Veterans Gather at River Oaks Golf Course for Seventh VOC Event of 2018

SANDY, UTAH—For the third consecutive season, River Oaks Golf Course hosted the Utah Golf Foundation’s Veterans on Course program. Sixty military personnel of active or veteran status attended the event to partake of free lessons, nine holes of golf and social event, during which dinner was served and a guest speaker addressed the players.

The event started with an hour of golf lessons from PGA Professionals Ryan Holt, Stacey Jones and Todd Tanner. The military men and women rotated among three stations every 20 minutes: putting, chipping and the driving range.

Following the clinic, the participants played a nine-hole scramble tournament on River Oaks’ challenging back nine, where their skills were tested, and their relationships were strengthened. Despite sporadic wind, the players finished with smiles on their faces and impressive scores in hand.

The guest speaker during the after-play social was provided by the UGF’s event sponsor, Savage Services. Bryan Hoggan, Vice President of Safety, Health and Environment at Savage Services, served in the United States Air Force from 1988 to 1996, including as a Staff Sergeant with an aeromedical evacuations unit.

He graduated from Utah State University in 1995 with a degree in Public Health, with an emphasis in Industrial Hygiene and a minor in Chemistry.

Much of Bryan’s career has been in the mining industry, having previously worked in HS&E positions at BHP, Barrick Gold, American Soda, Rio Tinto, Chevron and ArcelorMittal. For the past five years, he has branched out into heavy industrial and logistics, working in leadership roles at McWane and now at Savage.

Bryan and his wife Janel have been married for 25 years and have six children. They currently reside in Midway, Utah.

The event concluded with awards given to the following participants:

Closest-To #12: Josh Kinn

Closest-To #18: Don Pierce

Scramble Champions: Madril Tapui, Shane Jolley, Shane Brooks, Shane Anderson (-7)

The Utah Golf Foundation would like to thank Savage Services for their generous contribution to the Veterans on Course at River Oaks event as well as River Oaks Golf Course for hosting the event.

As always, thank you to the military personnel of active or veteran status who attended the event. Your support of the UGF and its initiatives is greatly appreciated. Thank you for your service!