{"id":20206,"date":"2024-08-02T16:23:52","date_gmt":"2024-08-02T15:23:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/?page_id=20206"},"modified":"2025-01-25T13:29:07","modified_gmt":"2025-01-25T13:29:07","slug":"tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/","title":{"rendered":"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\r\n<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n<audio class=\"wp-audio-shortcode\" id=\"audio-20206-1\" preload=\"none\" style=\"width: 100%;\" controls=\"controls\"><source type=\"audio\/mpeg\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Eliseo-Villanueva-.mp3?_=1\" \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Eliseo-Villanueva-.mp3\">http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Eliseo-Villanueva-.mp3<\/a><\/audio>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20600\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20600\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20600 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414-768x516.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414-1536x1031.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19414.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20600\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliseo tees off during the G4D Tour Nations Cup at the Betfred British Masters, The Belfry (August, 2024). Photo by Luke Walker\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"color: #339966;\"><b>Eliseo Villanueva on why golf is his therapy<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Being a Paratrooper, Eliseo Villanueva was more equipped than many to handle adversity. The US Army veteran explains: \u201cIn the airborne community we say, \u2018Adapt and overcome, and continue on with your mission\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Well practised in taking the ultimate leap of faith, Eliseo has made 120 parachute jumps out of aircraft for his country.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">The severe injury to his dominant left arm on the training ground in 1993 was a potential long-term blow. The then 26-year-old thrived on the pressure of serving his country as a member of the 82<span class=\"s1\"><sup>nd<\/sup><\/span> Airborne Division (known by many as America\u2019s \u2018Guard of Honour\u2019). A surgeon operated to try to re-attach the radial head in the elbow but a year later this had still not healed correctly and had to be removed.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20194\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20194\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20194 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925-1536x1023.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16925.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20194\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliseo (left) competing in the USDGA Championship, at Port St Lucie, Florida, April 2024. Former US PGA Tour professional Ken Green looks on<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">But Eliseo was a tough individual. A veteran of numerous journeys into military combat zones, including tours in Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan, he knew he would find a way to adapt. No more of his beloved basketball perhaps with the arm the way it was, but Eliseo insisted on maintaining an active role in combat to support his colleagues. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Physically speaking Eliseo, or \u2018Eli\u2019 to his friends, could still punch above his weight. Mentally, things would later change. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo tells us: \u201cMy injury did limit my abilities to perform certain activities and tasks, and it took me a while to finally accept it. Having done this, I tried to live my life as normally as possible. I resumed all activities as a soldier, including airborne operations and combat deployments. I did not complain nor make excuses for my injury.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20599\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20599\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20599 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"787\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-1365x2048.jpg 1365w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19413-scaled.jpg 1707w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20599\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo by Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cFor me it became the \u2018new normal\u2019, I just did some things a little differently from before. I can also say that the phrase \u2018Adapt and Overcome\u2019 has become a big part of how I live my life today.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo is now 58 and married to wife Juvilee (they have sons Christian and Andrew) and they live at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), in North Carolina.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-20198 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16929.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">The present is good, the past more challenging. A darker legacy around Eliseo\u2019s feeling of duty in serving on the front line came when he and a number of his fellow Paratroopers developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). For this thoughtful family-orientated man, developing PTSD came not through one specific incident \u201cbut was a case of a combination of many different dangerous operations\u201d.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Life was no longer lived with the confidence borne out of training and operational service alongside close comrades. Something was needed to help him cope with feelings of anxiety, and Eliseo will reveal that taking up golf as a 36-year-old became a &#8220;game changer&#8221; for him, even a life-saver he says, as part of the support framework he could count on among his family and friends.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cI can say that golf has been a lifesaver for me,&#8221; he agrees. &#8220;A unique basis for physical and mental recovery from my injuries during my time in the Army.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cToday, golf is a form of therapy for me. I love the competitiveness, the challenge and camaraderie. It has also provided many opportunities to meet different people and opened many doors for me as well.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-20199 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16930.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo adds: \u201cGolf has been a big part of how I deal with post-traumatic stress. It&#8217;s a great de-stressing activity. It calms me down, it makes me focus, it drives me to get better, and it has enhanced my life in so many ways.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He had always loved the basketball court. He couldn\u2019t move the basketball well with his injured arm but he would find a way to control the golf ball with genuine skill to play off a 1.4 golf handicap as a &#8216;left-handed&#8217; player.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He is a serious golfer in terms of his skill level, a competitive player in high level amateur tournaments, leading to qualifying for selection via the World Ranking for Golfers with Disability to play for Team USA in the G4D Tour @ Betfred British Masters (August, 2024) at The Belfry, in England\u2019s West Midlands \u2013 this series of events run by the DP World Tour and supported by EDGA being at the forefront of \u2018G4D\u2019 (golf for the disabled).<\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20602\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20602\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20602 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417-1024x627.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"321\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417-1024x627.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417-768x470.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417-1536x940.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19417.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20602\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliseo on the 14th tee at the Betfred British Masters. (Photo by Andrew Redington\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Having mentioned his tournament golf, Eliseo revealed when we spoke that just earlier that same day he had shot a 75 and missed the playoff by just two shots for a spot in the US Senior Amateur Championship.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cI was happy and very proud with my score,\u201d he says. \u201cThe course was set up at 6,756 yards and played even longer with the amount of rain that we had. I competed in a field of 69 with some of the best senior amateur golfers out there, and to finish tied for 9th overall and as the only adaptive golfer in the field, this was a huge accomplishment for me.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Grit, determination, these seem to be a part of what makes Eliseo tick. Where did that come from if not the Army?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He was born in a small town near the city of Valencia in the Bukidnon region of the Philippines. His family\u2019s later migration to Hawaii and the island of Kauai in 1980 when Eliseo was 13 is a remarkable testament to a man\u2019s determination and vision. Eliseo\u2019s father Corazon DeJesus Villanueva travelled to Hawaii alone at first to provide for his wife and five children; he became a US citizen and eventually petitioned for the rest of the family to join him \u2013 \u201ctwo at a time\u201d.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20196\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20196\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20196 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16927.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20196\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">EDGA President and respected golf coach Dr Tony Bennett says hello in Florida and Eliseo talks about his game<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo explains: \u201cIt took a long time. My two oldest brothers first, then my other elder brother and me, and finally my mother and sister. A process that took almost 20 years for all of my immediate family to be together again. My father worked for a sugar cane company and we lived in one of multiple houses in the middle of the sugar cane field in various locations.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo continues: \u201cWas it hard? I didn&#8217;t think so growing up. We made do with what we had. We had vegetable gardens, went along with my Dad fishing, and did what we had to do to help with anything and everything. It reminded me of growing up in the Philippines where I remember going out fishing with very limited equipment (we used bamboo as poles), and \u2018jigged\u2019 for frogs after a good rain. I worked some in the backyard vegetable garden just so I could help my Mom and have something to prepare for a meal. I also remember my late mother and I at a very young age going out to work at a neighbour\u2019s cornfield from sun-up to sun-down for 10 Pesos for the whole day, the equivalent of less than $1.70.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">After graduating from high school in 1985, Eliseo had chosen to enlist in the US Army soon after. He worked through<span class=\"s2\"> \u2018<\/span>jump school<span class=\"s2\">\u2019 <\/span>(learning to parachute), and then served in Logistics for the 82nd Airborne at the front line.<\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-20195 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16926.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Training took him to different US bases before making Fort Liberty in North Carolina his real home with Juvilee and the kids, and today he plays most of his golf at Fort Liberty Family &amp; MWR<span class=\"s2\">\u2019<\/span>s two courses. He was deployed for combat first in Panama, then served multiple combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan. \u201cI spent my last 11 years of active duty in a special missions unit within the United States Army Special Operations Command,\u201d Eliseo explains. \u201cThere was always a great camaraderie between us, whether we were doing training, airborne operations, or in combat.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">After retiring from active service after 22 years, Eliseo continued to serve the US Army for another 16 years as an Army Civilian, and again retired at the end of March, 2024.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">During this transition period golf started to become a central passion in his life.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20603\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20603\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20603 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418-1024x651.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"334\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418-1024x651.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418-1536x977.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/19418.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20603\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Whether playing in the cooler conditions in England (above) or the heat of Florida (below), Eliseo&#8217;s short game has remained consistent<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He explains: \u201cI learned how to play golf with my injured elbow around 2003. Two family friends who were also in the military kept asking me to go play with them for a long while, then finally one day, I took them up on their offer, and that was the beginning of my golfing career (if you want to call it that).<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cInitially, I simply enjoyed the fun of playing with my friends and then my competitive nature drove me to try and get better. After I would get off duty, I would go to one of the three nearby golf courses and practise on the driving range and putting area before I headed home. I didn<span class=\"s2\">\u2019<\/span>t know it back then, but golf was actually becoming a form of therapy and de-stressing all at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-20197 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16928.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p>Happy to share his thoughts on the value of the game for its players, Eliseo reiterates how feelings of stress can slide away once on the fairways and greens. For a man who has endured symptoms of PTSD, his experience of golf has been both calming and life-affirming.\u00a0 <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cI would say give golf a try\u2026 just like me, it took me a while to finally give it a go and I am very grateful to my friends to this day. And of course golf is a wonderful way to make new friends.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo is content to combine his key amateur events with testing himself in G4D, or adaptive golf as it is known in the US; one of his highlights has been to qualify for three successive USGA US Adaptive Opens. \u201cThis has been so awesome. I would never have expected an opportunity to play in a USGA championship, so this was a dream come true for sure.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Other feathers in his cap include being men\u2019s overall winner of the 2022 USDGA Championship, and also the inaugural Florida Adaptive Open (2023).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo said he was proud to represent his country on the G4D Tour at The Belfry in August, crossing the Atlantic with his wife Juvilee, who was his caddy, and with all their friends from his club and Fort Liberty cheering him on back home.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He writes: \u201cI would like to take a moment to say thanks to EDGA, the G4D Tour and the DP World Tour for providing opportunities like this to the adaptive golfers from around the world. I am very grateful that I got this chance not only for myself but also for being able to represent my country.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20193\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20193\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20193 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/16882.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20193\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliseo (centre) thanks his playing partners at the USDGA Championship, Ken Green (left) and Alex Fourie, both of the U.S.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">And Eliseo added The Belfry to the list of the great golf courses he has played, including Pinehurst No: 2 (Payne Stewart won the US Open there in 1999), Arnold Palmer<span class=\"s2\">\u2019<\/span>s Bay Hill Club, Royal Lytham &amp; St Annes (the venue of many Open Championships), and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club which has hosted five US Opens. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">He still relishes sociable golf with his friends and his quick sense of humour makes him a popular figure, but not one to bet against too hastily.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">When we push him to explain, he tells us: \u201cI would say my golf strengths are my short game, keeping the ball in play off the tees, being pretty consistent and somewhat accurate, and it\u2019s the perseverance and mental approach. I still have the never-give-up attitude I learned with my comrades.<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">\u201cToday I play with my regular group (all veterans), and when they make a very good chip or pitch from around the greens, they will say: \u2018Oh, I did an Eli..\u2019 I might not react but I do like to hear that from time to time.\u201d<\/p>\r\n<p class=\"p1\">Eliseo adds: \u201cEncouragement from my friends for me to try golf came at a crucial time to help me with my wellbeing. Golf was so important. I just love to play, whether that is in the sunshine and breeze of my home course at Fort Liberty or in 40-mile winds at a famous links course like Royal Lytham &amp; St Annes in England. It\u2019s a game everyone should try if they can \u2013 even if you just have a chip and a putt to start \u2013 because it can make you feel good about life and its possibilities.\u201d <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\r\n<div>\r\n<p class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span class=\"Apple-converted-space\"><a href=\"https:\/\/edgagolf.com\/online\/www\/\">Contact EDGA<\/a> \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\r\n<figure id=\"attachment_20212\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-20212\" style=\"width: 525px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-20212 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Eliseo-family.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-20212\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Eliseo pictured with his wife Juvilee, and with some of his regular golfing friends<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p class=\"Body\" style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 8pt;\">NB: When using any EDGA media, please comply with our <\/span><a style=\"font-size: 8pt;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/edga-media-copyright-conditions\/\">copyright conditions<\/a><\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Eliseo Villanueva on why golf is his therapy Being a Paratrooper, Eliseo Villanueva was more equipped than many to handle adversity. The US Army veteran explains: \u201cIn the airborne community we say, \u2018Adapt and overcome, and continue on with your mission\u2019.\u201d Well practised in taking the ultimate leap of faith, Eliseo has made 120 parachute &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20204,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Eliseo Villanueva on why golf is his therapy Being a Paratrooper, Eliseo Villanueva was more equipped than many to handle adversity. The US Army veteran explains: \u201cIn the airborne community we say, \u2018Adapt and overcome, and continue on with your mission\u2019.\u201d Well practised in taking the ultimate leap of faith, Eliseo has made 120 parachute &hellip; Continue reading &quot;169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EDGA Player Profiles\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-01-25T13:29:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@edgagolf\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"13 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\",\"name\":\"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-08-02T15:23:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-01-25T13:29:07+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/\",\"name\":\"EDGA Player Profiles\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#organization\",\"name\":\"EDGA Player Profiles\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-edga-logo22-white-449x185-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-edga-logo22-white-449x185-1.png\",\"width\":604,\"height\":250,\"caption\":\"EDGA Player Profiles\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/edgagolf\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/edga_golf\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCxObUaVUeN5vwPOxgZnMARA\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles","og_description":"Eliseo Villanueva on why golf is his therapy Being a Paratrooper, Eliseo Villanueva was more equipped than many to handle adversity. The US Army veteran explains: \u201cIn the airborne community we say, \u2018Adapt and overcome, and continue on with your mission\u2019.\u201d Well practised in taking the ultimate leap of faith, Eliseo has made 120 parachute &hellip; Continue reading \"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva\"","og_url":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/","og_site_name":"EDGA Player Profiles","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation","article_modified_time":"2025-01-25T13:29:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"http:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/3.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@edgagolf","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"13 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/","url":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/","name":"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva - EDGA Player Profiles","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-08-02T15:23:52+00:00","dateModified":"2025-01-25T13:29:07+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/tl-sc-eliseo-villanueva\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"169 \u2013 Eliseo Villanueva"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/","name":"EDGA Player Profiles","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#organization","name":"EDGA Player Profiles","url":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-edga-logo22-white-449x185-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/cropped-edga-logo22-white-449x185-1.png","width":604,"height":250,"caption":"EDGA Player Profiles"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EuropeanDisabledGolfAssociation","https:\/\/twitter.com\/edgagolf","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/edga_golf","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCxObUaVUeN5vwPOxgZnMARA"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20206"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20206"}],"version-history":[{"count":26,"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20620,"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20206\/revisions\/20620"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20204"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.edgagolf.com\/profiles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}