A Wisconsin-based nonprofit is bringing first responders and military veterans to Ponte Vedra Beach for free mental wellness retreats that pair golf with education, yoga and peer support.

Next18, founded in 2021 by Army combat veteran Matt McDonell, has partnered with the PGA Tour and holds most of its camps at TPC courses across the country. The organization held a retreat at TPC Sawgrass in August and has hosted several others at The Yards in Ponte Vedra Beach.

In a recent feature, Police1 described a scene at TPC Sawgrass: 12 men in bright blue polo shirts sitting in a circle on the grass between the fairways and the clubhouse. Some were sobbing, their shoulders trembling.

"Your body knows when it's safe," McDonell told the group.

Golf opens the door to mental wellness

Next18's four-day camps combine instruction from PGA professionals with yoga, meditation, breathwork, journaling and guided discussions about post-traumatic stress and moral injury.

The retreats focus on mental health education rather than clinical treatment.

"We don't diagnose. We don't treat. We just put resources in people's hands," McDonell told Police1.

Golf, lessons, meals and lodging for overnight camps are provided free through corporate sponsorships, grants and donations. Participants generally cover their own transportation and may face caddie fees at certain courses, according to the Next18 website.

Next18 has held more than 40 camps for approximately 500 veterans and first responders from 44 states, Police1 reported. More than 1,000 people are on the waitlist.

The nonprofit's camp history lists retreats at The Yards in December 2023, December 2024 and November 2025, followed by a TPC Sawgrass camp Aug. 17-20, 2026.

McDonell, who holds a master's degree in clinical social work, deployed to Afghanistan from 2012 to 2013 and left the military in 2015. He struggled with traumatic memories and chronic pain before returning to golf, a game he had loved as a child.

He founded Next18 to help others find similar opportunities for connection and healing. He told Police1 that mental health resources for first responders remain fragmented, varying from state to state and city to city. Golf, he said, is the vehicle that opens the door to conversations about mental health.

Participants describe lasting impact

Dr. Carrie Steiner, a licensed clinical psychologist and former Chicago police officer, told Police1 that law enforcement officers are often hesitant to seek therapy. Some fear disclosing mental health struggles could affect their fitness-for-duty status.

Steiner said activities such as golf may feel more approachable than a traditional therapy session.

Tyler Grandstrand, a lieutenant with the Minnesota Department of Corrections who investigates sex crimes, attended a Next18 camp after months of sleeping only an hour or two a night.

A 21-year law enforcement veteran, Grandstrand described himself as reserved and uncomfortable with vulnerability. At camp, he tried yoga for the first time.

"I haven't felt so relaxed in my entire adult life as during the two yoga sessions we did at the camp," he told Police1.

Jeff Meloy, a retired Wisconsin police captain with nearly 30 years of service, attended a Next18 camp in 2022 and now helps facilitate retreats nationwide.

After his experience, he returned to his department and encouraged fellow officers to discuss their struggles. The Watertown Police Department in Wisconsin now awards officers training credits for attending a Next18 retreat, Police1 reported.

Applications open to veterans, first responders

Next18 plans to introduce a program for spouses and make educational resources available to people on its waitlist, Meloy told Police1.

Veterans and first responders can apply through next18.org. A clinician contacts applicants to assess whether the program is a good fit before they are considered for upcoming retreats.