FRIENDS OF AMERICAN LAKE VETERANS GOLF COURSE

Thanks to technology and advances in medical science, fewer members of the armed forces are dying as a result of combat than in previous wars. Thousands, however, carry the physical wounds of their experience, and many more live with mental trauma, anguish, depression and despair. The construction of golf courses at veterans hospitals recognized that golf can assist wounded and injured warriors in their healing. It is a proven aid to physical and mental rehabilitation and stress reduction. Golfing also provides healing benefits through camaraderie, socialization, and renewal of the spirit and increases recovery and reintegration into community life.

A course volunteer expressed his experience of the course, saying: I’d like to show firsthand what good this place does for people who need to become productive, happy citizens. There are a number of them out there on the course right now who’ve confided in me that if it weren’t for this place they’d probably have committed suicide. Wounded veterans are broken items to the military. But not out here. Out here they are fully alive and well.”

The Friends of the American Lake Golf Course was formed by volunteers, with a mission to raise funds for capital improvements and major equipment purchases for the 9-hole golf course at American Lake Veterans Hospital.

The American Lake Veterans Golf Course currently serves over 1,200 wounded warriors through the rehabilitative qualities of golf as a sport and the healing benefits of camaraderie, socialization, renewal of spirit and reintegration of the wounded into community life.

The course was constructed in 1955 by hospital patients with borrowed equipment. The course was laid out nicely, but lacked proper construction of tee boxes, greens, etc. Buildings and other facilities were leftovers from the agricultural activities that were the mainstay of the hospital in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Some of these buildings still retain the names that described their original use, such as the “piggery.”

Initially with limited funds and a small group of volunteers, the course was kept in basic playable condition. Since formation of the Friends in 2004, the golf course has been substantially improved. The Friends have funded construction of the Rehabilitation and Training Center, a covered events pavilion, a covered driving range, purchase of specialized golf for mobility impaired golfers, and other improvements. The involvement of the Friends has also increased volunteer involvement in the course's operations. Currently, more than 150 volunteers ranging in age from 23 to 93 provide for day-to-day efficient operations of the course, which has no paid employees.

The volunteers not only manage and operate the golf course. They also provide a host of activities because of their love for veterans. Many of these activities revolve around a golf theme, and some are tailored to the unique needs of the hospital’s in-patients. Volunteers conduct “First Swing” clinics for disabled golfers with free golf lessons, free golf, and a great free barbeque lunch every Monday from May through October. These clinics are attended by our VA Hospital in-patients and out-patients, State Soldiers’ and Veterans’ Home residents, and Wounded Warriors from Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Volunteers offer other events, including special clinics for Blind Rehabilitation golfers throughout the year at outdoor and indoor practice facilities, culminating in a “Blind Rehab” tournament on the specially-designed three-hole Trilogy Course. Each spring and fall, volunteers host golf tournaments for the Wounded Warrior Battalion at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. For the non-golfing, hospital in-patient community, volunteers provide for the mentally- and physically-disabled veterans who would otherwise be confined to their wards. Volunteers walk about 3/4 mile through rain or shine to push wheelchairs back to the pavilion for a barbeque and other activities to boost the morale of those confined to the hospital.

The Friends’ current Capital Campaign objective is to raise $4.5 Million to construct the Nicklaus Nine at the American Lake Veterans Golf Course. The existing nine-hole golf course was built by VA hospital patients and employees in the early 1950s with a budget of $25,000. In 2010, golf legend Jack Nicklaus designed, pro-bono, a new additional 9-hole course to provide golf course expanded service. The course layout is specifically geared to the needs of disabled golfers.

The Nicklaus Nine will be an extension of nine existing holes at the American Lake Veterans Golf Course and will render the whole 18 holes ADA accessible for disabled golfers. Solo Riders and other wheeled motorized golf carts will be able to drive in and out of sand traps and onto greens. The terrain of the Nicklaus Nine will be fully accessible for motorized golf carts. This will allow veterans access to the physical and social rehabilitative benefits of the golf experience.