Veterans gear up for the 2018 National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament

More than 200 veterans with visual impairments, severe illness or injury are set to tee up in the 2018 National Disabled Veterans Training, Exposure and Experience (TEE) Tournament, Sept. 9-14, in and around Iowa City, Iowa.

The five-day event and golf clinic is co-hosted by Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and is supported by businesses, nonprofit organizations and individual donors.

“VA’s national rehabilitation events promote healing and provide therapy, and they showcase the courage, determination and drive that define our nation’s heroes,” said Robert Wilkie, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“When I lost my limbs in service, I was devastated and thought about all the things I couldn’t do. Through this event, I’m able to golf and do things I never thought were possible,” said Dave Riley, chairman of the TEE Tournament.

In addition to golfing at several courses in the Iowa City area, veterans will participate in adaptive cycling, fishing, bowling, kayaking, scuba diving, disc golf, marksmanship and rock wall climbing.

Over 260 veterans from around the country are scheduled to participate in the TEE Tournament’s 25th Anniversary event hosted by the Iowa City VA Health Care System. More than 600 volunteers are expected to donate their time and efforts to the event.