Presentation of Numbered Tom Lynch print of 11th Hole to Traci Williams
Presentation of Numbered Tom Lynch print of 11th Hole to Traci Williams

Bruce McKenty, General Manager for the American Lake Veterans Golf Course, presented a numbered Tom Lynch print of the 11th hole on the Nicklaus Nine to Traci Williams, Washington State Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Traci donated $5000 towards the course’s Front Nine Renovation Campaign which will upgrade the front nine holes to conform to Jack Nicklaus’ overall design for the golf course. When completed, American Lake Veterans Golf Course will be a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course and the 400th golf course he has designed.

The chain saw sculpture in the background is one of three new additions to the golf course’s Freedom Park area. The sculpture was created by Bob King, a world-renowned chain saw artist, and is modeled after Bob King’s brother.

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Evelyn Bieber
Front Line Renovation Campaign
Front Line Renovation Campaign

American Lake Veterans Golf Course

Jack Nicklaus’ Front Nine Renovation Campaign

The Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course are conducting a fundraising campaign for the Jack Nicklaus-designed renovation of the front nine holes of the American Lake Veterans Golf Course. We have plans to redo all the greens w/drainage. sand traps, surrounds, and practice greens on these holes. We will also completely replace the irrigation system, redo some tee boxes, and install cart paths. The renovation is estimated to cost $2.3 million. Unfortunately, we don’t quite have all the money we need to complete the project. Therefore, we invite our golfers and volunteers to make an investment in this wonderful venue.

The goal of this campaign is to raise $100,000 by June 4, 2021. which is the fifth anniversary of the opening of the back nine. We are reaching out to our volunteers, members, friends, past donors, community, veterans’ organizations, and anyone else you can think of who may want to consider making a tax-deductible donation. As a thank you, we will send donors gifts corresponding to the amount of the donation, as listed below:

Donation Amount Gift:

· $2,500 and above Numbered print of Hole #11 signed by Jack Nicklaus*

· $500 to $2,400 Unnumbered print Hole #11 with Jack Nicklaus Signature

· $50 to $499 Unsigned print of Hole #11

*Every Jack Nicklaus signed print bears his original signature, not a copy.

DONATE ON-LINE or Click this link for the process donating by mail, or in person and for receiving your gift. Then complete the Donation Form, enclose your credit card info, check, or cash donation and mail or submit in person at the golf course. If you have friends or relatives who would like to contribute, make a copy of the Donation Form and have them complete and send it in with their donation.

Please help us make our “Little Slice of Heaven” a little bit better.

Bruce G. McKenty, General Manager, American Lake Veterans Golf Course.

Thank you!

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Evelyn Bieber
Columbia Bank Spring Workday Cleanup

Columbia Bank Workday

On Friday morning April 23rd Columbia Bank arrived with over 35 volunteers to help the volunteers at American Lake Veterans Golf Course do some spring cleanup at their golf course. This is an annual event for Columbia Bank who has become a great community partner to the golf course and their mission to help veterans. They came from near and far. Some even came from Oregon.

Morning snacks and lunch was served by the golf course and much hard work was provided by the volunteers from Columbia Bank who worked hand in hand with some golf course volunteers to get some much-needed chores completed. Randy Moen, the golf course Grounds Superintendent briefed them on the tasks to be done and gave them a quick tour of the golf course to orient them. He then turned them loose to work.

They did everything from pulling weeds around our Freedom Pond to spreading gravel on our cart paths on the front nine holes. At the end of the day, they cleaned all their tools and completely washed all 72 Yamaha golf carts. What a day! What a great job! Thank you, Columbia Bank. We’ll see you next year.

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Evelyn Bieber
New Freedom Fountain dedication
New Freedom Fountain dedication

Our new Freedom Fountain landscape and water feature was dedicated to our Nations POW’s & MIA’s during the Ken Still Memorial Tournament on May 25th.  The seven foot tall bronze Eagle has eight bronze salmon under it’s talons that spout water into the pond. 

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GCSAA Superintendents Help Veterans

WASHINGTON AND OREGON GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS HELP VETERANS

Lakewood, WA

Nearly 65 volunteers, a collection of Golf Course Superintendents from the states of Oregon and Washington working together with Military Veterans, prepared the American Lake Veterans’ Golf Course for Spring in a large, collaborative effort on March 15th. This all- volunteer labor force provided time and equipment to aerate greens and tee boxes, while also cleaning the debris remaining on the ground from a harsher winter than normal. In less than 5 hours the course was ready for its spring rush of golfers.

The effort was a collaboration of the Oregon Golf Course Superintendents Association (OGCSA) and the Western Washington Golf Course Superintendents Association (WWGCSA). Each is a regional chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). 40 members of the two chapters were joined by 25 volunteers, veterans of American Armed Forces, who regularly help maintain the course – and they do so for no compensation, other than seizing the opportunity to provide a refuge for both active and retired, abled and disabled, military personnel.

Association Superintendents show off their version of “A Chorus Line”

American Lake Veterans’ Golf Course, which was built after World War II in the mid-50s, is on the grounds of the VA Hospital in Lakewood, WA. Its mission is to “provide much-needed rehabilitation and recreational outlet for the growing population of veterans, many of whom are disabled…” It has served patients healing from all types of injuries for many years. In 1995, after the US government withdrew all funding for the course’s operation and maintenance, volunteers offered to take up the challenge of keeping the course going.

Gabe Hughes, president of the OGCSA, expressed it this way: “American Lake is not simply there as a leisure retreat, but a place for rehabilitation, therapy, and socialization, to assist our Veterans. Any way that we can give back to them, is an honor for me and my fellow Superintendents.” Hughes’ counterpart, Sean Reehoorn, the president of the WWGCSA said simply, “… an amazing day at American Lake Veterans’ Golf Course, Oregon and Washington members working together, I’m so proud to be a part of this group.”

Randy Moen is the Superintendent at the American Lake Veterans’ Course, and he’s also a volunteer. His reaction to the special day? “The course is in great shape thanks to unselfish professional generosity of the Washington and Oregon Superintendent Associations. Our Veterans that we serve, are most grateful. [The Superintendents] have made me an instant Rock Star with all of the “Heroes” I get to serve, for this, I THANK YOU!!!”

Getting the course ready for Spring with the help of the Golf Course Superintendents, who greatly admire the veterans that the American Lake course serves, is symbolic of the thanks that all Americans have, and a chance to provide some extra hope in an environment as beautiful as a golf course.

Watch this video produced by Washington Rock Quarries to get a feel for the day: Veterans' Service Project

Mission Accomplished.

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