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April 18, 2026, 7:54 p.m.
Odesa veterans introduced to Trump's favorite game
This article also available in English1
PHOTO: Intent/Natalia Dovbysh
An open golf training session for veterans was held in Odesa on April 17 with the participation of Frank Pucelik, a well-known psychologist and golfer from the United States.
The training was organized by Golf Dyplomacy and Odesa golf club.
The founder of Odesa Golf Club, Serhiy Kovalenko, told Intent that he brought the game format used by the veterans from Ireland.
"My golf history began when I was shown the game and liked it, but there was no golf in Odesa, so I decided to found a club here. We decided to start a social initiative. The pitch-and-putt game format is a simplified golf format with holes 100 meters away and without a strict dress code. World and European championships are held in this format, and there was no federation in Ukraine, so we created one," the athlete said.
Such training sessions are held daily and involve veterans for rehabilitation. The history of golf in Odesa began with Frank Pucelik, who brought the game to Odesa 20 years ago. Frank himself is a Vietnam War veteran and his golf rehabilitation programs are used by the US Army.
Robert Frank Pucelik was a special forces soldier in the US Army during the Vietnam War. He is one of the founders of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) and the developer of a rehabilitation system for veterans of military conflicts. Since 2002, he has lived in Odesa. Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, he has been counseling the military, conducting seminars and trainings for veterans, volunteers, psychologists and social workers working with soldiers.
The veterans themselves evaluated the event positively.
"Everything is fine. This is the first time I've had such an experience - it's a very pleasant atmosphere. It is a good psychological relief for the military," said a soldier with the call sign "Hacker",
Another serviceman with the call sign "Mongoose" is attending such training for the first time and is ready to come to them every day.
"It's relaxing. I am psychologically relaxed in the circle of my friends," he said.
The veteran with the call sign "Shamil" is also eager to come and participate in such events whenever possible: "I feel at ease among my own people. I will try to support such events. I'm interested in helping my fellow golfers."
It should be noted that golf is a fairly common game in the United States and Europe and is considered a game of the elite. For example, golf is a favorite game of the current American President Donald Trump. For example, in 2025, out of 48 days since his inauguration, the US President spent 13 days playing golf. In 2019, the U.S. Government Accountability Office estimated that each trip to Trump's private residence, Mar-a-Lago in Florida, where his favorite golf courses are located, cost the U.S. budget $3.3 million.
