FAIRBORN, OH – Meet Southern Ohio PGA HOPE Columbus Member Drew Stas:
Drew Stas
PGA HOPE Chapter: Columbus Chapter
Service Branch: Marine Corp
Years Active: 1968-1970
Marine Andrew Stas III began his service in 1968 and was discharged in 1970. During his service, Stas was stationed in Japan and was honored in Iwakuni city hall for helping Japanese firefighters quell a forest fire that endangered the Kawashimo district and surrounding territory. Additionally to this recognition, Stas also received the best score award at the rifle range.
Today, Stas is an active member of PGA HOPE Columbus at the Golf Club of Dublin. After gaining confidence in his game during the 2022 Clinics, he took his game to the course and never missed a single Play Day. He loved the feeling of competition on the golf course and continually searched for new ways to improve each week.
Q: What do you enjoy most about participating in PGA HOPE?
DS: I enjoyed meeting new people and talking to them about the services they were in. One of the best things about the Hope program was the Golf Professionals that helped us during Dublin clinics. They were informative and helpful, and I really appreciate everything that they did for all of us.
Q: What was your favorite moment or favorite thing about our PGA HOPE Play Days?
DS: My favorite thing was when I did well. The play days were a lot of fun, and I went to every single one of them. I like playing, and it was great to have the opportunity to play at different golf courses.
Q: Is there any memory or experience from your service days that you would like to share with us?
DS: I really enjoyed the Marine Corps. I was stationed in Japan, and I was a communications teller type. I had top secret clearance and made E5 in less than two years, which I think is pretty good.
Q: Outside of golf, are there any other activities that you enjoy?
DS: Pickleball, I love Pickleball. I have played it pretty often and am getting better at it. During my time in Japan, I always played Ping Pong and was really good at it. The Japanese were amazed by how we used the opposite hand than they did to play.
Q: What is your favorite thing about golf?
DS: I like the competition. I do not care if I come in last; I just enjoy playing.
Q: What is your favorite golf course, golf club, or golf shot?
DS: There is a golf course down in Florida called Grey Oaks Country Club, to which my brother-in-law belongs. Beautiful country club, beautiful golf course, I mean, just gorgeous.
PGA HOPE is the flagship military program funded by PGA REACH. It is an adaptive golf program designed to improve veteran’s overall quality of life through enhancing their mental, social, physical, and emotional well-being.The program introduces the game of golf to military participants through developmental curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency, completely free of charge to each participant.
PGA REACH Southern Ohio is proud to support more than 250 PGA HOPE Members through four local Chapters currently. Trained PGA Professionals throughout the Southern Ohio Section provide annual instruction through annual Clinic Sessions and encourage growth on the course for each participant. Click here to learn more about PGA HOPE Southern Ohio.
Interested in supporting PGA HOPE Southern Ohio? Click here to give with a purpose this year and make a donation to the 2022 PGA HOPE Southern Ohio National Day of HOPE campaign by Veteran’s Day, November 11.
