LAKEWOOD, Wash. — Three local veterans depart this week for a trip of a lifetime, representing the American Lake Veterans Golf Course (ALVGC) in Scotland for the North American Wounded Veterans Scottish Links Trophy. The trip, scheduled for July19 through 26, includes play on the fabled Old Course at St. Andrews, a Mecca for golf aficionados. The trio representing ALVGC will be joined by a group of disabled British soldiers. This is the start of what hopes to be an ongoing program around education, rehabilitation and development for wounded warriors. The plan calls for a reciprocal trip in 2014, with the British soldiers playing at ALVGC.
This year’s trip is being financed and organized by a group from Scotland and being led by Graham Proctor, an inn keeper at St. Andrews. The Scottish group raised the funds necessary to pay for airfare, lodging and meals for the three veterans.
St. Andrews is one of the most picturesque cities in Scotland, as well as home of golf’s most prestigious course. Considered by many to be the “home of golf,” the sport was first played on the links at St. Andrews in the early 1400’s. The Old Course at St. Andrews is one of the oldest golf courses in the world.
The American Lake Veterans Golf Course, located on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Lakewood, is the nation’s only golf course designed specifically for the rehabilitation of wounded and disabled veterans. Volunteers have maintained, managed and operated the American Lake Veterans Golf Course since 1995 when the Veterans Administration discounted funding VA golf courses. Today, it operates without any government financial assistance or paid employees. The course is located at 9600 Veterans Drive S.W., in Lakewood. More information can be found at www.veterangolf.org/.