Swinging past obstacles | va tennessee valley health care | veterans affairs

Tiger Woods once said, “I smile at obstacles.” Sometimes obstacles are what Veterans face each day whether in life or on the golf course. Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) partners

with PGA Helping Our Patriots Everywhere (HOPE) to help Veterans work through life’s obstacles. Through partnership with the TVHS Recreation Therapy service, PGA HOPE introduces golf to

Veterans and servicemembers across the country and is available in 47 states and at more than 340 locations. Recreation therapy focuses on using golf as a part of physical, mental, and

social rehabilitation process for Veterans. Referrals can be made through TVHS’s recreation therapy team. Casey Willett, a PGA HOPE Chattanooga graduate stated, “PGA HOPE helped me reconnect

with a game I grew up playing. It has also connected me with other Veterans as we learn and play the game together. It is less about the score and more about meeting other Veterans from

different walks of life and connecting with them. We share a common bond as Veterans and golf is an outlet to help us stay connected in the community.” This year the Chattanooga VA outreach

team partnered with PGA HOPE to raise awareness of VA benefits while Veterans connected not only with the game but each other.  “It's been a true honor getting this program started in

the Chattanooga region,” said PGA Chattanooga Regional Director Lamar Mills. “It has been great to see the participation and growth we have had in the last year. We are now almost at 70

graduates in our program over the last year. The future of this program is bright in this region. We look forward to getting our 2024 schedule posted by the end of the year.” Veterans in

Chattanooga should check with their local VA provider to learn more about recreation therapy and other programs and services offered such as Whole Health.