Veterans TEE Up in Iowa City: National Event Celebrates 24th Year of Golf Therapy, Rehabilitation

WASHINGTON — More than 260 Veterans with visual impairments, amputations and other physical or mental challenges will demonstrate their resilience as they participate in the 2017 National Disabled Veterans Training, Exposure and Experience (TEE) Golf Tournament, which will take place Sept. 11-15 near Iowa City, Iowa.

“This event is about empowering our nation’s Veterans to lead active, healthy lives,” said Dr. David J. Shulkin, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “Enjoying the outdoors and the game of golf is therapeutic, and gives our Veterans a refreshing and motivating experience. I admire how these Veterans prove that having a visual or other physical disability is no obstacle to a full and rewarding life — they are an inspiration to all of us at VA.”

The Tee Tournament is sponsored by VA and a new sponsor — Disabled American Veterans (DAV) — with support from corporate partners, nonprofit organizations and individual donors.

The rehabilitative and instructional event provides Veterans with education in adaptive golf and opportunities to develop new skills and confidence through such activities as kayaking, horseback riding and other adaptive sports workshops. Veterans will golf at several courses in the Iowa City area, including Lake McBride, Kalona Country Club, West Liberty Country Club, Elks Country Club, Washington Country Club and Golf Course, and Blue Top Ridge golf courses.

Participation is open to Veterans receiving care at any VA medical facility who are coping with visual impairments, amputations, traumatic brain injuries, psychological trauma, certain neurological conditions, spinal cord injuries and other life changing disabilities.

“The TEE Tournament illustrates that regardless of illness or injury, the only limits disabled Veterans have are the ones we place on ourselves,” said DAV Past National Commander Dave Riley, a previous TEE Tournament participant. “DAV is proud to take part in another action-packed adaptive sporting event with VA — one that changes Veterans’ lives — on and off the green.”

More than 400 volunteers are expected to donate their time and efforts to the tournament, which is being hosted by the Iowa City VA Health Care System.

For more information, visit www.tee.va.gov. Follow #VeteransTEE on Twitter at @VAAdaptiveSport and DAV @DAVHQ.  Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/vaadaptivesports and www.facebook.com/DAV.