military Archives • GolfStinks

Make Your Memorial Day Round of Golf Matter

May 26, 2014 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

Sometimes we use golf to celebrate something. A common tradition among us stinky golfers has been for birthdays, well…for those of us whose birthdays fall in golf season anyway. Your birthday equals a free round of golf courtesy of the other stinky golfers. But golf can be used for other celebrations as well. Bachelor parties are pretty common for celebrations involving a round or two of golf as well. Sometimes it’s for recognition – a previous job gave me the opportunity to play a course which I otherwise would have had no chance to get on, just for a “job well done.” With that in mind, maybe using golf to recognize a veteran or current service member on a “Job well done”

With Memorial Day upon us, many people need reminding that this is not in fact National Cookout Day. This is not a holiday invented by Kingsford or Char-Broil. What it is, is a day to remember the men and women who paid the ultimate price while serving in the military. As long as all of us understand that, then the cookouts, the parties and gatherings are all good.

But on this Memorial Day, why not take one of those chances to recognize a veteran or active member of the service? You would bring your buddy out for a round of golf on his birthday, so why not celebrate Memorial Day with someone to whom this holiday matters or affects. Sure, Memorial Day celebrates those who have fallen while Veteran’s Day recognizes all of the active or inactive military. But showing your appreciation to a friend or family member who is serving could be a nice gesture which I’m sure would be appreciated.

A round of golf , as mentioned earlier, can be used as a form of recognition. It’s done at the office. It’s done on birthdays. Why not pass that along to our veterans and service men and women? After all, these people are sacrificing so much for you and me. Even something as simple as a round of golf is a nice show of appreciation to people who certainly deserve it.

Swing ’til you’re happy!

How Golf Saved My Life

May 27, 2013 | By Golf Stinks | 3 Comments

Today is Memorial Day – a time to reflect upon all those who gave their lives for their country. But let us also not forget those Wounded Warriors who must assimilate themselves back into society after war. Below is Tim Gaestel’s journey (written in his own words). Mr. Gaestel connected with GolfStinks recently and we felt his story (how golf helped saved his life after his tour of duty) was worthy of reprint.

I started swinging a golf club when I was a little under three years old but, I wouldn’t fall in love with golf until my return from Iraq and the trials of warfare. While driving through a dangerous area south of Baghdad, a roadside bomb exploded as my Humvee was passing – two pieces of shrapnel went through my lower IBA and into my back.

I would remain in Iraq for 8 months and in April 2004, I returned from the deployment a disabled soldier. My life was changed forever and the pain in my back would change my disposition on all of my abilities. Meanwhile, a few friends in my Unit decided that they wanted to buy new golf clubs and start playing golf (after returning from a deployment, our commanders allowed us a lot of free time to relax and recover from the stresses of life in war-time). My love for golf would grow but I was far from being a “golfer.” We played golf a good amount, but the pain in my back was often too much for me to endure and I started to play less and less until one day I decided I needed the money and I sold my golf clubs.

In September 2005, I would leave the Army and head back home to Austin, Texas to start my college career at Austin Community College. I had stopped playing golf and in fact, I had stopped being active all together. I used the pain in my back as an excuse to be lazy and I began to gain weight. With every added pound, the pain in my back would only increase. Three years passed and I went from being a 175-pound athletic person, to weighing 255 pounds and doing everything I could to resist any physical activity.

In 2008, I was accepted to Texas State University – this is where golf grabbed me and changed my life. A friend of mine named Raquel was working in the recreation department at Texas State and I had mentioned how I wanted to coach someday and she told me about a position through the REC department that would allow me to coach a Jr Golf Program. Raquel introduced me to the manager of the Texas State Golf Course who quickly decided to allow me to take over the program. Some of the perks of being an employee was being able to play the course for free and anytime I wanted.

My father would buy me a pushcart and I began to walk the course and as a result, I began to change my disposition on my abilities as a golfer and as person again. But nearly a year into working at the REC program, adversity struck again. My entire golf bag was stolen with all my golf clubs and a bag of golf attire (I was heading back to Austin for the weekend and planning on doing some laundry at my parents house). It was a setback for sure, but I wasn’t going to let it stop me.

Golf didn’t just help me lose weight and be more active; it allowed me to understand the world again. Golf showed me that I could still be competitive, that I could set goals and achieve those goals. The lessons I learned on the fairways transferred to my life. I have now lost the weight that I have struggled with over the years to lose; I have gained strength in my back, legs and shoulders. My back will always be a problem for me but now I know I can work through the pain and still do what I love to do.

In May 2011, I graduated from Texas State University in San Marcos and recently moved out to San Angelo Texas where I started working for Bentwood Country Club as the Head Coach for the Jr High School Golf program. I eventually want to become a PGA Teaching Pro. I moved out to West Texas with my fiancé who has been my biggest supporter and I could not have done it without her and now she ‘s my wife. I’m teaching U.S. History at Central High School and hope to take over as Head Golf Coach if the position becomes available.

Quite simply, golf saved my life. It showed me that I could do anything if I practiced and worked hard. I want to spend my life sharing my passion for golf and showing how golf is more than just a game but a way of life and a strength I take deep pride in. I really think that Mizuno Golf and the #Playfamously contest could help my career – help me grow the game of golf in West Texas and make a name for myself in the golf business. But perhaps most importantly, I want to show Wounded Soldiers what golf did for me and what it can do for their own lives.

– Tim Gaestel

For more on Mr. Gaestel’s military service: http://www.purpleheartaustin.org/gaestel.htm
To connect with Mr. Gaestel on Twitter: @TGolfer83

A Memorial Day Tribute From Golfstinks

May 28, 2012 | By Chris Chirico | 1 Comment

Contrary to popular belief, today is not National BBQ Day or National Cookout Day. No, that’s June 23rd this year. Rather, it’s Memorial Day. And although me and the guys here at golfstinks do intend to spend the day on the links before parking ourselves in front of our grills, we have certainly not forgotten why we’re able to do so.

Many times, lost in the three-day weekend is the reason you had the opportunity to hit the links on a Monday morning rather than stare at the walls buried inside your cubicle farm. Too often we don’t stop to take the time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

But this day is for them. And in celebration of the brave men and women in all branches of the military, we’re going to take a look back at some of the past posts in which we’ve made mention of our brave brothers and sisters. Be it Memorial Day, Veterans Day or just because, we at golfstinks believe that everyday should be a day to remember and give thanks to the people who who help to make our lives what they are.

Back in November of 2009, in a post titled Who Are Your Golf Heroes?, Stinky Golfer Greg introduced us to his Uncle Frank – a veteran of World War II and Greg’s personal golf hero.

In March of 2010, we came across the charity Bunkers In Baghdad. This great organization sends golf equipment to our active duty troops in the desert as well as donates equipment to our troops recovering with the Wounded Warriors Program.

For Memorial Day 2010, Stinky Golfer Pete reflected on a memorable round he played with his buddies father – a veteran of the Vietnam War. While hearing both stories he enjoyed, as well as others he may have wished he hadn’t heard, Pete was also given some words to live by…

We tend to poke a little fun at some of the over-the-top golf gadgets on the market today. But in August of 2010 Stinky Golfer Greg found that Wounded Warrior Golf was using a 3-D swing system to help wounded veterans recover their range of motion. Golf technology is helping our injured veterans recover? We can’t think of a better use.

Fast forward to Veterans Day 2011 when I got to experience first-hand the appreciation our troops and veterans, as well as their families and friends, have for the support shown to them by the people they are fighting for. It feels good to know you’re helping, but it feels better when you can truly understand the appreciation that goes along with it.

This Memorial Day, all we ask is that when you’re about to tee off on the first hole, take a bite of a foot-long dog hot off the grill or even just sleep in for a change…take a few minutes to remember why you’re able to do all of these things. Keep in mind the people who will never be able to experience things like this again. And say a prayer for those who are still away from their families and friends on a day when many of us civilians are gathering with ours. Because if it weren’t for the bravery of a few, life would be different for all.

Swing ’til you’re happy!