Golf Tournament Boosts Men’s Mental Health | Proven Support
The Road 2 Love Foundation recently hosted its third annual charity golf tournament aimed specifically at supporting men’s mental health initiatives. This Oklahoma-based event brought together golfers, sponsors, and mental health advocates to raise awareness and funds for a cause that often remains in the shadows. The tournament’s success demonstrates how community events can effectively break the stigma surrounding men’s mental health while providing tangible support to those in need.
Breaking the Silence: Men’s Mental Health Crisis
Men’s mental health remains a critical yet underaddressed public health concern. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, men are less likely than women to seek help for depression, substance abuse, and stressful life events. The statistics paint a troubling picture: men die by suicide at rates nearly four times higher than women, making it the seventh leading cause of death among males.
This reality is what drives organizations like Road 2 Love to create spaces where the conversation about men’s mental health can happen naturally. Golf tournaments provide an ideal setting – combining physical activity, social connection, and friendly competition in an environment where men traditionally feel comfortable.
Road 2 Love: A Mission-Driven Foundation
The Road 2 Love Foundation was established with a clear purpose: to support men facing mental health challenges. The organization focuses on three key areas:
- Raising awareness about men’s mental health issues
- Reducing stigma associated with seeking help
- Providing resources and support networks for men in crisis
Founder Marcus Williams started the foundation after experiencing his own mental health struggles. “Men often feel they need to handle everything alone,” Williams explains. “Our mission is to show them that seeking help isn’t weakness – it’s actually the strongest thing they can do.”
The annual golf tournament has become the foundation’s flagship fundraising event, growing in both participation and impact each year.
Third Annual Tournament: A Day of Impact
This year’s tournament, held at Forest Ridge Golf Club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, saw record attendance with over 120 golfers participating. The day featured an 18-hole scramble format, allowing players of all skill levels to enjoy the experience while contributing to the cause.
Beyond golf, the event included:
- A silent auction featuring donated items from local businesses
- Mental health resources and information booths
- Guest speakers sharing personal stories of recovery
- Networking opportunities for participants and sponsors
Local businesses stepped up as sponsors, providing financial support that ensured all proceeds from registrations could go directly toward the foundation’s mental health programs.
Community Response and Participation
The tournament saw strong community support, with participants ranging from casual weekend golfers to serious enthusiasts. Many attendees shared personal connections to the cause.
“I lost my brother to suicide three years ago,” shared participant David Johnson. “He never felt comfortable talking about what he was going through. Events like this help break down those barriers and might save someone else’s brother, father, or son.”
Tournament director Sarah Martinez noted the positive atmosphere: “What makes this event special is how it combines something men enjoy – golf – with a message that could save lives. The conversations that happen naturally on the course are exactly what we’re trying to encourage in everyday life.”
The Power of Sports in Mental Health Advocacy
Research consistently shows that sports events can serve as effective platforms for mental health advocacy. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Sport Psychology found that sports-based mental health initiatives can reduce stigma by up to 35% among male participants.
Golf, in particular, offers unique benefits:
- The sport naturally encourages conversation during play
- It appeals to a demographic often resistant to mental health discussions
- The outdoor setting and physical activity provide immediate mental health benefits
- The game’s emphasis on mental focus creates natural openings to discuss psychological wellness
“We chose golf deliberately,” Williams explains. “When you’re walking the course with someone for four hours, real conversations happen. Men who might never walk into a therapy office will openly discuss struggles with friends on the fairway.”
Funds Raised: Direct Impact on Services
This year’s tournament raised over $45,000 – a 30% increase from the previous year. These funds will directly support several initiatives:
Peer Support Programs
Road 2 Love organizes weekly men’s support groups throughout Oklahoma. These meetings provide safe spaces for men to discuss challenges without judgment. The foundation trains peer facilitators who guide conversations while sharing their own experiences.
“Our peer support model works because it’s men helping men,” says program director Michael Torres. “There’s something powerful about hearing someone who looks like you, talks like you, and has faced similar challenges say, ‘I got help, and you can too.'”
Crisis Intervention Training
A portion of funds supports training for community members to recognize warning signs of mental health crises in men. These workshops equip participants with specific language and approaches that resonate with men who may be struggling.
The training acknowledges that men often express mental health challenges differently – through irritability, risk-taking, or substance use rather than sadness or anxiety.
Therapy Scholarships
Perhaps most directly impactful, the foundation provides therapy scholarships for men who cannot afford mental health services. These scholarships cover between 6-12 sessions with licensed therapists who specialize in men’s issues.
“Financial barriers keep many men from seeking help,” Williams notes. “Our scholarships remove that obstacle. Last year, we funded therapy for 78 men, and we expect to help over 100 this year with the increased funds.”
Measuring Success: Beyond Dollars Raised
While fundraising totals provide one metric of success, Road 2 Love measures impact through additional outcomes:
- Number of men connected to mental health services
- Retention rates in therapy and support groups
- Self-reported improvement in mental health symptoms
- Community awareness metrics before and after events
The foundation conducts anonymous surveys among participants in their programs, finding that 83% report significant improvement in their mental well-being after six months of engagement.
Equally important is the ripple effect throughout the community. “When one man speaks openly about getting help, it gives permission for others to do the same,” Torres explains. “We’ve seen entire workplace cultures shift after just one employee participates in our programs.”
Breaking Stigma Through Strategic Messaging
Road 2 Love’s approach to messaging carefully navigates traditional masculinity while encouraging vulnerability. Their campaigns use language that resonates with men who might otherwise avoid mental health discussions.
Key messaging themes include:
- Mental fitness as part of overall strength
- Seeking help as a strategic decision rather than weakness
- Brotherhood and team analogies that frame support as solidarity
- Stories of respected community members who have sought help
“We never tell men they’re doing masculinity wrong,” Williams emphasizes. “Instead, we expand the definition of what it means to be a strong man to include taking care of your mental health.”
Personal Stories Drive Connection
At this year’s tournament, three speakers shared personal experiences with mental health challenges and recovery. Among them was former college football player and local business owner Jason Martinez.
“I spent years thinking anxiety wasn’t something real men experienced,” Martinez told the crowd. “I self-medicated with alcohol until my business and marriage were at risk. Getting therapy saved everything that mattered to me. Now I tell every man I know – this isn’t about being weak; it’s about being smart enough to use every tool available.”
Such testimonials from relatable figures help challenge perceptions that seeking help contradicts masculine identity.
Looking Forward: Expansion Plans
With the success of this year’s tournament, Road 2 Love has announced plans to expand their services. Upcoming initiatives include:
- A workplace mental health program targeting industries with high rates of male suicide
- Online support groups to reach men in rural areas
- A mentorship program pairing men who have successfully navigated mental health challenges with those beginning their journey
- Additional fundraising events throughout the year
“The golf tournament will always be our cornerstone event,” Williams says, “but we’re exploring other sports and activities that can help us reach different demographics of men. The model works – we just need to scale it.”
How Communities Can Support Men’s Mental Health
The success of Road 2 Love’s tournament offers lessons for other communities seeking to address men’s mental health:
- Meet men where they are – use existing activities and interests as entry points
- Involve respected community figures who can lead by example
- Create fundraising events that simultaneously serve as awareness campaigns
- Partner with local businesses to maximize impact and reach
- Frame mental health in terms of performance, strength, and resilience
“Any community can replicate what we’re doing,” Torres encourages. “It starts with a few committed people and grows from there. The impact is literally life-saving.”
Conclusion: A Model for Engagement
Road 2 Love’s third annual golf tournament demonstrates how thoughtfully designed community events can advance men’s mental health while providing tangible support services. By combining an activity men enjoy with messaging that resonates, the foundation has created a model that effectively breaks through resistance to mental health discussions.
The event’s success suggests that addressing men’s mental health doesn’t always require entirely new frameworks – sometimes it means thoughtfully integrating mental health awareness into existing activities and spaces where men already feel comfortable.
As the tournament continues to grow year after year, its impact extends beyond the funds raised to create lasting cultural change in how communities support men’s emotional wellbeing. For many participants, the day of golf represents the first step on their own road to recovery – a journey they no longer have to travel alone.
Interested in supporting men’s mental health in your community? Consider organizing a similar event, donating to organizations like Road 2 Love, or simply starting conversations about mental wellbeing with the men in your life. Small actions can create ripples that save lives.