Tomah VA Medical Center

Tomah VA Golf Open legacy plaque

Congratulations to the planning committee of the 1^st Annual VAMC Golf Open. 

This event was born of the vision and hard work of four VA employees who love golf and who are passionate about keeping the Veterans Golf Course for the benefit of our Veterans.  The committee consists of Sarah Wagner, Dental Service; (left to right) Rod Hyde, PA, Medicine Service; Roosevelt (Rosie) Smith, PA, Medicine Service; and Curt Hanson, Laboratory Service.  The Tournament was held on June 25 and the weather couldn’t have been better for a fun morning of golf.  The format was an 18-hole tournament, best ball, with one set of nine starting on the red tee markers, and the second nine starting on the white markers.  As Rosie instructed during the pre-tournament announcements, the first rule was, “Have Fun.”  The fourth rule was, “Refer to Rule 1!”  Twenty-five players registered to golf; the entry fees resulted in $750 for the golf course.  Nineteen VA Departments sponsored a tee box, resulting in $230 for the golf course.  Additional income resulted from the sale of the popular “Gimme String” (18 feet of string that could be used to make a missed-putt count as a made-putt, AFTER cutting off the length of string necessary to bring the golf ball to the hole!), the sale of beverages on the golf course, and a “raffle” for donated prizes.  All told, the Veterans Golf Course benefited to the tune of $1174 after all was said and done!  In addition to the golf tournament, a fun putting contest was held (with some interesting golf balls!) and a lunch provided by Rod and Margaret Hyde was enjoyed by all.

Gene Essex won the putting contest, and the team results are below:

Fore Amigos                       58

Team Odin                          60

General Sheet metal           63

Fore 4 Par                           66

Team Gray                          71

Team Gundy                       72

Team Larson                      74

The first place team members one the individual plaques (as pictured) and will be listed on the “legacy trophy” that will be mounted in the Golf Shack at the Veterans Golf Course.  The plaques were created and built by Rod Hyde.  A post-tournament “survey” was given to the players, resulting in many players indicating they enjoyed the tournament and would return next year.  By all indications, the players followed both Rule 1 and Rule 4!  The prize table consisted of “his and hers” weed-whackers and a golf bag umbrella.  Other prizes included gift certificates and a mystery prize (a nice cooler!).

Thanks to all the services that sponsored tee boxes and came up with such fun and clever signs! 

To learn more about the Veterans Golf Course on the Tomah VA campus, please visit http://www.tomah.va.gov/Tomah_VA_Veterans_Golf_Course.asp