Thursday, July 21, 2011

Plans All Set For 66th Annual Men's Invitational @ KGCC


Marc Savard would like to add his name to Board of Champions
at KGCC Men's Invitational
  News and Notes From Kawartha Media Day for 66th Annual Men’s Invitational July 30th, 31st, August 1st.

The tournament practice rounds get underway Friday afternoon with the long drive competition starting at about 6:00pm.

At this time players can pick up their welcome gift as well. Tournament rounds will start at 6:30am Saturday morning.

The shootout or closest to the pin competition will take place on Sunday early evening as well as the players BBQ dinner where they will receive a dinner for them and a guest as part of their entry for the weekend.

Current 2011 club champion and Boston Bruin Marc Savard will be hosting the Stanley Cup on Monday of the Tournament.

The Stanley Cup will arrive at 11am till 5pm for the public to see and to have their photograph taken with in our banquet tent. Marc will be available for pictures with the cup and autographs from 11:00 till 12:30. People will be required to bring their own camera.  Then he will be off to prepare for golf. The public is welcome to watch as much golf as they wish.
Parking access at Kawartha Golf on Monday will be restricted to players and volunteers with parking passes

Kawartha has  received permission from the following businesses to use their facilities to park on Monday: The Clearing House, Wallace's Conley Collision, Bennett’s Home Furnishings, Scotia Bank and Holy Cross Secondary School including the space available at the board office.

There will be limited shuttling available for those who require it and any handicapped will be allowed to pull up to the clubhouse to drop off and then leave right away.

Expect line-ups for viewing the cup and be prepared to walk up the laneway.

There will be plenty of refreshment and food outlets available for Cup viewers as well. The clubhouse will only be available for players, Kawartha members and volunteers.

Former Champions present at the media day included 

John Kindred (1961) Roger Self (1986) and Kirk “Pencil”

Miller (1985, 1993)



Tuesday, July 19, 2011

GAO To Have Annika Sorenstam at Fundraising Gala

Uxbridge, ON - The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) announced today that golf legend Annika Sorenstam will be the featured guest speaker at the GAO's 10th Anniversary Gala, set to take place November 3rd, 2011 at Eagles Nest Golf Club in Maple, Ontario.

The Gala will support the Callaway Golf for Kids program, with all proceeds from the evening benefitting the initiative. The evening will also celebrate and highlight the history of the Golf Association of Ontario, ten years after the amalgamation of the Ontario Ladies' Golf Association and the Ontario Golf Association into the single provincial sport body for golf as it exists today.

The GAO is also pleased to announce that the ANNIKA Academy, will serve as the presenting sponsor of the event. The ANNIKA Academy is Annika's boutique golf and fitness school where guests can learn from Annika's personal coaches. Located at Reunion Resort in Central Florida, the Academy that provides individualized and small group golf instruction and custom made fitness programs to help golfers reach their potential.

"The GAO 10th Anniversary Gala presented by the ANNIKA Academy is an opportunity to celebrate the long and rich history of golf in Ontario, and with World Golf Hall of Fame member Annika Sorenstam as the guest speaker, it promises to be an exciting evening for all in attendance," said Dave Mills, Executive Director of the Golf Association of Ontario.

"The presence of Annika at the event speaks for itself, and her long association with Callaway Golf along with her own significant philanthropic ventures make this a perfect fit, with the focus of the evening being on raising funds to further grow the Callaway Golf for Kids initiative."

A component of the National Golf in Schools program, Callaway Golf for Kids introduces the game of golf to children in a school setting, giving them an opportunity to experience and learn a game that helps build character and promotes life-long activity. Over the past eight years, the program has reached upwards of 50,000 boys and girls in Ontario at 520 schools.

"These children are the future golfers for Ontario and the future members of the golf clubs in Ontario," said Mills. "All proceeds from the Gala will be directed towards adding additional schools in 2012, with a long term target of having the program in the majority of the 4000 schools across the province."

The evening include a cocktail reception, three-course meal and a silent auction with numerous unique items including a chance to enjoy the dessert portion of the evening with Annika.
 
Tickets are $200 per person and will go on sale July 20th through the Golf Association of Ontario website at www.GAO.ca

Information regarding sponsorship opportunities can be found by visiting www.GAO.ca/gala

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Shawn Robertson Stays Positive

A year ago almost to the day, Shawn Robertson was a 40 year old CPGA Professional working at Black Diamond Golf Club in Pontypool, Ontario. He played golf every day, often with his then 13 year old son Lucas. Life was good, very good he was as they say ‘living the dream’. Today Robertson continues to live a dream but his dream is much different now.
     It was July 11th 2010 when Shawn’s life would change forever.  On his way back from a day of teaching at Black Diamond and travelling on a dirt road to avoid construction, a bee landed in the lap of his best buddy Bill Nikoruck who was driving at the time. Just a second later the two long time friends went crashing into a tree. “Bill was well enough to dial 911 and the jaws of life took 45 minutes to free me from the wreckage but thanks to the paramedics, the ambulance drivers and the Peterborough Regional Health Centre professionals, I'm here and well Robertson told me recently.
     There was also 70 nights at Sunnybrook Hospital and hours of surgeries to rebuild his pelvis and then the amputation of a piece of his right leg as well. Seven weeks of rehab later and the Peterborough native received his first prosthetic leg on October 17 of last year. 10 days later but 3 and half months since the accident he finally returned home for good to his family.
     “I have my second chance. You only know what that’s like when you go through something as unique as this. I can tell you that I am thankful for the positives it has brought (there are too many to name) and look at everything much, much differently these days. I figure, if I can do it, anyone can.”
     So, that’s exactly what Robertson is going to do. In just his first season playing and teaching golf as an amputee the Crestwood grad is already starting to give back to game he loves so much. He’s planning a special day at The Quarry Golf Club this fall. The inaugural Special Needs Golf Day will take place September 17th and will allow players to experience the 17th and 18th hole from the 100 yard markers through the green regardless of how long it takes or how many shots it takes. The golf club will have a single rider cart for anyone with paralysis, the seat swivels and elevates so that the golfer can be raised to swing with more ease.
     Robertson says The Quarry’s vision is to provide a helpful place where those who have a passion for golf, but are otherwise not able to participate because of vision, hearing, prosthetic or wheelchairs issues. He says anything goes “Even those grieving the loss of a loved one who loved golf are welcome, people can get scared, we want them to fall in love with golf again, that’s what its all about” added the now 41 year old.
     In the meantime Shawn Robertson is practicing what he’s preaching.  He set out Monday night on the 1st anniversary of his accident to play and walk 18 holes of golf for the first time in a year. Although darkness brought an emotional night to a quick end after 15 holes, Robertson says he was fine and could have played 27 if time was on his side. Who was on his side was his son. “Lucas walked with me and played a tremendous game - best of his life. The mood was breathtaking. I witnessed my son's prowess with pride and excitement” he said after the round. No doubt others watching at The Quarry on this special occasion were saying the same about Lucas’s father. If they weren’t, they should have been.

Diller’s Divots: The Special Needs Golf Day is sponsored in part by the Kinsmen Club which has made Robertson an honorary member. Liftlock Golfland will supply the range balls for the event. For more information contact Darren Stalteri or Shawn Robertson at 705 292-0019 or visit www.quarrygolf.ca.



Monday, July 11, 2011

Exactly one year after he lost half of his right leg in a car accident local golfer Shawn Robertson is turning his misfortune into something positive. Later today (Monday) Shawn and his crew at The Quarry will launch details on a special day coming up in the fall.  

For Immediate Release:

We need to get the word out there!!! This is potentially important for certain people's morale - for their mood - for their future. The Inaugural Special Needs Golf Day on September 17, 2011 at The Quarry Golf Club will allow players to experience the 17th and 18th hole from the 100 yard markers through the green - regardless of how long it takes or how many shots it takes. This will be an introduction to the facility so that we might (eventually) get enough players to facilitate a shotgun tournament where proceeds will go directly to War Amps - the organization that subsidizes needy amputees. We will have a single rider cart for anyone with paralysis - the seat swivels and elevates so that the golfer can be raised to a position conducive to optimal impact. These will be available to rent for a seasonal fee and in my experience, medical coverage will assist - if not cover seasonal rental completely.

As an honorary member of the Kinsman Club, I am pleased to say we, the Kinsman will have many volunteers to help with the following unique challenges:

    •    Direct traffic from parking area (wave people in with signage, etc.)
    •    Assist those with special needs (i.e. wheelchairs, shuttle-cart-service for those with canes, etc.) - help them get from parking area to wherever things are happening (putting green, holes 17 & 18, etc.)
    •    We will assist with giveaways/prize presentations (anyone who gets the ball in the hole on the putting green - hole-in-one recognition - name on the radio, etc.)
    •    Ensure folks get back to their vehicles - shuttles, etc.
    •    Take promotional material to each of the retirement residences and offer the admin of each place an opportunity to call me and have me come make a presentation about how anyone can, at very least, putt; and be around peers with similar challenges/special needs

The golf day will serve as an opportunity to inform those with special needs in Peterborough that The Quarry Golf Club in Ennismore will be hosting a free weekly special needs golf day - participants can meet on the putting green and I will coach from a wheelchair. The Ownership, (Don McPherson, Darren Stalteri and Keith Rasmus) have agreed that wheelchairs are allowed on their greens. Carts with blue flags are allowed right beside putting greens and canes/crutches will also be allowed on Quarry greens. This is an exceptional opportunity to grow special needs golf by creating some momentum around the region.

August 1 - 4, as The Quarry's Amputee Instructor, Shawn Robertson will be competing in the National Amputee Open in Montreal put on by The Canadian Amputee Golf Association. The American counterpart, NAGA, has tremendous momentum and many people who otherwise would never have played again are active, happy, healthy people. We can do more of the same right here - in hopes that golf for those with special needs becomes increasingly prevalent.

The Quarry's vision is to provide a consistantly-helpful place where those who have a passion for golf, but are otherwise not able to participate for any number of reasons - any special needs (vision, hearing, prosthetics, wheelchairs - even those grieving the loss of a loved one who loved golf - anything goes) fall in love with golf (and its' social environment - this is 'KEY') all over again.

On Canada Day Weekend, The Quarry donated $5 from every green fee & cart package to Camp Maple Leaf in honour of Fallen Hero, Private Michael Freeman. The proceeds will be going to the upcoming Inaugural Private Michael Freeman Memorial Tournament being held at The Quarry Golf Club, Saturday, September 10th, 2010.

"In anticipation of the aforementioned events, on July 11 (the anniversary of a traffic accident that claimed a retired Canadian PGA Professional's right foot), members of the Canadian Forces from Trenton Air Force Base, professional golfers from as far away as Simcoe, the management & staff of The Quarry Golf Club and other lucky participants will cheer me on as I try to walk 18 holes for the first time since the crash. At 4 PM on Monday, we will embark upon on a journey of what I hope will be inspirational to anyone laid up, anyone who hasn't tried and or anyone who has been away from the game due to limited access and opportunity. The Kinsman and Quarry teams will hope to make people try - no - to ensure people succeed in enjoying a game that might be a passion for them (as it is for us) and that they may learn to take for granted (over time) with dedicated assisted participation opportunities".

For more information, please contact The Quarry Golf Club's GM, Darren Stalteri or Instructor, Shawn Robertson at 705.292.0019 or visit www.quarrygolf.ca

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Tony The Tiger Is Back With Another Get a Grip Event

Get-A-Grip Golf Club Regripping Event

Get your golf club(s) regripped on-site and while-you-wait.

Public Event
Time
Monday, July 25 • 11:00am - 3:00pm
Location
Heron Landing Golf Club
2361 Lansdowne Street West
Peterborough, ON K9J 6X4, Canada

Tony’s Clubhouse Custom Golf Chop
Get your golf club(s) regripped on-site and while-you-wait. We'll have a great selection from Golfpride, Lamkin, Winn and others. We have the new GolfPride VDR .

Sale on Selected Grips
$5 pergrip +hst - includes installation
Golf pride, Lamkin,  Winn, Grip One,