History

Tee-Off FORE Troops, is a charity golf invitational tournament hosted on Memorial Day, May 28, 2018, to benefit our local veterans at the American Lake Veterans Administration Campus. The inaugural 2017 event was organized by second year graduate students of the Seattle University Master of Sports Administration and Leadership program.

Why American Lake?
American Lake Veteran’s Golf Course (ALVGC) is the only one of its kind in the U.S., dedicated to the rehabilitation and support of our wounded/disabled veterans. ALVGC is also very lean in operating costs: over the past 5 years, tax returns show that nearly 98% of all money received goes directly to support those warriors in need. Very few organizations can claim that kind of efficiency or that 98% of their money goes directly to those that need it most.
 
How does ALVGC keep operational costs low?
Out of necessity. The ALVGC, original 9-hole, golf course was founded soon after World War II (1956) by the Veterans Hospital to aid returning soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen in their recovery. However, the Department of Veterans Affairs eliminated funding in 1995. Fortunately, a group of volunteers saw the value of the American Lake Veterans Course for veterans’ rehabilitation and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) to keep the course operating. American Lake Veteran’s Golf Course operates today entirely on the backs of volunteers, no one is compensated for their time, not even the director. Most of the volunteers came to American Lake as patients and returned to pay it forward.
Through the non-profit’s hard work, a partnership forged with golf legend - Jack Nicklaus, and $3.5 million in private donations, an additional 9 holes, nicknamed the “Nicklaus Nine” or “Course of Courage,” was added to complete the now 18-hole course in 2016. Those additional 9 holes expanded American Lakes’ service capacity to nearly 50,000 veterans annually. Again, today, American Lake Veterans Golf Course is the only one of its kind in the U.S. that specifically supports the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans.
 
How does your donation help?
All Lakewood VA Hospital patients receive rehabilitation services, coaching, golf club rental, cart rental, and play free of charge. Blind golfers are provided with certified guides free of charge. Furthermore, each para-golf-cart, like the one pictured below costs just under $35,000.

  
Jim Martinson, pictured here, lost both his legs in Vietnam (1968), yet he continues to do things many only dream of – in addition to being an avid golfer and member of the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame, he is a 6-time Paralympic Gold Medalist in both winter (alpine skiing) and summer (wheelchair) games, and is a winner of the Boston Marathon wheelchair division. Much of which would not have been possible for Jim without the rehabilitation services at American Lake. Jim continues to give back as a board member at American Lake.
  
Tee off FORE troops is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit, any donation is tax deductible.
 
For more information about the services provided at American Lake, see this USGA produced video:

http://www.usga.org/videos/2015/11/11/american-lake--healing-veterans-through-the-power-of-golf.html