From Soldier to Golfer: How PGA HOPE Helped Anthony Laskey Find His Purpose Again

Anthony Laskey’s journey from soldier to golfer is a story of resilience, purpose, and the unexpected ways a game can change a life.

Sometimes, the path forward isn't the one we planned.

For Anthony Laskey, that path began with baseball, continued through the U.S. Army, took an unexpected turn after a devastating parachute accident, and ultimately led him to golf and to a community that helped him find his purpose again.

Today, Anthony is the Wisconsin Ambassador for PGA HOPE, works as an assistant at his golf club, coaches college golf, and has taken his own game to a remarkable 1.9 handicap.

But his story isn't really about a handicap.

It's about what happens when someone finds a reason to keep moving forward.

Finding a New Direction

Anthony grew up around sports. He played golf casually with his father on par-three courses, but baseball was his primary passion. He played throughout college until an elbow injury ended his baseball career.

With a growing family and no clear career path ahead, Anthony decided it was time for a change.

The military had always been part of his family's history. His father had served in both the Marine Corps and Army, his sister served in the Army National Guard, and his grandfather had served in the Air Force.

Anthony decided to follow that tradition—but he wanted to do it at full speed.

He joined the Army with ambitious goals. He wanted to become a Ranger, go airborne, and take on everything the military had to offer.

Then, during airborne training, everything changed.

Anthony experienced a parachute malfunction and fell approximately 40 to 50 feet, suffering extensive injuries, including damage to both hips, his left knee, shoulder, jaw, spine, and a traumatic brain injury.

His military career was effectively over.

For someone who had found purpose in serving, that loss was devastating.

Anthony eventually left the military and found himself struggling with depression, anxiety, and the challenge of figuring out what came next.

He had previously worked as a firefighter, but his injuries made returning to that career impossible.

He needed something new.

A Therapist Asked One Simple Question

After nearly a year of searching for direction, Anthony's mental health therapist asked him a simple question:

Have you ever played golf?

Anthony remembered playing as a kid.

His therapist encouraged him to give the game another try—not simply as a sport, but as a way to work on his mental health, stability, flexibility, and strength.

So Anthony started playing with his brothers-in-law.

There something clicked.

What began as a way to get active quickly became an obsession.

He started researching clubs, working on his swing, and spending as much time on the course as he could.

Golf wasn't just giving him something to do.

It was giving him something to care about.

Discovering PGA HOPE

As Anthony became more serious about golf, he began looking for organizations that connected veterans through the game.

That's when he discovered PGA HOPE.

He signed up for his first six-week session and immediately found something he hadn't realized he was missing: community.

He connected with other veterans. He found instructors who cared about him. And, perhaps most importantly, he found a renewed sense of purpose.

Anthony kept returning to PGA HOPE sessions and became deeply involved in the program.

Eventually, he was nominated to become the PGA HOPE Wisconsin Ambassador.

For Anthony, the honor was overwhelming.

He remembers getting chills thinking about the opportunity and the responsibility that came with it.

Not long afterward, he found himself traveling to Washington, D.C., playing at Congressional and meeting people throughout the PGA HOPE community.

He looked back at where he had started and couldn't believe where golf had taken him.

“Golf changed my whole perspective on life.”

Anthony says the game helped him become more engaged with people, more willing to have conversations, and, most importantly, happy again.

Mental Health First, Golf Second

One of the things that stood out most to Anthony about PGA HOPE was its approach.

The program isn't simply about teaching veterans how to play golf.

As Anthony describes it:

“Mental health first, golf second.”

The game provides a vehicle for rebuilding confidence, creating connections, and restoring the camaraderie many veterans experienced during their military service.

For Anthony, that sense of belonging mattered.

He didn't have a large social circle after leaving the military. PGA HOPE gave him an opportunity to surround himself with people who understood the experience of military service.

The golf was important.

The people were just as important.

From Finding Purpose to Giving Back

Anthony took the support he received and decided to give something back.

If PGA HOPE was willing to invest in him, he wanted to make the most of the opportunity.

He worked with swing coaches, took lessons, and committed himself to becoming a better player.

Eventually, he brought his handicap down to 1.9.

His golf journey also opened new doors. Today, Anthony works as an assistant at his club and coaches college golf.

What started as a recommendation from a therapist has become a major part of his everyday life.

Trust the Process

When asked what he would say to another veteran considering PGA HOPE, Anthony keeps his message simple:

Trust the process.

He admits that when he first signed up, he didn't know what to expect. He assumed it would be an opportunity to hang out with other veterans and play some golf.

Instead, he discovered a structured program centered on the well-being of veterans.

The camaraderie brought back something familiar from his military experience, while golf provided a new environment in which to build confidence and relationships.

Anthony encourages veterans to simply give it a try.

You don't have to be an experienced golfer.

You don't have to have everything figured out.

You just have to show up.

The Mental Game Goes Beyond Golf

Anthony has also carried the lessons he learned through PGA HOPE into his pursuit of professional golf.

As he works toward his PGA membership, he's preparing for the PAT and the other challenges that come with that journey.

The encouragement he's received through PGA HOPE has helped him quiet the self-doubt that can creep in when the pressure rises.

The message has been consistent:

Don't second-guess yourself.

Don't overthink.

Trust what you've trained to do.

Anthony sees a direct connection between that mindset and his military experience.

As a soldier, you train for your responsibilities and then trust yourself to execute.

Golf isn't much different.

If Anthony stands over a shot debating whether to hit a draw or a fade, the indecision can get in the way.

The solution is the same:

Trust the process. Trust yourself. Commit to the shot.

That mindset has become part of how he approaches not only golf, but life.

A Nationwide Community

One of the most powerful aspects of PGA HOPE, Anthony says, is that the community extends far beyond his home state.

As a Wisconsin Ambassador, he has connections with PGA HOPE ambassadors across the country.

If he travels to another part of the country, he can reach out to another ambassador and find opportunities to connect, play golf, and participate in PGA HOPE events.

And that same network is available to other veterans.

A veteran who graduates from a PGA HOPE program in Wisconsin and later travels to Texas, for example, can connect with the PGA HOPE community there.

The result is something much bigger than a local golf program.

It's a nationwide network built around golf, veterans, and connection.

A New Chapter

Anthony Laskey never could have predicted that the game he casually played as a kid would eventually become such an important part of his life.

He couldn't have predicted the military injuries that would change his career.

He couldn't have predicted the depression and uncertainty that followed.

And he certainly couldn't have predicted that a suggestion from his therapist to pick up a golf club again would eventually lead him to Washington, D.C., Congressional, a 1.9 handicap, college coaching, and the role of PGA HOPE Wisconsin Ambassador.

But that's where his journey has taken him.

Golf gave Anthony more than a new sport.

It gave him community.

It gave him confidence.

And, most importantly, it helped him find purpose again.

For veterans who may be searching for that same sense of connection, Anthony's advice remains simple:

Give it a try. Trust the process.

You never know where the next chapter might take you.

Honoring Those Who Served

We remember the veterans who returned home wounded, or those paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. And we also remember the military families who have carried the weight of those sacrifices.

From all of us at Garsen Golf, thank you to our service members, veterans, and military families for your service, your courage, and your sacrifices.