Flagstick Spring Amateur Shootout Announces New Winner Benefit

Champion To Receive Canadian Tour Exemption

 
Ottawa, Ontario, December 20, 2011: One of Ontario’s strongest male amateur tournaments will be getting even better in 2012. Flagstick Golf Magazine Publisher Jeff Bauder announced Tuesday that the Flagstick Spring Amateur Shootout at Smuggler’s Glen will be adding another benefit for the tournament’s winner starting in 2012.

Currently the winner of the three year-old tournament is awarded a generous Nike Golf prize package, an invitation to return to defend their title, and an exemption to the Ottawa Citizen Amateur Championship.  Starting with the 2012 edition of the tournament, slated for play on May 26/27, the winner will also receive an exemption into the recently announced Eastern Ontario Canadian Tour event.

“In working with Dave Dargie and Martin Noe of Evolution Golf, (the promoters of the Canadian Tour event) they felt that they wanted to ensure more local content for their tournament and that our winner would be well-suited to fit that role,” said Bauder.  “We appreciate their offer and their recognition of the quality of players we attract to the Shootout.”

Evolution has a four year deal to host the Canadian Tour event which will kick-off in 2012 at Smuggler’s Glen GC from September 3rd to 9th.  It will be played at a rotation of courses around Eastern Ontario in successive years.  The tournament will announce their title sponsor in the next few weeks.

“We know that in order to be successful and promote golf in the area the best way is to involve the community so we wanted to offer a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Dargie regarding the exemption offer.  “We know the Flagstick Shootout is a quality event where the champions have been exceptional players.  The winner will be a good representative of golf in the area and help to drive crowds to come out and watch our tournament.  It was an easy decision to offer Flagstick the exemption.”

The defending champion of the Flagstick Shootout, Dwight Reinhart, is a former professional with experience on the Canadian and Nationwide Tours.  He says that the extra exemption for the winner will be a big boost to the event.  In 2011 Reinhart parlayed his Flagstick Shootout win in to an additional victory at the Ottawa Citizen Championship.

“Being a former Canadian Tour member I know that it is extremely important to have a local guy in the tournament to help the fan base,” affirmed Reinhart.  “This is a great opportunity for the competitive golfer who might be aspiring to get to the tour and wants to get some experience.  If it wasn’t before it certainly puts the Shootout in bold on the calendar.”

The Flagstick Shootout has been gradually tightening up its field through its history and the 2012 edition should see the best grouping of golfers to play it yet.  Only the golfers who finished in the top 10 of each flight in 2011 will receive an automatic invite back to the 2012 tournament.  The balance of the field of 72 will be filled out from an application process.

Tournaments organizers say they should have the applications ready for release early in the New Year.  From those applications a selection committee will choose who will receive the additional invites, with emphasis on playing ability and experience.

In 2011the popularity of the limited field event resulted in a waiting list of more than 30 players.

For the latest information on the Flagstick Spring Amateur Shootout, updates and applications will soon be available at www.flagstick.com

Want to Win a Trip to Ireland ? Who Doesn't ?

Hey Peterborough we are full of people who have Irish heritage. Young, Sullivan, Leahy and Crough are just a few names that come to mind from the area. Let's get creative and have someone from the On the Links Nation win this contest. 
Here's all the details.
Ireland Lead Destination for Greatest Golf Job Contest
 
Toronto, ON (August 3, 2011) -- Golf enthusiasts across Canada have the opportunity to compete for the Greatest Golf Job Ever – a contest featuring Tourism Ireland as the lead destination sponsor in partnership with Bruce's Golf Rewards and Merit Golf Vacations.
 
The contest winner and one friend will spend 16 days playing some of the world’s great greens – including in Ireland – and will also have their meals, transportation and accommodation covered as part of the contest.
 
To enter, golfers from across Canada have to upload a 90-second video telling why they deserve the job and what they would do to get the job. After September 1, 2011, a short-list of 10 golfers’ videos will be selected based on their creativity and passion for golf then the winner will be determined by public vote.
 
As the contest grand prize trip unfolds, the lucky winner will share his/her adventure through photos, video, blogs, tweets and more, which will be broadcast through a website and other social media outlets dedicated to their journey.
 
For more information on golfing in Ireland visit www.discoverireland.com/golfireland
 

The Price Is Wright For PGCC Pro

Andrew Wright of the Peterborough Golf and Country Club is one of the newest members of the Canadian Professional Golfers' Association.
 
Last Tuesday Andrew finished tied for 2nd, at 145, during the 36-hole CPGA Qualifying Tournament at Cambridge G&CC.
 
After shooting an opening nine 39, Andrew bounced back with an even par 36 on the final nine holes to complete his first round.  He then went out and shot the lowest round recorded during qualifying - a sizzling 2 under par 70.

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 66^th Annual Men’s Invitational July 30^th, 31^st, August 1^st.

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)

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

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 11^th 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 17^th 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 1^st 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.