With more than 110 years of history, the CDGA has an array of historical photo assets and documents pertaining to the organization and golf in Chicago. Beginning with this edition, each digital issue of Chicago District Golfer will spotlight a different artifact and share the story behind it in the “Backspin” section.
The CDGA’s support of veterans dates back to World War I, when the organization helped organize “Dime-A-Round” fundraisers. These efforts served as the groundwork for the official formation of the CDGA Foundation in 1944, which began by offering golf programming for veterans returning home from World War II.
A core tenet of the Foundation’s early work was the construction of putting greens at local VA hospitals. Pictured here are photos from the dedication of one at the Downey Veterans Hospital (now called the Lovell Federal Health Care Center) in North Chicago, held on May 11, 1961. Pictured from left to right in the top photo are longtime CDGA official Chuck Eckstein, Downey president Dr. W.W. Bourke, CDGA vice president Stacy Osgood and CDGA president Andrew Gatenbey. The course, eventually named after Illinois Golf Hall of Fame member Joe Sisolak, closed in 2001, replaced by an expanded medical center.
Today, the CDGA continues its work for those who have served through initiatives such as Blind Veteran Golf Outings, veteran clinics in conjunction with RevelationGolf, the CDGA VGA Two-Person Veterans Cup Series and the CDGA | UVS Swing Club Veteran Scholarship. Click the button below for more information on the CDGA’s veteran programming.