The long-standing friendship between St Andrews Legacy and American Lake Veterans Golf Course, which dates back to late 2013, was further strengthened in 2025 when representatives of the Jack Nicklaus designed facility in Washington State joined fellow US and British men in Scotland for a week of golf and camaraderie.

Rich Cummings at 80 and Lind Wick, only a little younger, showed that golf is a game for life, walking all four courses: two contemporary Fife gems at Crail and Dumbarnie (where designer Clive Clark met the group and advised them to “tear it up, tear it up!”), the Jubilee Course at St Andrews Links and, finally, The Old Course.

Rich, a former infantryman, and Lind, a USS Stoddard sailor, joined up in the Vietnam era and both have contributed hugely to golf since they left the military, Rich volunteering at American Lake, and Lind in teaching the game for almost fifty years.

Alexander Glenn-Camden recently founded Loops Fore Troops, based at Bandon Dunes, training vets to take up caddying. A self-taught player who has overcome the injury of being shot in the neck, he is keen to pass on the benefits of playing golf to others.

Joe Gleichenhaus has spent significant spells deployed overseas, especially in Korea, Bosnia, Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as throughout the USA, including at the Pentagon. His final assignment was as the State Inspector General for the California National Guard in Sacramento. Golf was something he could share with his late father and it now helps in his transition out of military service.

For John “JC” Carter, there was both the therapeutic aspect of walking the courses, but also the serenity of the environment on the Scottish coast. JC spoke of a “new found peace”.

Dan Korslund has also found golf to be a great way to experience calm, seeing golf as almost “another realm”.

Tony O’Connor from Wales relished the chance to talk to fellow veterans frankly and openly and felt the benefit of reaching out to comrades.

Mark Kretzschmar, also from Wales, has his son to thank for getting him back into the game, and he looks forward to developing his skills after a distinguished career in service.

The veterans were warmly welcomed to St Andrews by Lucia Farah and Annie Boslem, such wonderful hosts. The group experienced great friendship in the St Andrews Golf Club and in the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. They spent the week at David Russell Apartments.