"When I first became disabled, all I could think about was what I couldn’t do. Hines [VA Medical Center] and golf have taught me to focus on my abilities, not my disabilities."
- Judy Ruiz,
Marine Corps veteran
Veterans with visual impairments and other qualifying, life-changing disabilities are given an opportunity to develop new skills and challenge their perceived limitations. This is achieved through adaptive golf and a variety of other activities. The event uses a therapeutic format to promote rehabilitation, fellowship and camaraderie among the Veterans attending.
Our History
In 1994, the National Disabled Veterans TEE Tournament sprang to life as the brainchild of several employees of the Iowa City VA Medical Center, along with two Veterans from Iowa with visual impairments. These visionaries created the TEE Tournament, an acronym standing for Training, Exposure, Experience.
In 2008, it became one of VA’s six national rehabilitation programs for Veterans. The event expanded to include not only blind Veterans, but amputees, wheelchair-bound Veterans, and those with other life changing disabilities.
The event continues to strive to provide adaptive golf instruction for the Veterans who participate to make the game more accessible. The ultimate goal is to inspire Veterans to challenge their limitations and improve their quality of life by actively engaging in rehabilitation and therapy.
In 2021, the program was renamed the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic to reflect its mission to make the sport accessible to disabled Veterans and provide top-notch clinical care and rehabilitation.