Last week’s program was presented by Rotarian Mike Stone.  Mike’s guest speaker was Thomas Underdown and Shaun Newman with “Fairways for Warriors”.  Fairways for Warriors is a 501(c)(3) non-profit.  The mission is to help combat wounded warriors with their mental and physical rehabilitation.  They define a combat wounded warrior as anyone who has served in a combat theater whether a physical injury was sustained or not.  They have found that the invisible wounds are usually more difficult to overcome.  Warriors can’t heal alone. It is recognized that the  sacrifice and struggles of the families who support them are just as difficult. The cost of war impacts not only those who are serving, but the millions of family members they leave back home. The struggles of coping with their loved ones’ absence is only overshadowed by the struggles they face once they return. Healing is not just for the combat wounded veterans; it’s also for their families who have been directly impacted by the hardships the combat wounded veterans have faced. Fairways sprovide an environment where combat wounded veterans and their families can heal through the game of golf. They create a support system that allows for them to come together and form bonds with other families who often may have experienced the same or similar situations.  Fairways provides golf equipment, instruction, and outings to combat wounded veterans and their family members who wish to participate, as well as offering therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anger management, marriage counseling, and financial counseling.  Fairways is excited to announce the opening in the Central Florida area of the first indoor Training and Life Center (TLC)  for combat wounded veterans and their families. The TLC offers a doorway to hope and a path to physical and emotional growth through the socializing and rehabilitative nature of the game of golf. The 6,700 square foot facility is the first indoor golf facility in the U.S. exclusively catering to combat wounded veterans and their families. It is a safe environment that they can call their own. The facility includes:
 1,340 square feet dedicated to: Reception and office area, Counseling room, Break room and Internet café.  The remaining 5,360 square feet boast 21-foot ceilings and provides: 40’ x 20’ putting, chipping and full swing area, One full golf simulator, Several FlightScope sensors, PlaneSwing training aid, Club repair and grip refitting workshop, Warrior Fit workout area with a focus on golf training and fitness and Three large screen TVs.  Our combat wounded veterans run the entire facility as it provides the opportunity for many of our combat wounded veterans to work or volunteer at a facility that caters to their peers. Many of our veterans want to give back to Fairways for Warriors for all that it has done to help them.  The TLC is much more than a place for combat wounded veterans to work on their golf game or workout; it is a place that changes and saves lives. Fairways provides counseling, both group, and individual, and have seminars, bible studies, and other events. The VA Medical Center in Lake Nona will bring in patients to use the facility for treatment and camaraderie.  The TLC officially opened its doors on May 21, 2016. Located at:  1001 Armstrong Blvd. Kissimmee, FL 34741.  For more information or if you can help with their efforts, check out the website:  www.fairwaysforwarriors.org   -submitted by Mike Arndt

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