In Goldsboro, North Carolina, a young Julian Mitchell ’26 spent his childhood immersed in sports – football and basketball were his first loves. It wasn’t until a friend nudged him to join the high school golf team that he discovered his true passion, setting the stage for a remarkable journey that would take him from the battlefield to the fairway.
In Goldsboro, North Carolina, a young Julian Mitchell ’26 spent his childhood immersed in sports – football and basketball were his first loves. It wasn’t until a friend nudged him to join the high school golf team that he discovered his true passion, setting the stage for a remarkable journey that would take him from the battlefield to the fairway.
Mitchell excelled in golf and dedicated his high school years to honing his game. After graduation, he traded his golf bag for a rucksack, enlisting in the military. For eight years, he served as a U.S. Army engineer, while the sport that ignited his passion slipped into the past.
A turning point came during his final deployment in 2019 when Mitchell sustained severe injuries that left him struggling with mobility challenges. “I could barely walk… I was in a dark place,” he recalled, reflecting on the solitude he felt as he began his rehabilitation at Fort Bragg’s Medical Unit. But encouragement came in an unexpected, yet familiar, form – the Fort Bragg Stryker Golf Course was within walking distance from his rehabilitation unit.
At Stryker, Brock White, now director of the PGA Golf Management program in the Reeves School of Business at Methodist University, was leading a golf class for military veterans. Mitchell hesitantly joined the class and then quickly reconnected to the game that he loved growing up. Joining the class marked a turning point for Mitchell. Just like he did in high school, he “focused on that little white ball,” he says, emphasizing how golf reminds him to be patient, to find joy in nature, and in the company of others.
Mitchell’s passion and skill for the game stood out to White, who remembers Mitchell ’s ability to pick up instruction quickly and his dedication to improving. When White founded Fayetteville’s first PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) program in 2021, he encouraged Mitchell to join.
In PGA HOPE chapters around the country, certified PGA instructors offer free golf lessons to support veterans’ and active duty military participants’ physical health, mental, social, and emotional well-being.
Every Friday morning – for eight-week sessions during different seasons of the year – Fayetteville-area veterans from all backgrounds and branches gather Downback (the on-campus golf course at MU) to share their stories, skills, and laughter on the course. From vision-impaired veterans to those in wheelchairs, all participants are provided clubs, instruction, and adaptive equipment free of charge, allowing them to enjoy the many benefits of the game.
During Mitchell’s time in the PGA HOPE program, White encouraged him to enroll in the PGM Program and consider a career in golf. Beyond Mitchell ’s technical ability, White saw that Mitchell had the personality and professionalism needed in the golf industry.
“Whether it’s teaching, coaching, golf operations, or even tournament management, [Mitchell] has the qualities that make a great PGA professional.”
In 2022, Mitchell started his journey at MU for his degree in Business Administration and concentration in PGA Golf Management. As a non-traditional student, he faced his share of challenges adapting to college. He credits golf and MU’s Military and Veterans Services program with helping ease the transition into student life and the rigors of pursuing a degree.
Thanks in part to Mitchell’s influence and mentorship, MU’s PGA HOPE program has grown from the original six participants in Mitchell’s cohort to about 35 each session. Many of MU’s PGM staff and faculty are certified PGA HOPE instructors, allowing the program to grow larger than others in the state. Mitchell has already recruited a number of his fellow MU student veterans into the PGA HOPE program. He thrives on helping participants gain the same benefits from the game that he does.
In 2024, Mitchell earned the Reeves School of Business’s prestigious David G. Wilson Community Service Award for his PGA HOPE mentorship. This honor, established in 2002, is presented to a student in the business school who has shown an outstanding level of service to the wider Fayetteville community.
Currently a junior at MU, Mitchell optimistically plans his next move as a PGA Pro after graduation. His professors are excited too.
White said, “[Mitchell’s] ability to connect with people, especially other veterans, combined with his leadership skills and military background, makes me believe he will have a strong career in golf, whether as a head pro, director of golf, or even working in player development.”
Mitchell’s current post-graduate plans involve expanding PGA HOPE programming even further to meet growing demand in the community. He is also considering earning a master’s degree in counseling or social work – vowing to empower even more veterans through mentorship.
The golf industry is evolving and growing, increasingly popular with more women, girls, and people of color who join on-course and off-course opportunities around the country. Mitchell said he does not seek the spotlight, but as a veteran, future PGA professional, and instinctive mentor and coach, he stands at the forefront of the industry. He sees golf not just as a sport, but also as a powerful tool for fostering healing, connection, and community.