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Camaraderie, energy, patriotism, and a spirit of service all flowed
freely at the Tenth Annual National Blinded Veterans TEE Tournament
in and around Iowa City, Iowa.
Some 250 volunteers, the dedicated TEE Tournament committee,
the golfers’ companions, and the 127 golfers themselves all
had a hand in the success of the event.
"This is the greatest thing I’ve ever been to,"
said 86-year-old Howard Steines of the Iowa Regional Group. "I
wish that the volunteers could be adequately thanked for all they
do for us."
TEE Tournament volunteers consisted of golf buddies, van drivers,
transportation helpers, food servers, golf course coordinators,
and team leaders. Participants arrived September 8 from 27 different
states. As is customary, Mother Nature was somehow kind once again
to this year’s TEE Tournament. Participants enjoyed near
perfect late summer weather throughout their four-day stay.
Sponsored by VA and supported by BVA through a three-year grant
from the United States Golf Association Foundation, the National
Blinded Veterans TEE Tournament faces a degree of funding uncertainty
in the near future. As a result, a special meeting was convened
for anyone interested in the situation. The room utilized for
the meeting was filled to capacity, and a majority of this year’s
participants were present.
The meeting consisted of an overview of the event’s history
by TEE Tournament Coordinator Kirt Sickels, who focused on past
sources of funding and the reasons that the same sources of funds
could not be tapped in the near future. A marketing committee
consisting of 23 individuals, 16 of whom are blinded veteran participants
at this year’s event, volunteered to research potential funding
and to coordinate fund raising efforts.
The committee consists of the following TEE participants: Allen
Bomstad, Nebraska; Fred Cole, Virginia; George Estill, Indiana;
Robert Foster, Tennessee; George Hicks, Maryland; Harold Humphrey,
Oklahoma; Myra Grissom, Alabama; Robert Kotan, Nebraska; William
Latka, Iowa; William Lyons, Nebraska; John Miller, Iowa; George
Pyle, Ohio; Terry Smith, Indiana; Michael White, Virginia; and
Sam Work, Michigan. Also on the committee: Chris Kirkwood of the
Iowa City VA Office of Public Affairs; Kirt Sickels, TEE Tournament
Coordinator; Lori Swailes, Iowa City VA Office of Public Affairs;
and community volunteers Chris Cotant, Jodi Driesen, and Mary
Wall.
Other highlights of this year’s event again included the
generous donation of golf courses by Tom and Mary Wolfe of Lake
MacBride; Ted and Brenda Lewis at Quail Creek; and Joe Trammell,
Bob Mitchell, and Dick Staff at Fairview. The same is true of
Brad Huff at Colonial Lanes for his generosity with the bowling
components.
Chris and Matt Cotant jointly claimed the Wayne Earl/Hampton
Hill Award for best reflecting the true nature of the TEE Tournament.
The award was established to recognize individuals who persevere
in adversity and stand out most as an inspiration to others. The
two continued their work this year to produce a documentary video
about the TEE Tournament just two weeks after the unexpected passing
of their father, Byron (Iowa Regional Group), an avid TEE participant
over the years.
Blinded veteran Mark Hannan of Massillon, Ohio, and a Hines trainee,
took first place golf honors for his Thursday round in the St.
Andrews (Competitive) Group. His name was subsequently engraved
on the three-foot TEE Tournament trophy displayed in the conference
room at the BVA National Headquarters.
The Vonnie Gould TEE Volunteer Award went to Christine Kirkwood
for her work in organizing and coordinating a multitude of logistics
in 2003. The Gould Award is given to the volunteer who best exemplifies
dedication to the TEE Tournament and its success.
The first-ever Tom Heitzman Golf Buddy Award was presented to
Joe Padilla of the VA Central Iowa Health Care System in Des Moines.
Joe is a long-time TEE volunteer and has recently helped conduct
the golf clinics. Tom Heitzman, for whom the award has been named,
passed away earlier this year. Tom was a warehouse supervisor
at the Iowa City VA Medical Center and a volunteer who went the
extra mile. Tom was known in particular for finding places for
the TEE Tournament to store golf clubs each year.
Blinded veteran participants were recognized for longest putts,
longest drive, shots closest to the pin, shots closest to the
designated target, and most lost balls. Each group also made a
brief stop at Colonial Lanes, where achievements were also logged
and then announced at the banquet.
Dates for the Eleventh Annual TEE Tournament are September 7-10,
2004. The program will once again be held in the Iowa City area
and applications will be distributed in mid-April of 2004. Please
contact Kirt Sickels at the Iowa City VA Medical Center, 319-339-7104
with the name and address of any prospective participant.
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