Golfers conduct clinic for veterans at hospital in Tacoma, Wash.  It wasn't just the professional golfers who were champions when they came to give a clinic recently at American Lakes Veterans Golf Course at the VA Hospital in Lakewood near Tacoma, Wash.  Big-hitting Jim Thorpe jokingly told his clinic audience not to copy his swing. (Steve Grayson/WireImage) Four Champions Tour veterans -- Jim Thorpe, Dana Quigley, Allen Doyle and Ed Dougherty -- and one more recent recruit, Lonnie Neilsen, who picked up his first victory earlier this year, conducted a free clinic for more than 60 military veterans many of them disabled, during the Boeing Classic. The veterans, who have championed freedom from World War II to Vietnam to Desert Storm and the current Iraqi war, came away from their session with the pros with renewed enthusiasm for the game. The Champions Tour players found inspiration, as well. Among those in attendance was retired U.S. Army Major Bruce Crandall, an Army Aviator who commanded 20 helicopters in Vietnam and flew 756 combat missions. He was awarded the nation's highest military award, The Congressional Medal of Honor, for his actions during that conflict. When the players asked who had been wounded in combat, about a third of the veterans raised their hands. The players passed out hats and sleeves of golf balls, starting with World War II veterans first. They dispensed plenty of golf advice during the Q&A period, too. Dougherty noted that all five Champions Tour players have unique swings, but what is most important for any golfer is that the hands follow the weight shift when executing a shot. All five players, despite the unconventional swings, have great balance, which is the key to consistent shots. Thorpe launched a booming drive and told the veterans, "I bet some of you don't take a taxi that far." Gary McCord once described Thorpe's swing as one "only a Mother could love." Even Thorpe, who stressed execution of each shot, cautioned, "Don't copy my swing, you could break something." The players also talked about handling pressure when in contention. Doyle said golfers need to think in slow motion when in the hunt, but because of the pressure and adrenaline, they will probably execute at the same speed as normal. Thorpe probably offered the best tip of all when he said, "Golf is a game of misses. When you hit a bad shot, get it out of trouble and simply get the ball back in play." Golfers shouldn't try and execute the impossible shot through the trees, for example. Chip it back into the fairway, Thorpe said, so you still have a chance for par or bogey instead of bringing double bogey or worse into the equation. The American Lakes Veterans Golf Course is a nine-hole layout that includes a three-hole wheelchair accessible course and special golf carts for those with disabilities. The course is run completely by volunteers since funding for operating and maintenance of all VA golf courses was eliminated in 1995. The mission of American Lakes is to help disabled veterans by inspiring others, building self esteem and rehabilitating our nation's heroes physically and emotionally through golf.To learn more about the course and its mission go to alvetsgolfcourse.com. |
