U.S. military veterans at Westchester Country Club with "Birdies for the Brave" program.

RYE, N.Y. – A gregarious group of U.S. Military veterans lounged in the shade of an umbrella at the hospitality tent just below the 18th hole at the Westchester Country Club Thursday afternoon, watching golfers come up the long fairway on the opening day of the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship.

For Adam Smith and his friends, Eddie Stoney, Henry Cobb, Anthony Rose, Charles Davis Sr. and Jay Lewis (Navy), several of whom served in Afghanistan and other battle areas during their time of service, the PGA Seniors event was the first golf tournament any of them had ever seen in person. The Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship’s ‘Birdies For the Brave’ program welcomes active military and veterans to its tournament free of charge for the event and refreshments.

“It’s beautiful, really amazing out here,” said Smith, a U.S. Marine veteran who hails from Hicksville, N.Y. “It’s great to be able to come out and see this. People have been real nice. We’re having a great time. This is something I’ll remember.”

The Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship is the fifth and final event of the 2011 Seniors Tour major event season and is being hosted at Westchester Country Club for the first time with such PGA greats as Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, Fred Couples and defending champion Mark O’Meara competing.

Charles Davis Sr., a U.S. Marine from White Plains, said the event was impressive. “We’ve seen these players on television over the years,” Davis said. “But when you see it up close it’s impressive and really beautiful.”

U.S. Air Force veteran Anthony Rouse, who hails from Harlem, said he discovered why golfers played the game.

“I fell in love with it,” Rouse said about the course and the game. “I can see why people love to come out to a place like this and play. The Veterans' administration brought us out. We’re treated mostly with respect as vets. Some guys, like the Vietnam vets, didn’t have that, which is a shame. They did their job and people should just consider that fact. Being here is a treat for us.” Retired and active military and their dependents may download and print free tickets to the Constellation Energy Championship at birdiesforthebrave.org. Individual daily and weekly tickets to the Constellation Energy Senior Players Championship are now on sale. Those wishing to purchase tickets to the Championship may do so by logging on to the official tournament website, www.ceseniorplayers.com, or by calling the championship office at 914-481-5900.

Are you a veteran who might enjoy seeing a PGA event in person? Are you an avid golf fan who would attend the Constellation Energy event?