Arturo Martinez New Mexico Veterans Center At Truth or Consequences The nine-hole municipal golf course in Truth or Consequences allows residents of the New Mexico State Veterans' Home to play free of charge, but they're required to use their own balls, tees and clubs. That's a tall order when you only have $1.45 a day to spend on everything from clothing, hygiene products, sodas, cigarettes and other personal items. "My daughter bought me a driver, and my sister bought me some irons," says Arturo Martinez, a resident of the home, "but most of the time, I can't afford to buy tees and balls." So Mr. Martinez saves what little he has left at the end of each day, just so he can enjoy the very game that was once a major part of his life. Starting out as a young caddie and working his way up through the course ranks, Mr. Martinez went on to manage the University of New Mexico's South 9, all the while working toward perfecting his own game. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1950 and was shipped overseas to Korea almost immediately. A radar man on the USS Princeton aircraft carrier, he served 18 months in the military and received an honorable discharge while recuperating in the naval hospital at Camp Pendleton. Over the years, Mr. Martinez has been fitted with a steel shoulder, artificial hips and femurs and a pair of steel discs in his back, but his love of the game never waned. "For me, golf is such good mental and physical exercise," says Mr. Martinez. "And because the Center is situated on 15 or 20 acres of land, I'm able to get out and hit a few balls around. But our personal spending allowance makes for very tight living." The New Mexico State Veterans' Home-which recently fought and won to have its residents' personal spending allowance raised from $30 to $45 a month-plays an important role in Mr. Martinez' life. Beyond having a place to hang his hat, Mr. Martinez feels a great sense of security at the home. "I watch the news and see what's going on around the country," he says. "I feel safe away from the hustle and bustle of all that. The world's problems seem to disappear when I'm here. But as long as I only have a buck or so to spend each day, I'll always have worries. I don't think $75 or $80 a month would be out of the question," Mr. Martinez adds. "We just have these last few years to enjoy what we can."