Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course

What Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course does

Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course is a 501c3 nonprofit that operates an 18-hole, Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course on a 377-acre site within the VA Puget Sound Health Care System grounds in Lakewood, Washington. The facility, originally built in 1957, is the only ADA-compatible golf course in the United States designed specifically for disabled veterans and is owned by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; the Friends of ALVGC was incorporated in 2004 to raise capital for it after federal operating funding was withdrawn in 1995. The course operates entirely with unpaid labor: more than 230 volunteers contribute roughly 50,000 hours per year across course management, grounds maintenance, instruction, food service, and rehabilitation support, with no paid employees.

The facility combines a Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole layout, an 8,500 sq ft Clubhouse/Rehab & Learning Center with a Full Swing indoor simulator, a covered driving range with Power Tee automatic teeing (first in the Pacific Northwest), 12 mobility-impaired para-golfer carts, and Yamaha EFI carts added through a corporate sponsorship program. Adaptive offerings include rehabilitation rooms, year-round simulator therapy, golf instruction by trained volunteers, and 'Area 51', a club repair and refurbishment service that redistributed 215+ sets of clubs to veterans in 2019. Pricing is fixed and low: $25 daily greens fees for authorized veterans, $35 for accompanied guests (up to 3 per veteran), $10–$20 cart rentals, $6–$12 range buckets, and a $500 annual pass; fees were raised for only the third time in 20 years in January 2024.

The revenue model mixes transactional golf fees, a small recurring annual pass stream, and a large, lumpy donation/grant base from individuals, banks (Columbia Bank, Umpqua), veteran service organizations (Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 407, VFW, Grand of Washington Military Order of the Cooties Auxiliary), golf clubs (Meridian Valley CC, Fircrest) and PGA Northwest. Since 2002 the Friends of ALVGC has invested over $14 million in construction projects and equipment; in 2024 the course was officially designated a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course, the 400th of Nicklaus' career. The organization is governed by an all-volunteer board led by President Don Anderson and Director Bruce McKenty (retired GM, April 2024).

Name

Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course

Legal name

Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course

Website

https://veterangolf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course is a 501c3 nonprofit operating the only ADA-compatible 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in the U.S., located on VA Hospital grounds in Lakewood, Washington, and run entirely by 230+ volunteers serving disabled and able-bodied veterans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Recreational Golf Services

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Golf Equipment Repair, Regripping & Customization Services (CRAMAGAK)

Keywords

• Veteran golf course
• Adaptive golf programs
• Disabled veteran recreation
• Golf rehabilitation services
• Nonprofit golf operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Lakewood

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Greens Fees: Daily greens fees charged to authorized veterans and their dependents, as well as accompanied guests. Primary revenue stream from golf operations.
2. Cart Rentals: Revenue from renting golf carts to players. Two-man carts required unless odd number of players.
3. Driving Range Balls: Revenue from selling range balls in small, medium, and large buckets.
4. Annual Passes: Annual membership passes for authorized personnel and their legal dependents. Passes are good for one year from date of purchase.
5. Donations and Grants: Since 1995, the operation and maintenance has been maintained entirely by private donations. Since 2002, over $14 million invested in construction projects and equipment through donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations.
6. Golf Cart Sponsorship Program: Organizations or individuals can donate money to purchase a new golf cart; the course displays the donor's logo for 5 years.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Operates an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course on the VA Hospital grounds in Lakewood, Washington, providing ADA-accessible golf, rehabilitation, and adaptive recreation services to disabled veterans, active-duty military, and their families. The facility includes a covered driving range with Power Tee automatic teeing system, a Clubhouse/Rehab & Learning Center with a Full Swing Golf Simulator, mobility-impaired golf carts, and a club repair program (Area 51), all run entirely by volunteers.

Product overview

American Lake Veterans Golf Course (ALVGC) is a nonprofit 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course operated entirely by volunteers for disabled veterans. The facility offers golf activities, rehabilitation therapy, and socialization through its core golf course, driving range with Power Tee automatic teeing system, Full Swing Golf Simulator, and Clubhouse/Rehab & Learning Center. Additional services include the Area 51 equipment repair program and a golf cart sponsorship program. The course is the only ADA-compatible golf course in the country, managed by over 230 volunteers with no paid employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• American Lake Veterans Golf Course 18-hole Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course designed specifically for disabled veterans with ADA-compatible accessibility, located on VA Hospital grounds. Open to authorized veterans, active-duty military, and their dependents.
• Clubhouse, Rehab & Learning Center 8,500 square foot facility housing rehabilitation room, Full Swing Golf Simulator, teaching station, locker rooms, administrative offices, and social areas. Supports year-round therapy and golf instruction.
• Covered Driving Range with Power Tee System Covered driving range with 10 Power Tee automatic teeing system bays for year-round practice, designed to assist adaptive and mobility-impaired golfers.
• Area 51 Equipment Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Suicide rates among adult male Veterans is 22% higher than non-Veteran adult men - ALVGC provides therapy and support to help prevent veteran suicides
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Power TeecoreTechnology or Integration · 15 March 2019Power Tee provides automatic teeing system for the driving range. ALVGC has 10 Power Tee bays in all covered driving range stalls. Power Tee enables adaptive golfers and those with disabilities to improve and enjoy the game of golf. The first golf course in the Northwest United States to have Power Tee. Bruce McKenty stated 'We are truly the envy of the golf courses in the Great Northwest.'
• Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 407flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Purple Heart Tournament held at ALVGC since 2007. Proceeds go to support equipment and golf cart purchases. Chapter 407 has donated $58,375 to help keep grounds maintenance equipment in good shape. Commander Bruce McKenty served as Chapter 407 Commander.
• Columbia BankcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting sponsor for Purple Heart Tournament annually. Columbia Bank conducts annual spring workday cleanup with over 35 volunteers. Has become a great community partner to the golf course and their mission to help veterans. Teams participate from near and far, some from Oregon.
• Meridian Valley Country ClubcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHosts the Washington Open Invitational Tournament which includes donations to ALVGC. Donated $23,000 during the 2021 Washington Open Invitational to assist with front nine renovation. Has been a great friend to ALVGC for many years with generous financial support.
• Fircrest Golf ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated two Yamaha EFI golf carts with Centennial Logos to ALVGC through the Golf Cart Sponsorship Program. Team members from Fircrest Golf Club participated in cart presentation. Carts will eventually get side curtains and doors for elderly veterans.
• Murray's Collision GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKyle Murray of Murray's Collision Group has partnered with ALVGC to sponsor golf carts as part of the Cart Sponsorship Program. Created video highlighting the partnership and the veteran-built, veteran-operated nature of the course.
• PGA Northwest SectioncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWestern Washington Chapter of Pacific Northwest Section PGA hosts annual Pro/Am Tournament at ALVGC. Donation of approximately $24,000 (including $16,000 check presentation and $6,000 from The Home Course). Brian Coury coordinates the tournament annually.
• VA Puget Sound Health Care SystemflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe golf course is located on VA Hospital grounds. After government funding was withdrawn in 1995, volunteers negotiated an agreement with VA Puget Sound Health Care to allow volunteers to manage the course. The course is owned by the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Golf Course Superintendent Association of America (GCSAA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGCSAA Washington and Oregon chapters have helped veterans at American Lake Veterans Golf Course through volunteer workdays and support.
• The Jack Nicklaus OrganizationflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerJack Nicklaus designed the new back nine holes in 2014 and redesigned the old front nine. The Nicklaus Organization donated its time and resources to the project. In 2024, Jack Nicklaus officially designated the course as a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course - the 400th course he designed.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Amputee Golf Association: National nonprofit dedicated to introducing amputees and other physically challenged individuals to golf. Highly comparable to ALVGC because it serves the same adaptive athlete population (amputees, mobility-impaired golfers) and promotes specialized equipment and tournament formats for disabled play.
• PGA Hope: PGA of America's flagship adaptive golf program for military veterans with disabilities. Most directly comparable to ALVGC because it shares the same core thesis: using golf as rehabilitative therapy for wounded veterans, with instruction from trained volunteers at accessible facilities.

Broad incumbents

• Wounded Warrior Project: One of the largest US nonprofits serving post-9/11 wounded veterans across physical, mental, and economic recovery programs. Comparable because it targets the same veteran population ALVGC serves via rehabilitation therapy, though at vastly broader scope and scale, and is a partner ecosystem entity rather than a direct golf competitor.

Others

• The First Tee: National youth development nonprofit introducing golf and life skills to young people, with chapters nationwide. Comparable as a mission-driven nonprofit operating golf facilities for a specific underserved demographic (youth vs. ALVGC's disabled veterans), with a similar facility-network model.
• Disabled Sports USA: National nonprofit providing adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities, including disabled veterans. Comparable as a parallel adaptive-sports delivery model for the same end-beneficiary population, though it spans many sports rather than specializing in golf.
• Team Red White Blue: Veteran service organization focused on community building, physical activity, and mental health for veterans. Comparable as an adjacent veteran-wellness nonprofit operating in the same regional Pacific Northwest veteran community that ALVGC draws from.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/results?search_query=American+Lake+Veterans+Golf+Course
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/friends-of-american-lake-veterans-golf-course

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Friends of American Lake Veterans Golf Course