time. Then they have lunch and network
with each other and guest speakers.
Greiner says he felt called to provide
a group program because Fort Belvoir,
home to a modern community hospital
partnered with the Walter Reed National
Military Medical Center, has a large war-
rior transition battalion.
The hospital provides housing for 300
wounded veterans to help them and their
families heal physically, emotionally
and socially.
About 200 people a year, most with
minimal prior golf experience, participate
in Links at Fort Belvoir. Greiner and his
volunteers, including teaching pros from
Virginia and throughout the East Coast,
also conduct a smaller program at Mary-
land’s Joint Base Andrews.
“The pros come and teach and they send
me a thank-you note for letting them do it,”
Greiner says. “They love it.”
Graduates of the program practice and
play for free thereafter, Greiner says, as
long as they adhere to the complete ther-
apy program doctors prescribe for them.
“I require action,” Greiner says. “This
isn’t a giveaway, it’s adaptive rehabilitation.”
EXTENDING THE REACH
Former President Barack Obama, who
often played Fort Belvoir’s two 18-hole
courses under Greiner’s watch, has visited
Links to Freedom sessions. Jack Nicklaus
has pledged his support. Arnold Palmer
recommended Fort Belvoir to wound-
ed vets. Greiner and some Links partici-
pants also have been part of President’s
Cup ceremonies.
Rousing feedback has fueled Greiner’s
expansive ambitions for Links to Freedom,
which he established as a nonprofit unaf-
filiated with the Department of Defense.
Greiner says that enables him to raise
money more freely; Links to Freedom will
ABOVE: Links to Freedom Executive Director Steve
Greiner (left) receives the PGA of America’s Patriot
Award. LEFT: Participants and their families take
part in rehabilitative golf as an extension of therapy.
BELOW: Retired U.S. Army First Sgt. Tony Henry
began golfing in Links to Freedom after suffering a
traumatic brain injury in Afghanistan.
28
V I R G I N I A G O L F E R | M AY / J U N E 2 0 1 7
vsga.org