From service to swings: The Simpson Cup

When John Goudie first stepped on a golf course in 2017, he wasn’t wearing a collared shirt and didn’t even own a set of golf clubs. The retired US Army Special Forces Communications Sergeant had never played the game before. But as soon as John attended a clinic hosted by the On Course Foundation—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering injured veterans through golf and career opportunities in the golf industry—where he received group instruction tailored for veterans new to the sport, a passion quickly grew that reshaped his life.   

“I was absolutely horrible,” John, the On Course Foundation’s current national programs manager, recalls with a laugh. “But the camaraderie, the people, the comfort of being around other veterans—it had me hooked.” 

From learning how to grip a putter to becoming a scratch golfer and ultimately serving as captain of Team USA in the Simpson Cup, John’s golf journey has been fueled by the powerful sense of belonging fostered by the On Course Foundation.

Organized by the On Course Foundation and supported by Charles Schwab, the Simpson Cup is a competitive golf event modeled after the Ryder Cup—a prestigious international tournament—where wounded veterans from the United States and the United Kingdom face off in a dynamic display of companionship and skill.

The tournament is named after its founder John Simpson, a former sports agent who lost his leg after a battle with polio as a child. His personal resilience is reflected in the spirit of the annual tournament that has showcased the perseverance of wounded veterans on the golf course for more than a decade. 

Like the Ryder Cup, the Simpson Cup alternates venues across the Atlantic, stopping at iconic golf courses such as Long Island’s Shinnecock Hills, New York’s Oak Hill Country Club, the Old Course at St. Andrews, and 2025’s venue: the historic Royal St. George’s Golf Club in Kent, England, which also has staged more than a dozen Open Championships. 

But the Simpson Cup is far more than just a golf tournament. It provides a space where veterans can rebuild confidence, rediscover purpose, prioritize well-being, and form lifelong friendships. Most importantly, it provides a sense of community where they feel comfortable and understood. 

For John, those bonds have been transformative. Though competition can get intense, the sense of camaraderie always persists. 

“I hold those relationships very near and dear to my heart,” he says. “We have dinners together, play in practice rounds and qualifiers together. A lot of us go back and forth from the US to UK, so we stay at each other’s homes.” 

It’s more than just a few dinners with new friends. The community and mentorship have been essential to John’s recovery. “Everyone’s at a different place in their life, and that’s what makes this community so meaningful. When I was dealing with the struggles that come with being a wounded vet, the senior guys—who had been on multiple Cups before—were the reason I stuck with it.” John explains. “They saw that I was interested, so they kept calling me. Now, I want to return the favor when I see new people coming in. The thing I love seeing the most is the relationships developing. You watch these people grow and start paying it forward for new members—that's the amazing thing about the Foundation and these events.”

“Without Charles Schwab and the On Course Foundation, we wouldn't have the tournament or the platform we have,” John explains. “Schwab doesn’t just highlight the Foundation and sponsor the event. They also invite us to PGA Tour and Champions Tour events like the Charles Schwab Challenge in Texas and the Charles Schwab Cup in Phoenix.” 

Schwab’s investment goes beyond a single tournament sponsorship. It creates opportunities that ripple through service members’ lives around the calendar. 

“We get the opportunity to work at these events, to work with the event directors, caddie for professionals, work for superintendents, meet the other tournament sponsors. Those are the types of experiences that you just couldn't have without our relationship with Charles Schwab.” 

For Schwab, the sponsorship is not just about creating a world-class golf tournament and making birdies. “It’s an opportunity to honor the service of veterans and support their families,” explains Mason Reed, managing director of retail acquisition and corporate marketing at Schwab and host of the podcast Invested in the Game, which explores the remarkable people who are moving the game of golf forward. “It’s about showing that Schwab is committed to honoring service, fostering community, improving well-being, and helping veterans build new futures.” 

As the On Course Foundation’s national programs manager, John oversees veteran programs and local tournaments across the United States while continuing to lead Team USA. His story, both on and off the course, embodies the purpose of the Simpson Cup: using golf as a bridge to resilience, connection, and opportunity.   

“I look back at where I was eight years ago to where I am now, and it’s unbelievable,” John reflects. “Golf gave me a new purpose, but the Foundation and its people gave me a community. That’s where I’ve seen the biggest impact.” 

John's journey reminds us that the event extends far beyond the golf course. It’s about resilience, fellowship, and the power of organizations like the On Course Foundation. Backed by the support of companies like Charles Schwab, the Simpson Cup helps veterans stand strong and rebuild their lives one par at a time.