New Co-Host Comes Onboard for National Event’s 24th Year of Golf Therapy, Rehabilitation for Veterans

WASHINGTON – More than 260 Veterans with visual impairments, severe illness or injury are set to participate in the 2017 National Disabled Veterans Training, Exposure and Experience (TEE) Tournament, September 11-15, in and around Iowa City, Iowa.

The five-day event is sponsored by DAV (Disabled American Veterans), and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and is made possible by strategic corporate partnerships, nonprofit organizations and individual donors.

“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. “Being in the great outdoors, navigating the golf course is therapeutic, and the men and women here this week are examples that having a physical or visual disability is not an obstacle to a full and rewarding life.”

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.

“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 past participant of the event who is returning for a second time this year. “DAV is proud to co-host another action-packed adaptive sporting event with VA that changes veterans’ lives—on and off the green.”

The rehabilitative and instructional event provides Veterans with education in adaptive golf, and opportunities to develop new skills and confidence through other activities, including kayaking, horseback riding and other adaptive sports workshops.

Participation is open to severely ill or injured Veterans receiving care at any VA medical facility. VA research and clinical experience verify that physical activity is important to maintaining good health, speeding recovery and improving overall quality of life.

The event is hosted by the Iowa City VA Health Care System, and more than 400 volunteers are expected to donate their time and efforts to the event.

Engage VA and DAV on Twitter at @VAAdaptiveSport and @DAVHQ and follow them on and Facebook at www.facebook.com/vaadaptivesports and www.facebook.com/DAV.