Marilyn O’Connor with her husband Don (photo credit Kamloops This Week)

Marilyn (Palmer) O’Connor was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on May 26th in Red Deere, AB. The Induction Banquet welcomed over 600 people from across North America to celebrate the provinces iconic athletic contributors. It not only focused on those that have made a lasting impact, but it also highlighted the importance of community sport. 

Growing up with a golf course as her backyard, how could Marilyn (Palmer) O’Connor be anything other than a golfer? And with talent, positivity and an amazing work ethic, how could she be anything other than a champion?

O’Connor learned the game at the hip of her father, the golf professional at the Kamloops Golf and Country Club. From a young age, she was out on the course working hard to perfect her game, and that hard work paid off. The teenager won her first BC junior championship in 1963 and never looked back.

“It’s often that first prize that you win as a kid that motivates you to keep playing,” says Marilyn O’Connor. “What it comes down to is I just always really loved the sport. That’s what motivated me over the years.”

O’Connor has turned that love into an impressive resumé over the past several decades. She has 26 provincial championship titles in BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan, five Alberta senior titles, and a Canadian senior championship. O’Connor is a two-time Vancouver city champion, fourteen-time Calgary city champion and an eight-time Calgary senior champion.  She has also been part of provincial or Canadian teams 52 times and competed in the World Cup six times and the Commonwealth Games four times, winning in 1979.

O’Connor’s success inspired many young girls learning the game, but it was her generous nature, talent, and encouragement of fellow golfers on and off the links that colleagues remember.

“You could not find a nicer person, a more talented player, and I really believe she raised the bar for golfers in this province,” says Judy Forshner, head golf professional at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club. “She’s a phenomenal individual. I feel fortunate to have met her and watched her play.”

After O’Connor married Don O’Connor in 1978, she moved to Alberta and continued golfing in Calgary. However, her golf career changed after starting a family. She still played high-level tournaments but she didn’t compete internationally as much.

“We had a fifth wheel and we’d go to tournaments and I’d play golf while my husband, who was so great, would take the kids and do the camping things,” she says. “My golf in Alberta has been a family affair.”

Today she continues to golf with her family, not for titles but for pure enjoyment of the game. After all, that’s what it has always been about for O’Connor.

“I’ve never played the game for recognition. I’ve played because I love to play. But when you are recognized, it’s very nice,” she says.

She has been recognized for her impressive accomplishments with inductions into the Kamloops, Canadian Golf, BC Golf, Alberta Golf, and the Pacific North Golf Association Halls of Fame. And this May, she will be inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

“It takes in all sports and athletes who have been exceptional in a multitude of endeavours, so to be included is very special for me,” she says.

With a career spanning over 40 years and provincial, national and international championships, Marilyn O’Connor will be right at home at the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame.

Marilyn O’Connor – For the Love of the Game

This article was originally published in the 2017 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Assembled media, sponsors and junior golfers at the annual McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour Media Day on May 23rd at Wolf Creek Golf Resort. Juniors on hand included Brooke Brezovski of Sturgeon Valley, Ethan deGraaf of Royal Mayfair, Kaiden Nicholson of the Edmonton CC, and Chase Broderson of Lacombe. With 24 other events scheduled, the Tour kicks into high gear this week for the first tournament happening on May 27th in Drayton Valley. Entries are open. Visit the Tour’s website for more information and register. 

Tour talk – A message from the Tour’s Executive Director Dunc Mills on this season:

It has been over twenty years now; twenty-two to be exact, since we started the McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour, Presented by Crowe MacKay.  What a treat it has been to see the thousands of young Alberta junior golfers compete on the Tour over that time as they launched their competitive golf careers.

While we have seen the best of the best Alberta juniors come through the program over the last two decades, we have also seen thousands of other youngsters who were just getting their first taste of what it takes to play in competition.

I can easily remember first seeing players like Jaclyn Lee, Brett Hogan, Jennifer Ha, Andrew Harrison and others when they were barely into their teens or even younger, and look at all they have accomplished now. Did the McLennan Ross Junior Golf Tour instantly turn these kids into great players?  Of course not; their hard work and dedication and talent turned them into great players. But one of the objectives of the Tour from the very start has been to help provide an environment where junior golfers of all abilities in Alberta have a platform where they can grow and develop their golf games, and have a ton of fun at the same time.

We would like to think that we have been very successful in that facet of what we have tried to achieve with these young people.

None of this of course would be possible without the support of so many others.  The host sites at courses around the province provide their golf courses to help grow the game and develop these kids into good players, and more importantly, into becoming good people.  Junior golf is so important in the personal growth and character development of young people.

Parents provide the moral and financial support to get their kids into golf and hopefully stay with the sport for a lifetime. Volunteers and professional staff at the host clubs provide their time and support to help make the tournaments run smoothly.

The financial support and encouragement from our corporate partners has been incredible.  Loyalty from sponsors such as the law firm of McLennan Ross as our Title Sponsor, and our Presenting Sponsor Crowe MacKay, makes the Tour possible in the first place.

The Koch Ford Edge all decked out at the McLennan Ross Junior Tour Media Day.

We couldn’t get around the province to the events without the Koch Ford Lincoln tour vehicle. Srixon Canada supports the annual Order of Merit so that the kids can track their progress and achievements. Dairyland supplies nutritious milk products for the players at every event.

We have 25 events around Alberta this summer at many of the best golf courses in the province, culminating in the Tour Championship at Wolf Creek Golf Resort on August 28^th, where Director of Golf Ryan Vold has hosted the tour final event since the Tour’s inception in 1996.  The tournaments are fun, affordable and great competition.  See you on Tour!

Tour Talk

This article was originally published in the 2017 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Canada’s top student-athlete golfers will descend on Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club in Barrie, Ont., from May 29 – June 1 for the 2017 Canadian University/College Championships.

2017 marks the 15th playing of the event, which was established in 2003 by Golf Canada to give the country’s best college and university golfers a chance to compete at a national championship.

The Georgian College Grizzlies will host the event this year on the windswept fairways of Tangle Creek Golf and Country Club.

Designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert, the course is known for its combination of classic and links style features in addition to its grassy hollows and signature fescue.

“We are thrilled to welcome the best Canadian student golfers to Tangle Creek. We’re looking forward to a competitive championship, and showcasing our beautiful course,” said host club tournament chair Mackenzie Cuthbert.

Golf Canada prides itself on conducting a top-notch tournament that is the highest level of national competition for college and university golfers in the country.

“The Canadian University/College Championship provides a unique opportunity for the best student-athlete golfers in Canada to compete for a national championship. Golf Canada is proud to conduct this event to showcase the talent from universities and colleges across the country,” added tournament director, Mary Beth McKenna.

In 2016, the University of British Columbia (UBC) Thunderbirds swept the championship, winning all four events. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that a school has won the men’s and women’s team and individual events in the same year.

Calgary’s Scott Secord went wire-to-wire to win the men’s division by four strokes at 11-under par and Kat Kennedy of Okotoks, Alta., claimed victory on the women’s side by four shots at 12-over par.

UBC returns to the tournament having won 11 women’s and five men’s titles—including three of the last four.

Georgian College will look to draw upon the magic of the University of Manitoba Bisons—the last host club to win a team title—when they captured the men’s division championship in 2014 at Southwood Golf and Country Club in Winnipeg.

The 72-hole stroke play competition will feature 19 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams from across the country vying for the national championship titles.

Following the third round, the field will be reduced to the top 10 men’s teams and the top six women’s teams, in addition to any individuals within 15 shots of the lead. Additional information regarding the 2017 championship, can be found here.

FAST FACTS

UBC is the defending champion on both the men’s and women’s side.

Scott Secord, of Calgary, Alta., is the defending men’s medallist.

Kat Kennedy of Okotos Alta., is the defending women’s medallist.

UBC has won the most women’s titles with 11 and the most men’s championships with 5.

The individual men’s and women’s champions receive exemptions into the Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, respectively.

The top three individual men and top three individual women earn the right to represent Canada at the 2017 Summer Universiade Games in Taipei City, Taiwan, from Aug. 19-30.

For pairings and additional information, click here.

ABOUT THE COURSE

Tangle Creek Golf & Country Club was designed in 2002 by Rene Muylaert.

6,307 yards, CR/Slope: 69.7/131.

Course record of 64 was set in 2011 by Keir Smith.

In 2016, Tangle Creek hosted Golf Ontario’s Junior Boys Match-Play and the PGA of Canada’s Seniors Championship.

In 2003 Golf Digest named Tangle Creek the Best New Golf Course in Canada.

MEN’S TEAMS
Brock University Badgers
Concordia University Stingers
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Les Patriotes de l’UQTR
Queen’s University Gaels
Universitie du Montreal Carabins
Universitie Laval Rouge et Or
University of Alberta Golden Bears
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of Guelph Gryphons
Universit of Manitoba Bisons
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs
University of Windsor Lancers
Wilfred Laurier University Golden Hawks

WOMEN’S TEAMS
Georgian College Grizzlies
Humber College Hawks
Queen’s University Gaels
Université Laval Rouge et Or
Universitié du Montreal Carabins
University of British Columbia Thunderbirds
University of the Fraser Valley Cascades
University of Toronto Varsity Blues
University of Victoria Vikes
University of Waterloo Warriors
University of Western Mustangs

To view the full list of teams and other information, click here.

This Sunday, May 28, is Get Out and Golf Day in Canada, in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities through the year to celebrate our country’s 150^th birthday. There will be a number of fun golf activities taking place at facilities across the country. (A full national list can be found here, including Alberta facilities)

But even if there isn’t an organized event in your area, get out and show support for the game—and the nation!—we love.

As if you need more justification for playing golf, or maybe to persuade some non-golfing friends to join you, here are some reasons to celebrate Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday.

In fact, you can argue that the game reflects many of the values that are distinctly Canadian.

Golf is inclusive. The game does not discriminate by race, colour, religion, gender, age, physical size or ability. Heck, even golf balls are all different colours.

Golf is democratic. We take pride in our democratic model of government. Golf is the most democratic of sports, thanks to the handicap system. In no other sport can players of differing skill levels compete on an equal basis.

Golf is honest. It’s been said that golf doesn’t build character, it reveals it. In most cases, there are no referees or officials present when you play. You break a rule, you call the penalty on yourself. That takes courage and integrity, more Canadian traits.

Golf has rules. In daily life, the rule of law is important to Canadians. Order is something we respect. Similarly, the rules of golf impress upon players the importance of equity, fairness, etiquette, safety, consideration of others and more.

Golf is tough. Canadians aren’t afraid of work. Unless you win the lottery, nothing good happens without effort. It’s the same for golf. If you want to improve, you have to put the time in.

Golf is fun. If you don’t believe me, look at the facts. Our country has the highest per-capita participation rate in golf worldwide. We’re not a nation of masochists, so the only explanation for this phenomenon is that the game must be fun.

Golf is solitary. Whether you’re playing alone or with others, golf offers the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Canadian nature as well as to get away from the pressures we all experience in our daily lives. The benefits of this “mindfulness” have been compared to a form of meditation.

Golf is social. Canadians like to party. From Newfoundland and Labrador to British Columbia, golf clubhouses may reflect regional cuisines, music and other attributes, but they all share one thing—Canadian camaraderie and good humour.

Golf is family. The fabric of family is vital to Canadians and golf strengthens that fabric. It’s not unusual to see three and, sometimes, four generations playing together. It’s called “the game for a lifetime” for a reason.

Just a few off the top of my head. I’ll be playing on Get Out and Golf Day this Sunday. Will you?

Editor’s Note: Get Out and Golf Day is in support of the ParticipACTION 150 Playlist, where Canadians are being asked to participate in 150 activities throughout 2017 to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Visit participaction.com/150 for more details about the ParticipACTION 150 Play List. Get Out and Golf Day is proudly supported by golf industry partners including the National Golf Course Owners Association of Canada (NGCOA), PGA of Canada, Canadian Society of Club Managers, Canadian Golf Superintendents Association and Golf Canada in addition to Canada’s 10 provincial golf associations.

Claire Emery with Team Alberta last year in the Junior and Juvenile Championships. 

Former Team Alberta member, Claire Emery, is currently competing in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Golf National Championships in Palm Beach Gardens, FL. Having been ranked as a Top 100 NAIA female golfer last fall, Emery has been working hard with her University of British Columbia (UBC) squad.

“This is it. This is the best of the best for our conference. We were able to win our regionals by quite a bit, so that gave us a lot of momentum. We are all playing well, and the group of girls that are going have such good energy and chemistry. I think it’s just going to be fun to see how much improvement there has been throughout the year, and go down to Florida and show everyone what Canada has got.”

UBC is one of only three Canadian schools that qualify for the NAIA. Emery says that being able to compete and train with the best at her university has been humbling.

“UBC is easily one of the best teams in Canada, and one of the best teams in our conference. Going in I knew that there was a lot of girls who were a lot better than me, and I knew that this program, these girls and this coach would push me to become a better golfer, a better student and better person all around.”

As a rookie, she continues to set the bar higher for herself.

“First year university in general is a huge shift from high school. As well it’s a huge shift from junior golf to collegiate golf. So, I think as I get more comfortable, I am only going to get better. I mean after being ranked in the top 100 in my first year, I want to be in the top 50, then top 25, then top 10. I just want to keep getting better and give back to the game.”

She says it can be tough to balance all these new expectations, but she draws motivation from her team and the people who have helped her get to this point.

“I would definitely say the team is such a huge part of everything. These girls are your family. When you’re having a rough day, you can always go and talk to them. Coaches are fantastic, our head coach is great, we have a couple of assistant coaches that help us so much. Of course, my parents are still there at midnight, if I need to call them for something. I also definitely still have coaches and connections in the golf world back home, at both my home course, the Glencoe Golf & Country Club, and still through Alberta Golf that are so supportive and have gotten me to where I am. They are always happy to help remind me of who I am and why I do all of this.”

The tournament has experienced rain delays but has resumed today. The final day of competition is on May 26th. Follow Emery and the full UBC team now on the NAIA leaderboard.

The fire reduced the Fort McMurray GC clubhouse and maintenance building to ashes, but the greens and fairways were largely untouched. 

At its largest its angry flames scorched a perimeter of 1,120 kilometres. It destroyed 2,400 homes and other buildings, forced the largest wildfire evacuation in Alberta’s history and, according the Insurance Bureau of Canada, caused damages of $3.58 billion – the most expensive disaster for insurers in the country’s history.

And yet, somehow, someway, and against all odds, the two beautiful golf courses in Fort McMurray – the Fort McMurray Golf Club and Miskanaw – survived.

Miskanaw was barely touched and although the Fort McMurray Golf Club lost its clubhouse, equipment, 100 golf carts, driving range and maintenance building, it was still able to open just two months after the devastating blaze. “We got lucky,” said Fort McMurray’s head pro Jason Vaughn. “The infrastructure is gone but the fire didn’t touch the fairways, greens or tee boxes very much.”

“It’s hard to believe but the only damage we had was one little fence burned a bit,” said Miskanaw’s director of golf Rob MacGregor which is just eight kilometers south east from the Fort McMurray Golf Club.

In the fall of 2014, Miskanaw was renovated and lengthened to 7,031 yards. “There is an island that is just 97 meters away – I know the exact distance because we were thinking about putting a tee box there – and it was on fire but we got lucky,” said MacGregor.

The fire which began on May 1 swept into Fort McMurray, the Oilsands capital, two days later forcing more than 80,000 people to leave. Yet on July 1 the Fort McMurray Golf Club was able to reopen. “We’ve got a fresh start,” said Vaughn. “The only thing we can do is move forward. “We showed that a ‘little’ fire wasn’t going to hurt us,” he said. “We’re bigger and stronger than the fire even as big as it was. “We weren’t going to let it get us down.”

Vaughn said that the grass continued to grow so well that fairways were knee high and the greens a foot or two tall when equipment was finally allowed back on the course. “It’s amazing how fast it grew and how high it grew with no maintenance at all for five weeks.

“When we got back on the course with the maintenance equipment there were spots that were still smoldering and lots of smoke.” At its hottest point, the raging inferno burned at up to 1,000 Celsius.

“The bush is obviously a lot thinner; the trees really took a beating. Including the trees that burnt and were dead we had to take down 2,500 trees that were in danger of falling over. The bottoms of the trees and bush were still thick as ever but the tops of the tress were all brown or black.When we reopened, it looked like early November instead of the first of July but the course itself still plays the same.”

Not only that but the Fort McMurray Golf Club will open this year with nine new holes giving the course 27 in total. “It’s out with the old and in with the new,” said Vaughn, 36, who is in his 11th year as the course’s head professional.

“The new nine will be tough but it will be fun to play,” he said of the addition which was developed by golf course architect Wayne Carleton, who also did some renovations to the existing 18 holes.

Carleton, who has designed several award winning projects like Shadow Mountain in Cranbrook, B.C.; Talking Rock in Chase B.C., Dakota Dunes in Saskatoon, SK, and Black Mountain in Kelowna, B.C., said the plan is to eventually add a fourth nine and have a 36-hole facility. “The new nine holes are very similar to the current two nines but it has a lot more elevation. I’m particularly impressed by the bunkering,” said Vaughn.

The new nine is also a little more forgiving with wider fairways and larger landing zones. Like the existing 18 holes which were designed by Bill Newis – author of courses like Golden, Lethbridge’s Paradise Canyon and Calgary courses like Priddis, Heritage Pointe, Bearspaw, the Hamptons and Cottonwood – the new nine have been carved out of the Borealis Forest and lies along the banks of the Athabasca River.

With several dog legs and lots of shots demanding carries over valleys and creek beds, the greens on the original nine plays from as far as 6,850 yards from the tips. “It’s one of the most challenging courses I’ve played,” said superintendent Jeff Hacior. “It’s tight with out-of-bounds on every hole. You have to be straight. The original 18 is flat but not very forgiving.”

The Fort McMurray Golf Club hosted the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada’s Syncrude Boreal Open for five years but were obviously unable to do it again last year.

“It’s onwards and upwards,” said Vaughn, who previously spent seven years in the Edmonton area – four at Jagare Ridge and three at Devon. “The goal is to keep it positive. Fort McMurray is awesome; there is so much support. It’s a real tight-knit group of people and the golf course is kind of like everybody’s second home, me included.”

While the clubhouse and pro shop are currently eight trailers put together, new facilities will be built that Vaughn said will be “bigger and better than what we currently had. We were looking to just add on to the clubhouse – we even had an architect in place – but because of the fire we’re starting from scratch instead.”

The new clubhouse and other structures will open in the spring of 2018. “It’s been an interesting experience to say the least – it’s also been a learning experience,” said Vaughn, who relocated to Calgary during the evacuation. “We’re taking it step by step, moving forward one day at a time and making the best of a bad situation.”

Personally, Vaughn said the early days of the fire were tough for everyone. “The toughest thing was the unknown. Nobody knew if they had a house or a place of work to come back to. We watched the news like everyone else. “Nobody had any answers.” Hacior was in the same position. “When we evacuated nobody had any idea what was happening to our houses or if the golf course was on fire,” he said.

“It was unbelievable. We just kind of watched it explode. When we were able to return to Fort McMurray I was shocked to see how much of the course was still standing. I was expecting way worse. I was surprised I had something to come back to,” said Hacior, a graduate of Olds College, who became the Fort McMurray Golf Club’s superintendent since 2005.

“The fire was too massive – it was crazy how big it was but we didn’t have to start off from ground zero to any extent. It’s hard to burn green grass; it doesn’t turn on fire. There was lots of fuel for the fire in the trees but not in the grass.”

“When we got back to the course five weeks later we got some rain and it was amazing how fast the turf came back and it came back as good as it was if not better. The toughest challenge was simply trying to reopen, salvage the rest of the season and put out the product that our members and green-fee players expected.”

“Yet, within just two weeks, we were back to where we wanted to be. By mid-July the golfers hardly knew any difference.” Getting there, Haicor said was only possible because of companies like John Deere and Oakcreek Golf and Turf. “Until we got new equipment those companies all gave us loaner equipment.”

Hacior said in a matter of time everything will regenerate. “I can already see some dogwoods and poplars coming back. Anything in the forest, when it burns, replenishes itself.”

“Now we’re all excited,” said Vaughn. “We’re all looking forward to a typical Fort McMurray summer; we’re looking for some normality.”

The Beast

This article was originally published in the 2017 edition of The Alberta Golfer Magazine. To view the full magazine, click here.

Executive Director/CEO Phil Berube and Volunteer Dan McDougall at the 2017 Spring Launch.  

Volunteers, industry stakeholders, board members and staff met in Sundre, AB during the 2017 Season Launch. The meeting marked the next step in the evolution of an operating committee structure which will help to provide strong, thoughtful and representative operating recommendations to the Alberta Golf Board of Directors.

The model was designed to both simplify Alberta Golf’s internal processes and further engage all industry stakeholders in the province. The four operating committees that met included: Brand & Business Development, Competitions & Performance, Membership & Golf Course Services, and Recreational & Community Events.

“The four operating committees at Alberta Golf provide all industry stakeholders, including our network of volunteers, with a clear channel in which to provide input into the strategy and future direction of Alberta Golf.  It is part of our engagement process”, said Phil Berube, Executive Director/CEO of Alberta Golf.

Each committee is comprised of specialists and experts in their various fields. From club managers and journalists, to executive directors and competitive players, the broad spectrum of knowledge and experience was evident. The operating committees will continuously meet and connect with one another throughout the year to share ideas and formalize plans. Task forces will then be created within in each area to help with identified operational goals and specific projects.

Berube added that “as these committees continue to meet and deliberate over specific issues in the coming years, our decision making process will clearly reflect the opinions and expectations of all golfers in our province, providing our Board of Directors with strong recommendations for consideration.”

The model was introduced to give those at the table an opportunity to be fully engaged and to directly impact the business of Alberta Golf. The committee structure will support the associations business plan and related tactics. Berube said “from a staffing standpoint, I am looking forward to announcing very soon how our structure and roles will support these committees.”

Les Swelin – 2017 Alberta Golf Hall of Fame inductee with his family 

Anna Sewell said, “It’s good people who make good places.” Martin Blake and Les Swelin made that clear as they were recognized as pillars in the Alberta Golf community. With their trademark modesty, they both accepted their Hall of Fame awards amongst a gathering of friends, family and industry partners last night at the 2017 Season Launch in Sundre, AB.

Both Blake and Swelin were emotional thanking and recognizing all the people in their lives that supported them up to that moment. A long pause of warmth and kindness were felt as Blake spoke of his wife Norma. While Swelin’s memories within the organization had the whole room chuckling with both highlights and humorous lowlights of times past.

Sandra Craig, a past Alberta Golf president, spoke of Blake’s charisma and how he demonstrated all of the key competencies of a great volunteer, leader and rules official. Dunc Mills, long-term volunteer and friend of Swelin, told the story of a man who was so determined and involved within the game that he had once set out to build his own putting green at his home club.

These two inductees have helped, and continue to help, shape the organization. An entire new generation of volunteers have been impacted by their mentorship and leadership. Last night was a well-deserved celebration of their accomplishments and the people they’ve impacted throughout their lives. Thank you from all of us within the Alberta Golf community.

Martin Blake with his son Marty Blake

Joan Wilson demonstrates that, no matter what, it’s never too late to get in the game.

It takes an army to create a professional golf tour player, but it takes a special person to be an elite amateur athlete. Those competing amongst the amateur scene often balance numerous responsibilities against a variety of odds. Having received Alberta Golf Athlete Assistance, former Alberta Ladies Senior Team member, Joan Wilson, has managed to overcome adversity and reinvigorate her love for competition.

“I have applied for, and been very fortunate to receive, funding in prior years based on financial need. I am a single, female physiotherapist working in private practice. As a result, I do not get paid if I am not treating patients, so taking time off to travel to tournaments is a double whammy financially, as I pay to play and do not generate revenue.”

At 15, Wilson was a part of the Canadian Alpine Ski Team, and only golfed for a limited time from age 12 to 14. She didn’t start playing again until she turned 40.

Now at the age of 58, she has since built an impressive resume winning six Club Championships, four City Medalist Series, and placing top five in Canadian Senior Championships.

She explains that it has taken awhile to become competitive again. “I gradually worked my way up through the Alberta amateur flights and was lucky to attend a few Alberta Golf development camps as I approached the age for senior tournaments.”

She is also a former National and World Championship Master Ski Racer. She still loves to ski, but has shifted her competitiveness to golf. “Recognizing that golf is less risky to my physical health, and professional career, than ski racing, I began refocusing on my golf game in 2004.”

Wilson has struggled with both shoulder and wrist injuries in the past, but is looking to make a strong comeback. “My future goals in golf are to recover from wrist injuries in the last two seasons and surgery in December 2015 to prepare for 2018 when I will, hopefully, then qualify for the Super Senior event.”

Through all the training, travelling and daily routines she still finds time to contribute to the local sporting community. Wilson was a long-term ski coach and is now an active Canadian Ski Team Alumnus. She says that sport has played an important part in her life and she hopes to pass along that same feeling.

“Athletic challenges and successes have helped in every avenue of my life including academic, professional, personal achievements and leadership growth. Golf has taught me patience and to live in the present. This extends to many avenues in my life. I also have learned that encouragement and positivity helps everyone, no matter the circumstance.”

Alberta Golf Athlete Assistance is available to anyone who wishes to attend provincial, national and international events. If you need help achieving your golf goals, learn more about the program and apply now. The deadline to apply for this season is May 31, 2017.

Following a comprehensive search, Golf Canada has announced the appointment of Laurence Applebaum as the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Applebaum, most recently the Executive Vice President of the Florida-based Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), will assume his new role as of July 10, 2017.

“Laurence Applebaum’s hiring marks the beginning of a new era for Golf Canada,” said Roland Deveau, President of the Golf Canada Board of Directors. “After an extensive search, Laurence stood out because of his previous leadership in sports organizations, proven senior management skills and visionary thinking. His drive and energy are infectious. We are so pleased to repatriate this outstanding Canadian leader to take Golf Canada forward.”

With a career in sports spanning more than 20 years in Canada, Europe and the United States, the senior executive and Toronto native is proud to return home to lead the national sport federation and governing body for golf in Canada.

“I am both honoured and humbled to be given the chance to lead Golf Canada at a crucial and exciting juncture in the organization’s history,” Applebaum said. “Throughout my career, I have had the chance to work with teams made up of great athletes, passionate partners and engaged stakeholders. I am eager to apply the lessons and experiences from past roles to this new challenge. Golf is such a passion for so many Canadians including myself, and I know the sport in this country is well positioned for growth and success going forward. As much as anything, I am also elated to be returning home with my family.”

Applebaum joins Golf Canada after serving in an extensive array of sports management roles around the globe.

For the past five years, he has been Executive Vice President of the WTA in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he oversaw a variety of strategic and operational initiatives.  During his tenure, Applebaum was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the women’s global professional tennis circuit, including tournament operations, on-site competition, player relations and development, sports science and medicine, broadcast operations and new business development.

Prior to joining the WTA, Applebaum served as the Toronto-based Vice President of Salomon Canada from 2006-2011. Previously, Applebaum served in a variety of progressively senior roles at Wilson Sports and the brands of its parent company, Amer Sports, including Atomic, Suunto and Precor, based in Europe. After starting his career at Wilson Sports Equipment Canada, Applebaum was the Sales & Marketing Manager at Nike Golf Canada from 1997-1999.

Married with two children, Applebaum is a 1994 graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at Western University where he received an Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree.

Golf Canada President Roland Deveau also recognized the work of Jeff Thompson, Golf Canada’s Chief Sport Officer, who has managed the day-to-day affairs of Golf Canada for the last several months as interim CEO.

“I would like to thank Jeff for his steady hand during this transition. We look forward to Jeff’s continued contributions as our Chief Sport Officer,” said Deveau.

Deveau added: “I would like to acknowledge all of the dedicated volunteers, staff and partners who work diligently every day to deliver programs and services across Canada to help grow the game of golf.  Golfers from novices to elite athletes benefit from the efforts of, and collaboration between, many stakeholders and I know that Laurence is looking forward to meeting them.”

Reporting to Golf Canada’s Board of Directors, Applebaum will lead the organization in the ongoing development and execution of its strategic plan.

NOTE TO MEDIA – click here for a high-resolution headshot and bio of Golf Canada Chief Executive Officer Laurence Applebaum.

Click here to download the teleconference audio file.