Honoring service through golf: Niagara Frontier pros bring healing to veterans & hope to homeless

Niagara Gospel Mission Press Release & Photos

Loyalty, honor, and care: These three words are not often associated with golf or golf professionals, but at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club in Youngstown, Dan Antonucci and some of his staff have used the game of golf to make an impact on this nation’s heroes and the City of Niagara Falls’ homeless. They have been dedicated to opening this game up to all people, not just those who can afford to be at a country club.

Antonucci, the club’s head PGA golf professional, and his staff, along with the Niagara Gospel Mission, have been focusing on teaching veterans – including homeless veterans – how to golf as part of their healing and restoration.

Antonucci and fellow PGA professional Frank Garcia, have been instrumental in seeing Western New York’s PGA HOPE program succeed.

HOPE stands for “Helping Our Patriots Everywhere,” and its mission is to “change and save veterans' and active-duty military service members' lives through the power of golf.”

Antonucci and Garcia said instructing the veterans who come to this event is a highlight in their careers.

“When I think about what these men and women are willing to do for me and our country, the least I can do is help them learn the game of golf,” Garcia said.

Image provided by the Niagara Gospel Mission.

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Antonucci has been at Niagara Frontier Golf Club for over 30 years as the PGA-certified golf professional. In 2011, he was awarded the WNYPGA Golf Professional of the Year Award; and in 2024, he was inducted into the WNYPGA Golf Hall of Fame.

When asked why he has stayed at Niagara Frontier all these years, Antonucci said, “It's about loyalty. I have been given a great opportunity to play and teach this game all my life. But it is the members here and the great people you meet over the years that have really kept me at this club.”

When asked about how he heard about PGA Hope, Antonucci said, “The WNYPGA had introduced HOPE to the golf community, and there was only one course hosting the clinics, Glen Oaks G.C. They could not handle the number of veterans that wanted to attend the clinic, so I asked the board if we could offer the clinic at Niagara Frontier G.C. We were the second site for PGA HOPE in WNY, and the only private club hosting.”

For being the first private club to host the clinic, and this year hosting the PGA HOPE Cup, Antonucci and Niagara Frontier were awarded the WNYPGA Patriot Award, which is given for “demonstrating unwavering commitment and dedication to the men and women who have valiantly served and protected the United States of America.”

One of the attendees of this year’s PGA HOPE clinic was former Army sniper and current executive director of the Niagara Gospel Mission, John Cooper. After being exposed to golf for the first time and seeing the impact it had on him, he wondered if he could bring the game to the homeless veterans he serves at the rescue agency in Niagara Falls.

“The game of golf is a great metaphor for those who are struggling in life,” Cooper said. “It teaches you many lessons – like not letting one shot define you – and the game is you versus the course, which translates into lessons taught at our shelter to homeless veterans.”

Coooper approached Antonucci and Garcia about teaching the homeless men in the recovery program how to golf and taking them to local courses. The two not only agreed to help form the teaching, but Garcia also comes to Niagara Gospel Mission weekly to teach the men in the program how to golf.

After taking these homeless men in recovery out for their first game, Garcia said, “This is the highlight of my year. All other golf accomplishments and things pale in comparison.”

In Niagara Falls, the game of golf is open to everyone, regardless of whether you are the owner of a hotel, a warfighter, or homeless and in a shelter. Men like Antonucci and Garcia, and the Niagara Frontier Golf Club, are committed to seeing the game not only be enjoyed on the most scenic course in Niagara County, but also used to change someone’s life.

“I have been so amazed at the willingness of this club to open up the game of golf not only to the members here, but to fellow veterans and the homeless we serve at the mission.” Cooper said, “I cannot thank Dan and Frank enough for their loyalty to the people here, honor for their country's heroes, and care for the homeless of our area.”

If you would like to hear more about how you can help those who are struggling with homelessness recover through golf, contact Cooper at jcooper@niagaragrm.org. And if you are interested in joining the membership at the golf club, contact Tim Engel at timjengel@niagarafrontiergolfclub.com.