Fairways for Freedom® helps combat-injured veterans assimilate back into society through holistic initiatives and the game of golf
Many combat-injured veterans struggle with physical disabilities, including loss of limbs, and with mental-health issues such as Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The Fairways for Freedom program provides combat-injured U.S. veterans with instruction and practice in evidence-informed, clinically tested, self-regulation techniques; opportunities for therapeutic, recreational, and community-building social activities; training on healthy lifestyle choices; and education about community-based Veterans resources for post-retreat reintegration.
At Fairways for Freedom, our goal is also to connect leaders in the business community (Ambassador/Donors) with combat-injured veterans through the game of golf. Business professionals serve as not only sponsors to the veterans, but also as mentors, and, in turn, learn what true sacrifice is all about. The great courses of Ireland, Scotland, England, Nova Scotia, Vermont, Georgia and Utah, for example, provide an exhilarating environment for building these relationships.
Fairways for Freedom Announces
Three Destinations for Veteran Trips in 2025:
Sea Island, GA, The Equinox in Vermont and Western Ireland
Fairways for Freedom will be conducting two trips in the second half of 2025: to The Equinox Resort in Vermont (in late June) and to Western Ireland (in September). Each trip will consist of 8 combat-injured veterans and 3-5 sponsoring Ambassadors. If you would like to be an Ambassador on one or both of these trips, thereby sponsoring a combat-injured veteran, please email us at fairways4freedom@gmail.com and we will get back to you with details. (The Ireland trip is currently waist-list status for Ambassadors; the Vermont trip still has Ambassador openings.)
Fairways for Freedom completed a successful one-week trip to Sea Island, GA, in late February, 2025, with eight combat-injured veterans. The group played such gems as Frederica Golf Club, Ocean Forest Golf Club and the Sea Island Plantation Course. In addition, the Sea Island Teaching Staff gave a 2-hour, one-on-one clinic to the veterans.
In 2024, Fairways for Freedom Conducted Trips to three destinations: Sea Island, GA in February, The Equinox (Manchester, VT) in June, and Southeastern Ireland (Druids Glen) in September. Each trip consisted of eight combat-injured veterans. The Vermont trip also featured three supporting Ambassadors, and the Ireland trip featured five supporting Ambassadors.
Fairways for Freedom Completed Trips to Two New Destinations for FFF in the US:
The Greenbrier and The Equinox
Fairways for Freedom created two new trips in the United States, originally slated for October 2021 and re-scheduled for April and May of 2022. One was to The Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia. The other was to The Equinox Resort in Vermont. Each trip consisted of 8 combat-injured veterans and several sponsoring Ambassadors, and each was based on our Ireland/UK model (5-6 rounds of golf, one day of fishing, yoga every morning). If you would like to be an Ambassador on an upcoming trip, thereby sponsoring a combat-injured veteran, please email us at fairways4freedom@gmail.com and we will get back to you with details.
Fairways for Freedom Continues its Nationwide Program: “Play 18 for 22” for Veteran Suicide Awareness
Fairways for Freedom once again is conducting its ambitious program to increase awareness of the veteran suicide epidemic and work toward ending it once and for all. The program is called “Play 18 for 22” and focuses attention on the fact that tragically 22 U.S. service men and women take their own lives every day. FFF’s contention is that this statistic is simply not acceptable, and we intend to do something about it.
The “Play 18 for 22” program is the brainchild of Lt. Col. (Ret) Carolyn Fota, a combat-injured veteran who participated in our first trip to Ireland. When she finished her round at Old Head Golf Club in driving rain and wind, accompanied by FFF co-Founder Dr. Patricia Donnelly and the lone caddie who stuck out the round, Fota dropped to the 18th green and performed 20 push-ups, plus one (for the one who is never forgotten). FFF volunteers John Sanabia, Tim Young and Jason Miller (all combat-injured veterans) are continuing to spearhead the campaign for FFF.
Success!
Two Trips for 2021 completed in 2022 — The historic
British Open courses of Southeast England
and a return to the classic gems of Northwest Ireland
Due to COVID-19 and resulting concerns about the safety of our veterans, ambassadors and staff, our two international trips, originally scheduled for September 2020, and then for September 2021, were successfully completed in late September and early October 2022.
On the first trip, eight combat-injured veterans and five sponsoring ambassadors toured the best courses of Ireland’s Inishowen Peninsula and stayed the entire week at first-class golf hotels. We played six incredible rounds, including Ballyliffin-Glashedy (site of the 2018 Irish Open), Ballyliffin Old Links, three courses at Rosapenna (Sandy Hills, Old Tom Morris and the brand-new St Patrick’s), and the magnificent and redesigned Portsalon Golf Club.
On a new trip (and new destination for FFF) the following week, another eight combat-injured veterans and five sponsoring ambassadors played six magnificent courses on the English coast, including the historic courses of the British Open — Royal St. George’s, Princes and Royal Cinque Ports, staying the entire week in an historic hotel.
Email fairways4freedom@gmail.com for the exact dates or more information on our trips for 2024, if you would like to be an ambassador on either of these trips, or if you would like to sponsor a combat-injured veteran.
