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Back in the swing of golf again

| October 20, 2018 1:00 AM

To anyone else, it’s just 18 holes chasing a ball around.

But for Coeur d’Alene native Mike Gaboury, the game of golf has been an escape from everyday life.

Where he has been.

It relaxes him.

GABOURY, WHO graduated from Lake City High in 2008, enlisted in the Air Force, serving his country for seven years and 11 months before medically retiring in 2016.

“I had a number of different things that were going on,” Gaboury said. “I’d broken my leg twice and after a deployment and then had some mental health issues.”

After his retirement, Gaboury went to a VA Hospital in Walla Walla, Wash., to recover from his injuries.

“I was down there for a few months right when I got out,” Gaboury said. “While I was there, I started researching golf tournaments and Googled the VGA (Veterans Golf Association) and found out they were doing tournaments in southern Idaho and California.”

It was at a tournament in southern Idaho where he met the Idaho director, Lucas O’Neill.

“I got to know him pretty well,” Gaboury said. “After that, I was hooked.”

Gaboury won his flight at a Veterans Golf Association regional qualifier in Virginia, advancing to the national championship next month. Last year, Gaboury missed the cut to qualify for nationals by five strokes.

To qualify, a player needs to qualify at local, regional and four super regional tournaments.

The VGA Championship is Nov. 4-7 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The Olympic Club has hosted the U.S. Open five times, most recently in 2012.

“I’m a little bit nervous,” Gaboury said. “It’s my first time playing at a course of that stature.”

GABOURY GOLFED while a student at Lake City for coach Kent Scanlon.

“I just enjoy the social aspect and just getting in the outdoors and taking a break from everything that’s stressing me out,” Gaboury said. “It’s pretty much an escape for me. I get out there on the course, and all I’m focused on is hitting the ball and having fun. I don’t worry about the past and all that when I’m on the course.”

As for his golf game?

“It’s getting a lot better,” said Gaboury, who is currently attending the Golf Academy of America in Dallas. “I’m a 7-handicap right now, but definitely improving.”

The VGA hosts 250 local tournaments around the country.

“Currently, we don’t have many members in Northern Idaho/Eastern Washington,” Gaboury said. “It’s a great opportunity for veterans, active duty personnel, wounded veterans and family members to compete, socialize and remain physically active through the game of golf.”

And get some well-deserved relaxation.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.