Bunkers in Baghdad Receives Major Donation from IJGT Member

IJGT Member Coordinates Major Golf Ball Donation 

In October, 2011, the IJGT partnered with Bunkers in Baghdad and Bridgestone Golf to collect golf balls for U.S. Armed Forces serving overseas.

Bunkers in Baghdad is a non-profit that gathers and delivers new and used golf balls, clubs and equipment to troops currently serving in combat zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Bunkers also supplies golf equipment to Wounded Warriors Programs around the country to aid in the rehabilitation of injured veterans.

Jared Mactas, a junior from Woodcliff Lake, N.J., recently coordinated the largest single donation in the brief history of this partnership.  Jared was able to collect over 3,400 golf balls - nearly doubling the total number of golf balls that IJGT has collected to date!

Jared's drive to do something great with his golf career is certainly admirable, but not uncommon.  We at the IJGT see many of Jared's peers striving to become a great player.  It was Jared's initiative and desire to do something great off the course that is most impressive.  His example is one that everyone should follow.  

And he hasn't stopped there.  Jared plans to continue the success of his golf ball collection with a golf club and equipment collection later this spring.  We hope that many of our members and others will take initiative, much like Jared did, to make a difference for someone or something that they are passionate about too!

About the Partnership with Bunkers in Baghdad

"Bunkers in Baghdad is looking forward to working with America’s up-and-coming golfers on the InternationalJunior Golf Tour,” says Joseph Hanna, President and Founder of Bunkers in Baghdad, Inc. “We’re proud to say young people have played a significant role in helping our organization collect and ship more than 2.4 million golf balls and 50,000 golf clubs to our soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and 11 other countries as well as wounded warriors in all 50 states." 

“It is an honor to partner with Bunkers in Baghdad and Bridgestone Golf to support our troops,” says Peter Orrell, President and CEO of Junior Sports Corporation, owner/operator of the IJGT. “This initiative is only a small token of our appreciation for what service members do to protect our country each day.”

“We appreciate the IJGT coming to us with such a great idea and happy to participate in a small way,” says Dan Murphy, Vice President of Marketing for Bridgestone Golf. “We hope the balls sent overseas to our troops provide a level of recreation and an opportunity for fun during their important missions.”

If you would like to donate your used golf balls, please bring them to any of the IJGT Major Events, a local Hilton Head Area collection site, and/or the IJGT Offices on Hilton Head Island.  We can also arrange shipment and logistics with Bunkers in Baghdad if you are not able to deliver your donation.

For more information about the IJGT or to donate golf balls: www.IJGT.com, info@IJGT.com, 800.792.9143.