Charles Eggleston
(August 1, 2011)–Charles Eggleston has a love for golf that transcends this world. His involvement with the sport runs deep and is on a level that he never could have imagined earlier in his life. Eggleston stays busy in several golf organizations and has been a member of the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA), Tee it Up For the Troops and Disabled Sports USA for about three years. As a resident of Silver Spring Maryland, he and his son, Charles Jr., oftentimes tee it up together at the Argyle Country Club, Trump.
Eggleston, first got involved in the game following admission to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, due to injuries he sustained in Iraq from an improvised explosive device (IED), also known as a roadside bomb,
“I was introduced to the game of golf by PGA Professional Jim Estes, Founder of the Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA),” says Eggleston. SMGA successfully uses the sport as an effective rehabilitative tool for soldiers and their work benefits both active duty and veteran servicemen.
Born in Richmond, VA., Eggleston attended Cornell University and studied computer engineering with a minor in international business. He also holds a Cisco MSCE certification.
Eggleston has a golf handicap of 11.5 and most often plays rounds with other wounded warriors and with several notable PGA tour professionals with whom he has gained an allegiance.
“For me, it’s about being out there, enjoying the sport and helping others who are trying to get a handle on their lives,” says Eggleston, who plays virtually every other day during the summer months. “I love the warmer temperatures,” he states. His home course is Olney Golf Park, Argyle Country Club (Silver Spring, MD).
In his daily life, Eggleston serves as President and CEO of Three Seven Consulting, Inc., his own service disabled, veteran-owned small business (SDVOSB). (www.three7consulting.com)
He also volunteers as a veteran’s advocate and as a State Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (www.purpleheartmaryland.org). In addition, he actively serves on several boards including SMGA (www.sgma.org) and Blue Star Families (www.bluestarfam.org). “I enjoy playing golf. It saved me from being depressed and downtrodden, after going through so many surgeries to rehab my injuries from war. Playing has also helped me to overcome my PTSD, TBI and my numerous face, back and leg injuries that occurred in Iraq 2005,” he says.
“PGA Professional Jim Estes taught me mostly everything I know about the game of golf. In fact, I’ve completely followed his lead instruction and gained a better golf game. I have also won several tournaments: USA Open, Piedmont Open, SMGA Army-Navy Open and Cavalier Open,” says Eggleston.
“Golf is like ‘moving meditation’ – it helps me heal on the inside as well as the outside.When Eggleston is not out on the golf course, you can find him enjoying photography and fishing.
“The game of golf was a way for me to transition to a brand new life after being severely wounded in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Being a (OIF) wounded warrior that suffered from severe injuries, I could not at that time see the light at the end of the tunnel, but the game of golf opened up a new avenue for me to grow into my ‘new normal,’ and helped me to feel accepted in life once again.”
