Mid-Prairie was honored to provide a location for the National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic when rain made the Kalona Golf Course too wet for the event. The National Disabled Veterans Golf Clinic is held once a year. It was started 33 years ago with Mid-Prairie graduate, Kalona resident, and blind veteran, Eldon Miller, proposing the idea and forming the first committee. The first group had just over 30 participants and it has now grown to approximately 225 veterans with many more on the waitlist hoping to get the opportunity.

This year, veterans came in from 43 different states. The group is divided into 6 teams with 2 teams being assigned to golf at Riverside’s Blue Top and 2 teams assigned to Iowa City’s Pleasant Valley as they are 18 hole courses. The remaining 2 teams go to Iowa City’s Elks Lodge Golf Course and Kalona Golf Course. Check-in takes place all day Sunday, and the entire Riverside Casino is occupied by the veterans, along with any non-locals of the 450 spouses, golf buddies, and support staff for the week.  Some support staff will stay at the Courtyard in Iowa City, as it takes more than the Casino can hold. Meals and entertainment are provided for the entire week with golf and golf instruction during each day. The evenings are filled with a list of alternative activities such as indoor putting, audio rifle, corn hole, disc golf, kayaking, Virtual Reality golf, Tai Chi, water aerobics, and Virtual Reality Wellness.  
The Kalona Golf Course location was added to this event in 2015, and this year marks its 12th year in Kalona.  A large trailer is loaded at check-in with approximately 40 sets of golf clubs tagged for each participant coming to Kalona. The NDVGC has a large inventory of men’s left and right and women’s left and right to provide if they do not have their own personal set. Along with clubs, the course loads bottled water, coolers, training supplies, golf balls, and several adaptive carts. This trailer is parked at the course and has everything needed for the week. Early each morning a placard is placed with the veteran’s name and their bag on the golf cart and everything is lined up by teams. Each veteran is assigned a golf cart and a golf buddy. Some of the participants have never played the game of golf, and others play quite frequently. They are evaluated and assigned to courses and teams by the level of physical capability and golf experience. There are all different levels of vision amongst the veterans, with some being 100% blind. Those with limited vision are offered colored balls that are fluorescent or reflective that might be more visible than a standard white golf ball.

It is nearly impossible to put into words what this event means to our heroes.  It is not only uplifting, but many describe it as life saving.  

2026 was different than any year in the past at Kalona.  With the continuous heavy rain, the event was faced with keeping the Yellow (Kalona) team at the Casino until it was time to serve lunch. Tracy McArtor (MP Class of 1979) and main golf instructor for this team, proposed the possibility of using the Mid-Prairie indoor facility. With the approval and support of Pete Cavanagh and Brian Stone, the event was able to use the facility on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, go back to the KGC for lunch, and get back out on the course for the afternoon.  This worked out so perfectly and the veterans were able to receive practice with outstanding one on one instruction. They just loved the indoor facility!

Last year, and again this year, Brian Stone has made arrangements to not only provide donuts on our first day, but also students to hand them out. Collette McClellan has brought her outstanding Mid-Prairie Choir to sing the National Anthem to the group for the past 2 years. Last year, along with Richmond Amvets Post #107 providing an Honor Guard, a very emotional 9/11 recognition ceremony was provided. We are honored for the opportunity to help this event serve those who have served!  

Jacque Wertz (MP Class of 1981) Yellow/Kalona Team Course Coordinator
Seth Eash (MP Class of 2014) Yellow Team Leader
Kristen Powell Yellow Team Leader
Tracy McArtor (MP Class of 1979) Yellow Team Golf Instructor
Jim Hauth-Yellow Team Golf Instructor
Max Mongrello-Yellow Team Golf Instructor