Veterans Day Appreciation: Gulliksen and Gillie
To eflect on Veterans Day, the FSGA would like to take a moment to express their gratitude to players, volunteers, and all who have served our country. The camaraderie and sportsmanship in golf are truly boundless, similar to the fellowship of those who have served and protected our great country. In honor of Veterans Day this year, they have spoken with two veterans about their years in the service and their involvement with the FSGA.
Tyler Gulliksen | Flagler Beach | FSGA Player
From a young age, Tyler Gulliksen dedicated himself to serving his country, a journey that began when he chose to attend the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. The tragic events of 9/11 piqued his desire to serve and contribute to the greater good of the United States and its people.
After completing his studies, Gulliksen earned a spot in the prestigious Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit, which accepts only about 14 candidates each year. Gulliksen remarked “The EOD training stuff, you're diving, you're parachuting, your explosive ordnance training, and your combat skills training,” Looking back, he shared, “When I made it through training, I did 13 years in the Navy as an officer, and did multiple deployments from my time in the Middle East and North Africa. It was an awesome career, I loved it.” His dedication is mirrored by his wife, who served 25 years in the Marine Corps.
Gulliksen was no stranger to the world of golf, having played on the Navy golf team for three of the four years he attended the Naval Academy. However, following his graduation from the Naval Academy, he took a long break from the sport due to the demanding training pipeline and his deployments. Gulliksen recalled, “After my last platoon commander tour and I was doing more of my staff tours, I got back into really playing competitive golf again.”
When asked if the discipline he learned from the military transferred over to his success on the course, he stated “ I think it helps in everyday life. It helps you with it, especially golf. You basically learn to just be regimented and focused. And when you're going to be all in on something, it's like, you just kind of can dedicate your time and focus into it.”
Gulliksen also noted that the relationships he formed in the FSGA developed in much the same way as those he built in the military, “My best friends in life, I've only really had in two places, the Naval Academy and my time when I was in the EOD community, and then golf. It's the closest thing where you make friends that you'll have forever.”
To further his long-standing mission to give back to his country and community, Gulliksen recently took on the role of assistant coach for the Men’s Golf program at the University of North Florida. Gulliksen stated “You're mentoring these guys, you're helping them. And it's not just about golf. It's mainly about life. That's what I try to at least bring to it. UNF is a great program, and Scott Schroeder is a great coach. So it's really awesome just to be there and be around that kind of program.”
In closing, and in very important fashion, Gulliksen declared, “Go Navy, Beat Army!”
Doug Gillie | Palm Harbor | FSGA Tournament Volunteer
Doug Gillie has been a dedicated volunteer with the FSGA since 2006, serving as a tournament chairman and rules official. Before his involvement with the FSGA, he was a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army and a combat helicopter pilot in Vietnam, where he had approximately 1,000 combat hours. Gillie recalls, “It was a very significant time in my life. You know, I saw the very best in men, and
I saw the very worst in men.” He continued, “I went through my basic armored division training at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Then I went straight to flight school.” Gillie would spend three and a half years of his life committed to serving our country.
After his military service, Gillie started his own business, dedicating the next 30 years to it before retiring in Florida. This transition opened the door to his involvement with the FSGA. He was finishing up a board assignment with another non-profit when he felt a pull toward something new.
Golf was introduced to Gillie at a young age, “Golf had been a big part of my life when I was growing up, my mother, my father, my sisters…We played a lot of golf together, so I thought well, I’ll try the FSGA,” Doug reminisced “I figured it would give me an opportunity to give something back to the game of golf. I told Linda, my wife, I'll dedicate five years to this organization, and when I'm done there, I'll move on to something else. Well, that was 2006 and I'm still doing it.”
His first assignment was a U.S. Open Qualifier at Innisbrook Resort, where Johnny Williams was the tournament chairman. Gillie was immediately struck by Williams’ passion for the rules of golf and his unwavering commitment to the FSGA. In that moment, he realized he wanted to deepen his involvement.
Gillie reflects on his military experience as a time of teamwork and shared goals, similar to the camaraderie he feels while running golf tournaments. He noted that this sense of unity is a key aspect of both environments. Gillie stated “When you were in the military, you're primarily part of a team. It was a bunch of people working together for the same goal and very similar to what we do in the FSGA. I really enjoyed being a tournament chairman, being a part of a team, paying attention to detail, and working hard to put a good tournament together; and then just the satisfaction that you felt when things went right.”
In his closing remarks Gillie shared “Both the military and FSGA have been significant and important parts of my life, I’ve met many, many great people. I mean, it's a great organization. I love the FSGA, a lot of great people, a lot of good experiences, and a lot of long-lasting relationships.”
The ties between golf and military service run deep, and the FSGA would like to thank all veterans of the United States Armed Forces.