06/05/2026
In 1988, when Tim Gaestel’s father retired from the Army, there was no celebration waiting for him.
No crowd.
No recognition.
No moment to honor decades of service.
So he packed up his life, moved his family to Texas, and quietly stepped into civilian life carrying stories he rarely spoke about again. He stopped wearing his insignia. He stopped talking about the military. Over time, that chapter of his life became something buried deep beneath the surface.
Nearly 30 years later, Tee It Up for the Troops would unknowingly help bring it back to life.
In 2017, Tim attended a REUNION event in Orlando with his old Army buddy, Darby. The two had shared life-changing experiences together during their service, but like many Veterans, time and life had pulled them apart. REUNION gave them something they hadn’t had in years: uninterrupted time together. Time to reconnect. Time to breathe. Time to remember they weren’t carrying everything alone.
And Tim watched something remarkable happen afterward.
Darby changed.
The friend he once worried about became someone Tim now calls “one of the best Dads I’ve ever seen.” After attending REUNION, Darby found stability, purpose, and eventually gained custody of his little girl.
For Tim, that alone would have made the trip unforgettable.
But there was another moment waiting for him.
Tim had also brought his father with him to the REUNION event in Orlando. While surrounded by other Veterans and listening to stories from men of his own era, something shifted. The man who had spent decades staying silent slowly began opening up. He talked more. Reflected more. Connected more.
For the first time in years, Tim saw pride return to his father’s eyes.
“What Tee It Up for the Troops did for my Dad is something I hope to honor for the rest of my life,” Tim shared. “They gave my father his pride back.”
And somewhere in the middle of helping the people he loved heal, Tim discovered something about himself too.
He realized his mission was about helping Veterans transition into civilian life and find their own version of purpose again. Their own “golf.” Their own reason to keep moving forward.
“I used to think my only goal was to share my passion for golf. Now it’s helping others find their passion."
One REUNION trip.
Three lives changed.
And a reminder that healing sometimes begins simply by being surrounded by people who understand. 🇺🇸
