The excitement is building for the annual PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am at Bellevue Country Club as PGA of America Professionals and amateur golfers get set to honor and team up with military veterans May 27th, 2025.
This year, IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter will be the presenting partner of the PGA HOPE Pro-Am. PGA HOPE CNY is grateful for the support of IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes for such an important tournament that impacts the lives of Veterans and other programs. 2025 is the first year of a three year agreement with this Pro-Am and IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes.
The Pro-Am is an annual fundraising event every Tuesday after Memorial Day weekend. This tournament has raised thousands of dollars for the PGA HOPE programs across our section boundaries.
All dollars raised at this event will go to PGA HOPE CNY programs and post-programming opportunities for our local veteran community.
Marilyn Oppedisano of NECA Finger Lakes Chapter appreciates the significance of the PGA HOPE program and how it benefits the local community. Al Marzullo of IBEW Local 43 has also been instrumental in supporting PGA REACH.
“IBEW/NECA feels it’s so important to give back to our community and the PGA HOPE tournament provides a great avenue for doing that,” she said. “IBEW/NECA have a number of outreach programs that we participate in to draw veterans to our industry and the opportunities it offers them as they look for careers beyond the service to our country.”
The PGA HOPE Pro-Am features four-person teams that include one PGA Professional or one Veteran. Although Oppedisano will not be playing this year, there are two foursomes representing IBEW/NECA made up of veteran electricians and contractors that will be paired with PGA Members and/or Veterans.
The IBEW/NECA is proud to be supporting the PGA HOPE Pro-Am and Central New York Veterans through PGA HOPE.
“The PGA Hope program provides veterans a great opportunity to interact with others who have served our country and creates a network of support for their lives beyond their service careers,” Oppedisano said. “We thank them all for their service!”
PGA of America Member Joe Tesori, the PGA REACH Executive Director, is grateful to have IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes Chapter as the Presenting Partner for our annual PGA HOPE CNY Pro-Am.
“Al (Marzullo) and Marilyn (Oppedisano) are fantastic partners, and we’re truly excited about this new collaboration,” Tesori said. “Ultimately, this event is about giving back to our veteran community through our HOPE programs. The generous support from IBEW Local 43/NECA Finger Lakes will allow us to make a significant and lasting impact on the lives of our veterans through the game of golf. We’re looking forward to a successful first year of this partnership and are excited for what the future holds.”
The Pro-Am format is an 18-hole Scramble competition. The day will be filled with on course contests, raffle items, food, drinks, music and much more!