Generosity Helps Heroes Golf Course Cater to Veterans, General Public

Heroes Golf Course on the grounds of the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles enters its second summer as a unique nine-hole par 3 course dedicated to helping veterans enrich their lives through golf.

It's operated as a non-profit and is also open to the public year round, from sun up to sun down.


Founded by Ricardo Bandini Johnson in 2008, Heroes Golf Course allow veterans to play for free and offer a volunteer program. The Bandini Foundation/Heroes Golf Course supports the VA's recreational and rehabilitation programs by providing physical and psychological therapy, which boosts support for men and women suffering from post-traumatic symptoms and other medical conditions.

"It's a beautiful nine-hole golf course," Johnson said. "It's a legacy for our family."

In 1888, the Bandini family, along with Sen. John Percival Jones, donated 300 acres of the land to be maintained as a soldier's home that currently makes up the VA facility and hospital. Management of Heroes Golf Course was transferred over to the Bandini family in 2011.

Johnson added they are not funded in any way except for the water by the VA, and they need to get the word out about the golf course to the Westside and greater L.A.

"Ninety percent of people who live two blocks away don't even know it exists or even open," Johnson told Patch. "It's hard to get signage through the government. We're working to get signs along Wilshire [Boulevard]."

Johnson added that in a perfect world, it would be great for Heroes Golf Course to cater exclusively to veterans, but it's just not doable. The course is also open to veterans outside the VA grounds and the general public.

"It's really a great thing we're doing," he said. "The more donations we have, the more vets we can hire."

The foundation also hires veterans and trains them in all aspects of running a golf operation, including how to mow, water, edge, fertilize and seed the course, as well as repair equipment, collecting greens fees and food, beverage and merchandise sales.

Johnson added they also take care of the nearby Japanese Garden.

The foundation is currently aiming to build a driving range and club house and once completed, veterans will also be incorporated in that work effort. When they are qualified, the proposed Call Center, operated by ambulatory Veterans, will place them in related jobs. The Bandini Foundation intends to rotate as many as 80 veterans through VA-approved programs on an ongoing basis.

For more information on which VA programs are supported by Heroes Golf Course, prices and more, visit its website.