September 2, 2009

Blind Veterans Compete in Annual Golf Tournament

Golf for the blind?  It might sound like an episode from Laurel & Hardy, but in 1995, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began sponsorship of just such an annual event in Iowa City, Iowa.

Originally titled the National Blinded Veterans T.E.E. (Training, Experience, Exposure) Tournament, the event is now the National Veterans T.E.E. Tournament, and includes physically disabled as well as visually impaired veterans, and has been successfully instructing veterans how to focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities.

This year's Tournament will be held September 7-10, in Iowa City, Iowa. Since its inauguration in 1994 with only 36 participants, the Tournament has grown each year - 175 veteran participants are expected next month. The event provides legally blind and disabled veterans an opportunity to participate in adaptive golf and other sporting activities.

Becoming visually impaired and/or disabled can make participating in activities one has always enjoyed much more of a challenge.  And for the blind or disabled it can be especially daunting if he or she also suffers ailments such as PTSD. But T.E.E. Tournament coordinators and staff utilize a highly therapeutic approach with the veterans in order to achieve positive results, promoting rehabilitation, friendship and camaraderie.

The annual Tournament is also a great way to introduce therapeutic adaptive sports activities, while demonstrating that having a visual or physical disability need not be an obstacle to an active and rewarding life. This is particularly important for newly injured and disabled soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The T.E.E.  Golf Tournament is an opportunity for experienced golfers to share techniques with those who have little or no golf experience. For four days, at golf courses and locations throughout the Iowa City area, blind and disabled veterans will once again taste the thrill of competition.

The annual event is sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs and is one of VA's six national rehabilitation events. Help Hospitalized Veterans (HHV), the largest supplier of therapeutic arts & crafts to VA and military hospitals worldwide, has been a proud co-sponsor since 2007.

"HHV is committed to supporting VA with its rehabilitation goals, be it with its arts & crafts program, or providing support to these outstanding rehabilitative events," said Mike Lynch, HHV President and CEO. "I am an avid golfer and anybody who is familiar with the game can tell you it can be difficult to hit the ball even if you have excellent vision. To see these disabled veterans play the game they love, and to do so with such excellence is both humbling and inspiring. It's something you have to see to believe, no pun intended. HHV's mission is to support our nation's hospitalized veterans and wounded soldiers and we our committed to providing the products and services which improve veterans' rehabilitation, self-esteem and promote healthy leisure activities."