schools, we know they had a great experience, their games will be better from the time they spent with us, and they enjoyed their day.

We provide a full-day experience from breakfast, to instruction, lunch, a 9-hole on course “play & learn” session, ending with a reception or dinner. This is the first-class event hosted at some of the top golf courses/clubs in the country.

Our sponsor/patrons have the opportunity to mentor the veterans they spend the day with. In turn, the veterans get to share their experiences with the sponsor/patron and develop a bond that may last a lifetime. Improving one’s golf game becomes a small part of what we accomplish. We are changing lives for the better.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Golf is here to stay. The industry, like all industries, has its ups and downs. We will always have an ample supply of golf courses/clubs to host our Patriot Golf Schools at. And having been involved in the golf instruction world for over 20-years, I know we will never run out of students! “Golf is a game that will never be mastered,” stated the holder of 18 Majors, Jack Nicklaus. If the Greatest Player of All Time believes you will never figure out the game of golf, we have an endless supply of players that need to get better.

Financial support of our military veterans will never be enough, ever. There are so many quality organizations that are providing services to our veterans and their families that can always use additional funding – and exposure. We want to align with both national and local foundations with the goal of keeping the funds raised in Arizona, so they stay in Arizona to help our citizens.

Sharing the game of golf with veterans is so rewarding. We have worked with Vietnam veterans to those that are still in their 20’s. We have worked with fully functioning individuals to those that are missing a limb or two. We work with male and female service members alike. From ‘never-ever’s’ that have never picked up a golf club to some serious players, our goal remains the same; improve their lives through ‘the healing power of golf’.

As we get more established, we will expand the Patriot Golf Foundation and our Patriot Golf Schools to support First Responders under the same platform. This segment needs support financially and through the diversion that golf provides.

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Due to COVID-19, we needed to reschedule a large three-day event from April to September at The Patriot Golf Club outside of Tulsa, OK. The Patriot Golf Club is the home of Folds of Honor and we anticipate giving a check to the Folds in excess of $30,000 – and importantly, involving 18 different veterans in all of the activities over the course of the three days. This is a Win-Win-Win for our veterans and the fantastic foundations and charities that support them.

Contact Info:

• Address: Patriot Golf Foundation
  16611 N 91st Street, Suite 106
  Scottsdale, AZ 85260
• Website: www.patriotgolffoundation.com
• Phone: 480 393 3187
• Email: info@patriotgolffoundation.com
• Instagram: patriot_golffoundation
• Facebook: patriotgolffoundation
• Twitter: @patriotgolffoun
• Other: LinkedIn: patriotgolffoundation

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