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Reintegration class next week

  • Published
  • By Joyce Atlee
  • Family Advocacy Outreach Manager
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Spouses of deployed members can ask questions and address their concerns at the Spouses Reintegration Class at 9 a.m. Feb. 22 at the Airman and Family Readiness Center. This class is aimed at those whose active duty spouse has been back from deployment a month or less, or will return within the next month.

The A&FRC, the Mental Health Resiliency Element, and the Military Family Life Consultant will be on hand to provide an overview of the challenges the deployed member may have faced, and offer helpful information on how family life can be affected by the return of a loved one from deployment.

Each partner has to make a lot of little (and not so little) adjustments after the return of the active duty person. Both have to work together and figure out how all the pieces fit and how each person fits into the reassembled family unit. Lt. Cmdr. Jon Schwake, Resiliency Element Nurse, pointed out that spouses may have many concerns and questions, ranging from "how will my husband act when he gets home?" to how to accommodate another person's sleep/wake schedule, which may have been opposite theirs due to differences in time zones. Commander Schwake said "if we don't know the answer, we will find out and they will get the answers they need."

In addition, handouts will be provided with information on base resources.

Call the A&FRC at 739-2747 to sign up for this class, or for more information.

Golf course history recalled

Kimberly Woodruff
72nd Force Support Squadron Marketing

Tinker Golf Course is a wonderful addition to the base and the people who work here.

The course was built in 1960 by volunteers and civil engineers who wanted to be a part of something special, who wanted a place to come relax and enjoy a game of golf.

Two people near and dear to the golf course had some stories to tell about the course and got a chance to relive memories.

Robert Daves was discharged from the Air Force, then Army in 1945, and began working as an accountant and retired from Tinker in 1981. Mr. Daves was one of the original volunteers who helped to build the first nine holes on land donated to Tinker AFB by the city of Midwest City. He said they started out asking for volunteers and the volunteers each donated a small amount of money and they borrowed equipment from the civil engineers to build those first nine holes back in 1960.

"I've seen a lot of changes, some good and some bad, over the years," Mr. Daves said.

Mr. Daves said he played for 30 years with a friend, D. Cassidy, here at Tinker until Mr. Cassidy passed away. Mr. Daves said Mr. Cassidy wasn't as good a golfer and would take lessons to get better and he could work up his temper, but he always came back the next week for their time on the course.

Tom Wiggy was the first golf pro at the course back in 1960 and stayed until the late 1980s. He has a million stories to share about the good times out at the course and all the interesting people he has met through the years. Mr. Wiggy said Arnold Palmer came for a visit, and he had a picture to prove it. He talked about the other nine-holes being built by civil engineers after hours and how civilians were limited to play on the course they had a hand in building.

Looking through his old photos, and listening to Mr. Wiggy's stories, there was a common thread: Tinker Golf Course has been through fun times, but also some tough and difficult times. Yet Tinker always weathered the storm.

Mr. Wiggy spoke of having to close the course one year during the July 4 weekend even though it was beautiful and sunny. It was closed because the course was flooded to the point it looked like a lake. Another time, there was an incredible hail storm that left divots all over the greens, but miraculously didn't harm any of the vehicles in the parking lot. He and the staff had to go out and treat the hail marks like ball marks and repair each one the old fashioned way.

Back in the day there used to be horse stables and he said the horses would get loose out on the course and be the cause of more damage than any golfer ever could.

Like all great things, Tinker Golf Course has been through its share of good and bad times. A renovated dining area will be unveiled soon, along with a new staff, a new menu and new management.

John Thurmon, director of the 72nd Force Support Squadron says, "We strive to make Tinker Golf Course the place to be. Our customers have given us tremendous feedback and after a few rapid improvement events, we are now sure to have what our customers want. We invite everyone out to try the course, the delicious food, and to experience the new and improved way we are doing business to serve Tinker."

In the meantime, there are plenty of golf activities to take part in. Enjoy the winter golf special featuring $5 green fee and $8 for cart fee for 18 holes, through Feb. 29.

Also, through the end of February, single Airmen and Sailors can golf for free with a cart as part of the single Airmen initiative funded by Air Force Materiel Command. Tuesdays are military days. Active duty military members can play for just $5. Airmen E1-E4 can use rental clubs at the course free of charge.

As always, consider purchasing an annual green fee. The annual green fee is a great way to boost the golf course and as mentioned, the course has a year to turn itself into a self-sustaining entity.

Tinker Golf Course appreciates the customers who have supported the course through the years and hopes to continue serving the best customers in the Air Force.