Photo Courtesy of Mid-Prairie CSD Social Media
When mother nature was unkind, the Mid-Prairie Community School District stepped up as an unplanned host of this year’s National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic. The annual event drew in vets from 43 different states this year from September 13th through the 18th.
Golfers were originally scheduled to play at the Kalona Golf Course September 15th and 16th. However, heavy rainfall forced golfers to stay indoors. With approval from Mid-Prairie Activities Director Pete Cavanagh and Superintendent Brian Stone, Mid-Prairie allowed the golfers to use their indoor golf facility. When the wet conditions cleared up during the afternoon, golfers were able to make their way outdoors to the Kalona Golf Course to finish their day.
At this year’s event, veterans were divided into six teams. Two teams were assigned to golf at Blue Top Ridge Golf Course in Riverside, two other teams assigned to Pleasant Valley Golf Course in Iowa City, and the final two teams assigned to Elks Lodge Golf Course in Iowa City and the Kalona Golf Course. The Kalona Golf Course team was known as the “Yellow Team.” Meals and entertainment were provided along with golf instruction.
Mid-Prairie Varsity Golf Coach Tracy McArtor proposed the idea for golfers to use the Mid-Prairie indoor facility. McArtor served as an instructor of the Yellow Team alongside Jim Hauth and Max Mongrello. Also assisting were Jacque Wertz as course coordinator, and Seth Eash and Kristen Powell as team leaders.
The first National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic was held 33 years ago by Mid-Prairie alum and blind veteran Eldon Miller. The first clinic had around 30 participating members, and has now grown to over 200 veterans.