MEET THE MINDS BEHIND THE MISSION

Brett Emmers is the Founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Plus 3 Golf and the QuietLine program.  Plus 3 Golf is a nonprofit organization dedicated to combining performance, mental health advocacy, and community wellness into practical, actionable systems of support. A lifelong athelte and competitor, Brett’s journey from junior success to a NCAA Division I scholarship—and ultimately through career-ending injuries and a personal mental health crisis—shaped the mission and model that now defines Plus 3 Golf.

Born in Wisconsin and raised in North Carolina, Brett developed an early passion for golf, competing in junior tournaments and establishing himself as a skilled and disciplined player in North Carolina. His dedication to the sport earned him a scholarship to play golf at East Carolina University, a major milestone and the culmination of years of training.

College brought both opportunity and unexpected adversity. During his freshman year at ECU, Brett suffered a  sprained ACL while playing basketball in after being offered a spot to compete in his first NCAA event.  While recovering from the ACL injury, he developed inflamed nerves in his left ribcage, ending his participation in workouts and practice.  At the beginning of his sophmore  season, during conditioning with the team trainer, Brett endured a second sprained ACL in the same knee. These injuries forced him to redshirt his freshman year, a competitive career he had envisioned began to unravel.

The loss of competition and identity hit hard. What followed the lose of his scholarship was a deeply personal, mental health crisis that nearly cost Brett his life.  A suicide attempt turned redemption—the moment that forced a reevaluation of purpose, self-worth, and the systems (or lack thereof) in place to support athletes and competitors when the game stops.

Through recovery, Brett returned to golf not only as a player but as a builder—recognizing the sport’s unique ability to foster connection, slow down conversation, and create a safe space for dialogue. He saw the game as a bridge between performance and wellness, where competition and camaraderie could co-exist with open, honest discussions about mental health.

This vision evolved into Plus 3 Golf, a nonprofit that uses golf as the foundation for mental health advocacy, athlete development, and community engagement. Under Brett’s leadership, Plus 3 Golf produces large-scale fundraising events—such as the Diffie Classic and the Keith Whitley Memorial Celebrity Tournament—that serve as both charity platforms and proof-of-concept showcases for its mission.

Central to Plus 3 Golf’s work is QuietLine, a first-response style Mental Health Advocate Certification (MHAC) program Brett developed to train athletes, coaches, musicians, veterans, and community leaders in recognizing signs of crisis and responding ethically—similar to CPR certification, but for mental health. The program is structured into three tiers, ensuring participants can grow from awareness-level advocates to certified instructors capable of training others.

Through Plus 3 Golf’s Wellness Awards and Scholarships, Brett also extends direct resources to junior golfers, independent musicians, and athletes, making performance coaching, counseling access, and advocacy training more attainable. His model integrates fundraising, competition, and advocacy into a single, sustainable system—one that builds community while saving lives.

Today, Brett stands at the intersection of sports, mental health, and nonprofit innovation. His personal history—rooted in competitive golf, shaped by injury, and transformed through survival—drives every decision he makes. Whether on the course, behind the scenes at an event, or leading a training session, Brett’s mission remains clear: to make advocacy practical, performance-driven, and accessible to anyone in need.