Get Ready for the 2nd Annual BfH Marathon Day! Career and BfH Update May 2025

See Below: Eric Ness Promoting BirdiesforHope Golf Marathon Day

Hello friends, supporters, and fellow golf lovers, 

After playing two events in April, it's time for another update. Many of you have messaged me when I am playing next. I cover this along with how my elbow is progressing below.

In this May update, I want to make you aware of the 2nd annual BirdiesforHope Marathon day, what is going on with my schedule, and ways you can be supporting me and BirdiesforHope. 

BirdiesforHope Marathon Day: Pledge Here.

For the past couple of years, Eric Ness and his two sons, Will and James, have financially supported BirdiesforHope. Despite the fact that Eric lives in Alabama, and I in Jacksonville Florida, Eric's family have been loyal supporters. Eric especially loved the idea of showing his two sons that golf can be a platform to bless others around the world.

Around last May, he approached me with an idea, A BirdiesforHope Marathon day. A local golf course would host him and his two sons, and they would take a day to play and walk as many golf holes as possible. We could find people who would pledge per hole completed and would organize everything. It was a huge success! They started at sun-up and played until sundown completing 100 holes on the number. They raised approximately $6000! 

About a month ago, Eric approached me with the idea to do the 2nd annual BirdiesforHope Marathon day. This year, it will be happening on Monday, June the 2nd. Eric, James (10 years old), and Will (13 years old) are currently taking pledges now for their marathon golf day with the idea to make it bigger and play more holes of golf than before! Proceeds will be going directly to BirdiesforHope's 2025 project, the Templo Misionaro Church building in Panama. I will be donating $10 per hole completed. Will you join us? Below, I have attached a sheet where you can make your pledge. Please follow my social media page if you would like to keep in touch as we promote this event.

Thank you again for all your support of BirdiesforHope as we try to use professional golf to bring hope to the world. 

Professional Golf update

Well guys, I wish I had better news for you. I want to be open and transparent, the elbow pain is back.

Last week, I flew out to Kansas City for the first of a three week stretch on the Korn Ferry Tour. After two days of practice, I could feel the pain gradually increasing and for that reason, decided to not try to play. I am meeting with doctor's this week back in Jacksonville, FL to see what my options are. 

In a sense this is disappointing. I have worked hard over the past couple of months to bring my golf game back to the level it was at in 2023/2024. It was not there in my first couple starts of the year, but that was also to be expected. After working hard with my golf coach, John Scott Rattan, the game is close.

In another sense, I am glad this happened while using rehab starts on the Korn Ferry Tour. MRI results last year showed a couple issues going on with the elbow, without the ability to know what is causing the pain and what has been there for years. We are now able to narrow down through process of elimination what exactly is causing this pain. It is a temporary setback, but the end is still in sight. I will know more about the recovery timeline soon and will keep you informed. 

Final Thoughts: 

Thank you all for your support. I want to reiterate how much it means to me to know I have people following along and cheering for my return, and who care about BirdiesforHope as I do. I love competing and I will do everything I can to be one of the best in the world on the golf course; however, more importantly, I want to represent my God and my Savior well in times of victory and defeat. 

James 1:2-4 is one of my favorite bible passages. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Another translation replaces the word "Perseverance", with "Patience." We may think God's plan is to make us like Scottie Scheffler, winning golf tournaments, becoming a superstar, and sharing the gospel that way. Praise God he works through superstars! Often, it is through patience in trials that He chooses to work. This makes us "mature and complete" and highlights God's goodness all the more. 

In 50 years, very few people will remember who won a golf tournament. Young people are already forgetting who Tiger Woods is. In 50 years, I hope, pray, and believe that these churches will still be serving their cities, spreading hope to the people in them. It is so inspiring to see young people involved not just in the game of golf but spreading hope around the world. This life is so much bigger than just ourselves and I love to see that communicated through the actions of the Ness family. Thank you guys! You are truly an inspiration to me. 

Thank you all for your continued support and words of encouragement! 

Sincerely,

Jimmy Stanger