The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation has been serving our wounded veterans with medical bills, housing, emotional support, rehabilitation and building relationships since 2007. With a mission to bridge the gap between military benefits and real-world, real-time needs, this Tyler-based organization has raised almost $9 million for these veterans and their families … oftentimes, when they need it most.
Along with the Veterans Golf Association (VGA), The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation also offers the game of golf to help veterans and their families through financial relief off the course, and fun and camaraderie inside the ropes. Since 2014, the VGA has hosted over 10,000 tournaments nationwide, and in 2024 alone, they hosted over 1,800 events for their 15,876 members. Of those members, 738 of them have been awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.
Here in Texas, the VGA operates tournaments at courses not only in DFW, but around the state. They also hold a National Tournament each fall that offers multiple flights based on skill level and also women’s, combat wounded, and family divisions.
There is also the annual Armed Forces Cup, which is another of the VGA’s signature events. The AFC was created to reward those VGA members with the most participation throughout the VGA Tour season in a Ryder Cup-styled match play championship between branches. The United States Air Force took home last year’s AFC, just edging out the Coast Guard 11.5 points to 11.
The Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation has a similar mission, and with the VGA, has been able to collaborate on tournaments, retreats, and other goodwill missions for our veterans.
Bob Goode has been active with the VGA for several years.
“I went to an event in 2021 with the Wounded Warriors.” Goode said. “You really felt a sense of family. The staff with the Wounded Warriors, they were just fantastic. They greeted everybody. They made sure everybody had everything they needed. It’s just a wonderful feeling. A lot of times the focus is on the golf, but there are so many of the other things that they provide during one of these events that really makes it all special. I know it really is for me.”
One of the Texas WWF greatest success stories is Reggie Bartley. Bartley spent eight years active duty with the 227th Infantry Division out of Hawaii and then the 82nd Airborne. During his stint in the United States Army, Bartley received a Meritorious Unit Commendation Medal, an Army Achievement Medal, a Good Conduct Medal and was even a member of the gold medal All-Army Volleyball team in 2011.
Upon his return home, Bartley found himself listless and battling, as so many others do when they return, with PTSD. It became so bad, Bartley considered ending it all. Leaving his family, friends, and those memories of the Army behind … for good.
However, with the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation, Bartley found not only a competitive outlet in the game of golf, but also a network of other soldiers who were experiencing similar feelings of despair, listlessness and pain. Some felt this pain mentally … others, physically. But there is one thing they all have in common, the pride of once serving this great nation, and the feelings of where to go from here given their conditions. Bartley became emotional when discussing his life after finding the Wounded Warriors Foundation.
“Being a part of the Texas Wounded Warriors saved my life,” Bartley said. “It filled a hole that had been missing since I left the service. Seeing the other service members there and connecting not just through golf, but on a personal level, with people that have a deep understanding of what we’ve been through makes all the difference. To be honest, it makes me emotional thinking about my girls at home, but I can honestly say without the Texas Wounded Warriors Foundation, I would not be here.”
Goode notes that about 80 percent of competitors with the VGA suffer from psychological disabilities rather than physical ones.
“You just never know what some of these veterans are going through mentally,” Goode said. “We always see the physical wounds, but it’s much harder to see the psychological ones. Once you get those guys who might have PTSD together, you really see them start to form a bond, because they are with other veterans who understand what they’re going through.”
The Texas WWF holds multiple golf events here in Texas annually. Their Warrior Spring Family Retreat is one of their most popular. They also host golf academies, and their ever-popular Amarillo Warrior Pro-Am Weekend, which was at the end of July.
Another signature event the Texas WWF spearheads annually is their Christmas party. They select several families and take them out for a night on the town that features dinner, and this last year, a trip to downtown Grapevine for a ride on Santa’s North Pole Express. They also provide Christmas gifts for the families selected to assure that these warriors’ children have an amazing holiday season.
One of the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation’s major fundraising efforts of the year is just a few weeks away. The Stonebridge Ranch CC Charity Classic will be played September 11-12 at the Dye Course at Stonebridge Country Club in McKinney. Not only will participants get to play one of Pete Dye’s finest layouts, but also have the opportunity to play with a wounded warrior, attend a dinner with keynote speaker and retired four-star General Paul E. Funk II and enjoy a live performance from Emerald City Band. There are also plenty of other on-course surprises the day of the event, including what should be an emotional and captivating opening ceremony.
There are several levels to be part of the event. Whether it’s as a player, sponsor, auction item donor, or a one-time cash donation. Your involvement helps the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation honor those who served while offering help to those veterans who need it, all while helping strengthen the community through charity.
For more information on the upcoming tournament, the Texas Wounded Warrior Foundation or the Veteran Golfers Association, visit www.txwoundedwarrior.org or www.vgagolf.org.