Bruce has dedicated himself to remaining curreny and involved in rules education and officiating.

This past year, Bruce was involved in supporting the championships with pre-tournament visits to each venue and assisting with marking the courses prior to competition, providing input into the local rules for each competition, including the review and suggested revisions to the Conditions of Competition.

In 2018, Bruce officiated at the RoyalLePage Provincial Junior and Amateur Championships, Future Links Atlantics and ongoing support and officiating of the Tely Junior Tour.

For his dedication and commitment to rules development and education, Bruce has been appointed Golf Canada’s Competitions & Rules Committee and serves as a valuable resource in the adoption and development of educational materials to implement the New Rules of Golf.

A member Blomidon Golf Club, Ms. Cormier has been involved in competitive golf for the past seven years and during the 2017 season accumulated a total of 14,750 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

This past year Ms. Cormier won:

Provincial Junior Girls Championship

Provincial Juvenile Girls Championships

Tely Tour Junior Girls Order Of Merit

Tied 13^th at the Future Links Atlantics

Competed at the 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg, MB

Tamarack Golf Club has just completed it’s 49^th year of operation in Labrador West…and a challenging year it turned out to be!

In January a phone call from a passing snowmobiler indicated that a door might have been left open on the maintenance shed. The next day a few employees and executive went up to investigate and found that a fire had destroyed the maintenance garage and all the equipment inside. A devastating loss for our members club!

An emergency meeting was called for the executive board and without hesitation ideas and plans starting moving on how to recover. Immediate work began on identifying the equipment loss: greens mowers, service carts, fertilizers, seeds, flags, polls, sharpeners, maintenance tools and much more.

Estimated losses were in the $250,000.00 range plus the building.

Ken Sherren Tamarack course superintendent put in extensive work with his team to ensure all items were identified to support investigation, insurance claims and requirements to get started.

Our management started working on plans for employees and operations and how to be ready for opening day. Some employees that had indicated they would be retiring felt that one more year was required in order to help get the club back to par!

• A local contracting team RM&S put together plans and estimates to get a building up.
• RFP’s were sent out to replace the equipment.
• Meetings were held with executive, government officials, town officials and the club was assured the help would be there.
• Plans were needed to remove the destroyed structure, repair the power lines,

The executive then had to make the call on how to proceed for 2017 and beyond.

It was decided to proceed with an extensive replacement of equipment and building. The approach was to turn disaster into long term improvement for Tamarack.

Full replacement of equipment and a new maintenance building would be built. A huge challenge.

Equipment orders were placed with delivery times expected just in time to start the season. A building order was placed with later season delivery.

Our course workers would work with the remaining infrastructure for the season. They would learn to operate and maintain new equipment and adjust their requirements to ensure the members had a quality course. They were ready for a challenge and exceeded all expectations!

The course was in exceptional shape from day one and maintained all season. The team took on the challenge and achieved great results. Greens, fairways, tee boxes were all outstanding. They never missed a beat. Members and visitors alike were impressed with the course condition – greens are as good as anywhere was a common compliment.

The next challenge was the building replacement with new equipment it had to be protected!

The decision to put up a new steel building was determination to leave a long-term benefit for the club. The risk was if it could be torn down- designed- ordered-delivered-civil work completed and constructed in a very short Labrador building season. The pictures show the result. In just a week before the snow started the equipment was put away in a well constructed modern building.

Resistant Material and Supply Company better known as RM&S made it all happen! The efforts and leadership shown by this local owned company have ensured Tamarack will be a long-term recreation facility to the people of Labrador West. It could not have happened with out them

From a disaster to a great story…. that is what happened at Tamarack in 2017!

2018 will be year 50….we will make this one more fun!

A member of the Bally haly Country Club, Mr. Furlong has been involved in competitive golf for the past eighteen years and during the 2017 season accumulated a total of 11,292 points on the Order of Merit to take top honors.

During this past season Mr. Furlong won:

Provincial Amateur Championship

Provincial Mid-Amateur Championship

Competed at the 2017 Canadian National Amateur Men’s Championship

Placed fourth at the Bally Haly Club Championship

Aside from his duties as Rules Director on the Board of Directors of Golf Newfoundland Labrador, Jim has dedicated himself to remaining current and involved in rules education and officiating.

This past year Jim was involved in supporting the championships with pre tournament visits to each venue and marking the courses prior to competition, prepare the local rules for each competition, reviewed and revised the Conditions of Competition and outline rules as part of the pre tournament players meetings.

Working with Bruce Watson, he planned, coordinated and delivered the on-line Rules of Golf education program with Bruce Watson and hosted a number of interactive Rules of Golf sessions to the Provincial Development team. Jim also attended a number of provincial Officials round table workshops hosted by Sport NL.

This past year, Jim officiated at the Royal LePage Provincial Junior and amateur Championships, the Provincial High School Championship and the 2017 Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur & Senior Championship at Humber Valley Resort.

A member of the Humber Valley Resort, Mr. Bruce has been involved in competitive golf for the past ten years and during the 2017 season accumulated a total of 15,510 points on the Order of Merit to take top honors.

This past season Mr. Bruce won :

The Royal LePage Provincial Junior Championship

Tely Tour Junior Male Order Of Merit

Placed 3rd at the Future Links Atlantics and secured an additional quota spot for Golf NL at the National Junior Boys Championships.

Competed at the National Junior Boys Championships

Comnpeted at teh 2017 Canada Summer Games in Winnipeg MB

Mr. Bruce, most recently accepted a golf scholarship to attend the University of Victoria beginning in the fall of 2018..

It is said say you don’t play golf to relax you relax to play golf. At Tamarack we have been blessed to have an employee that allows everyone to relax and enjoy the course at Tamarack, Ms. Sally Snow!

Sally Snow has been with the club for 24 years as a very dedicated employee. She started in 1993 and worked as part of the course maintenance crew. She could handle the equipment and supported the clubhouse as required. An employee who showed genuine concern for the task at hand and understood the need for detail in her daily tasks. She also helped to serve the bar and supported the kitchen at the clubhouse with the same enthusiasm and detail.

Then Tamarack members who golfed in Myrtle Beach and other spots suggested we needed an on course service cart (food and drinks). Great idea that has been a great fund raiser and more importantly a great bringer of golfers to the club. It turned in to a tremendous success for the golf course and the members. The main reason is Sally Snow!

Anyone who golfs at Tamarack will not forget the dealings with Sally. Sally will also not forget you.

She will remember who you are, what you did and what you drink! She will make you want to come back! It does not matter what kind of weather day we are having – cold-wet-windy(everyday in 2017 in Labrador) and the always present flies, Sally will not miss work.

• Tournaments – Sally reviews the list of who is playing and will stock the cart accordingly.
• Men’s night – She knows which groups are where – what they drink and eat – and will ensure they get there fill before you finish your round.
• Run out of smokes – She will have them before you get two holes done.
• Need a poutine – She will call kitchen and deliver on her next trip.
• A CFA with unique taste…no problem she will stock your needs.
• Need a ride home after she served you your fill and she will do that too! And comeback for a second or third load if needed.
• Need someone to yell in your backswing and she is there for that too!

In the late evenings when the day is almost done she will make a last run and ensure those still on the course get their favorite beverage or snack before she calls it a day. If there is needed help in the kitchen or bar she will be there to help also. It is not just a 9-5 for Sally it is when and how she is needed she will be there… (until Bingo starts.)

In 2017 after a devastating fire left Tamarack in a tough spot and Sally knew the position the club was in. Her efforts to ensure we serviced our members and guests stepped up to another level. She helps generate desperately needed revenues and happy members. She supports her workmates and does it all with a great attitude and energy. Her efforts and always concern for her customers her workmates and the club make her invaluable to Tamarack.

Sally is a Tamarack legend that all the members enjoy and get spoiled by. It is long overdue to recognize the importance of her contributions to The Tamarack Golf Club

At Bally Haly, when we think about volunteers, the name Danny O’Neill always comes to mind. Danny has just completed his fourth stint as Golf Captain for the club, a role he takes very seriously and puts his heart and soul into. On any given day you will see him running around checking out the schedules, tee sheets or planning and delivering weekly events. From convening the Monday night men’s league, Wednesday Members Day and club tournaments to organizing the annual Bally Haly Men’s Invitational, he has his hands in everything golf at the club. If this is not enough to keep him busy, at this year’s provincial’s at the Wilds, he took time from his vacation to help Golf NL by volunteering when a number of individuals originally scheduled to help had canceled at the last minute. He quickly got in his car, drove out to the event and gave two days to help spotting, scoring or whatever he was needed for.

A couple of years ago after seeing the fun the ‘A’ players had in their “Turkey Tangle’, Danny set forth to set up an event for male members who have double digit handicaps, the “Ten Plus Challenge” or TPC as it is commonly known, is held each year on Thanksgiving weekend and it involves the young ‘bucks’ of the club playing against the older (and wiser) ‘stallions’ in a match play event. It’s a fun filled weekend as has become one of the favorites of the year.

Perhaps the thing Danny is most fondly known for at Bally Haly is his communication to the membership. Along with personally contacting every single new member at the club each year to introduce them to the club, ensure they know about all the events and even set some up with games, each Friday he sends his weekly Golf Captain Letter. This letter contains information on upcoming club events; need to knows about the course and good news happenings involving members who broke 100, 90, 80 that week; who got a hole in one, course record scores; or simply someone’s personal best score. The members look forward to these updates and are always contacting him with good news tidbits to be shared. Danny is a true asset to golf at Baly Haly!

A member of the Humber Valley Resort, Ms. Gillam has been involved in competitive golf for longer then one cares to remember during the 2017 season accumulated a total of 25,589 points on the Order of Merit to take top honors.

During this past season Ms. Gillam won:

Provincial Amateur Championship

Provincial Mid-Amateur Championship

Provincial Senior Championship

Provincial Super Senior Championship

Judy competed at the 2017 Canadian National Mid-Amateur/Senior Ladies Championship held at Humber Valley Resort and T48 place out of a field of 105 competitors

Placed second at the Humber Valley Resort Ladies Club Championship

During the 2016 season Bernnice McMarthy displayed all of the attribites of an excellent employee of the Grand Falls Golf Club.

Bernice has been nominated for managing all of the special events at the club, in particular, the 20 plus weddings during the 2016 season. Her responsibility in this area is to deal directly with the Bride, the Groom and their families for everything associated with the wedding from start to finish. Although never initially hired to be a wedding planner, she has morphed into the position.

Aside from managing the weddings, Bernice is responsible for managing all the casual staff hired for the events, ensuring they are well versed in their roles. The club is constantly booked for events and this is in large part due to the excellent reputation Bernice has earned in organizing such events.

The golf club generates a substantial amount of revenue as a result of these events and because of Bernice’s dedication to detail, the Club can look forward to hosting many weddings and events in the coming years. Every couple who held their wedding at our club in 2016 were absolutely thrilled with Bernice and her work.

General Manager, Mike Browne, stated that “Bernice is a credit to the Grand Falls Golf Club. She constantly comes up with ideas to enhance our ability to host events and seizes the opportunity to save funds for the club wherever and whenever possible.

A member of Blomidon Golf Club, Ms. Cormier has been involved in competitve golf for the past six year and during the 2016 season accumulated a total of 14,050 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

This past year Ms. Cormier competed at the Royal LePage Provincial Junior Girls Championships, Future Links Atlantics in Fairview, PEI, and the Canadian National Junior championships in Competing in the Tely Tour, Mr. Cormier placed 1st in the Order of Merit for the Junior Girls Division and won the Tour Championship. Other results of the Tely Tou included:

• 1st at Corner Brook Junior Invitational
• 1st at Harmon Invitational
• 1st at Humber River Junior Invitational
• 1st at Grand Falls Invitational
• 1st at Gander Junior Invitational
• 1st at Bally Haly Junior Invitational
• 1st at Clovelly Invitational
  

This past season, Judy competed at the Royal LePage Provincial Amateur Championships and capture the Super Senior Divison title adn placed second in the Amateur, Mid Amateur and Senior Divisions. She competed at the Atlantic Championships and placed second in the Super Senior Division and won the ladies club championship at Humber Valley Resort. Overall Judy compiled a total of 15,800 Order of Merit Points.

In 2016, our application to receive funding under both ACOA and JCP initiatives were approved. Under the ACOA program the scope of work included upgrading three cart paths by installing asphalt and renovating three existing bunkers. Under the JCP project the scope of work included refurbishing remaining car paths with Class A and the clearning of a substaintial amount of brush around the course over a 21-week period. It was not our intenion to have both projects running simultaneously, however, due to a change in government the approval of our ACOA application was delayed. Managing these two major projects simultaneously was a major undertaking for all involved. In the end, instead of installing asphalt on three cart paths, we manged to pave nine cart paths at a total running length approximately 4,300 feet. We managed this by combining resources of both projects. Although we were unable to refurbish any of the bunkers originally identified. Brush has been cleared from edges of all fairways around the course which has significantly improved the look of each hole. Thanks to ACOA and JCP we managed to carry out work costing approximately $160,000.00 for the cost of $30,000.00. The results of these projects will benefit the gold course for many years to come and involved a substantial amount of effort from everyone involved.

In regards to hosting tournaments, this was a busy year for the Gander Golf Club. In between running the Men’s and Ladies Invitational’s we hosted the Junior Provincials. Although the turnout for the provincials was not what was hoped for, there was still a lot of work required. A great deal of praise must go to the staff and volunteers who made these tournaments a success. Ladies league, which was introduced to encourage lady beginners to get out and play attract around 16 players per week. Our Lady’s Night continues to be popular with our lady members. Although Men’s Night was a slow start due to poor weather, numbers quickly improved as the season went on with an average of 50 players attending each Wednesday. Participation numbers for out club tournaments continue to increase which is validated by the end of season scramble tournament being fully subscribed weeks before the closing date. As can be seen from above, there are many positive things happening within the club and if these trends continue the club can only go from strength to strength.

In junior programs continues to be a success. Lesson plans were developed using resources made available from CN Future Links and utilizing the Long Term Development Plan. Each lesson had a structure and outlined specific drills the instructors were to follow. This allowed our junior coordinators to deliver a program which covered the basic skills required to play the game. In addition to this, Wayne Allen offered professional coaching over a weekend for out juniors, which was a great learning experience for both our junior golfers and coaches. The feedback we received on this year’s junior program from parents and juniors has been extremely positive and we have some great ideas moving forward with the program next season. A lot of work went into the enhancement of the program this year which has been justified with the improvement we have seen in our junior member’s golf skills. A lot of credit must go to the junior coordinators who took their remit for the summer and implemented it effectively.

Although we work under very tight financial controls this year, we managed to invest approximately $146,000.00 into the club. Areas invested in, included $30,000.00 on course improvements, $65,250.00 on 14 new golf carts, $45,350.00 on greens equipment and $5,616.00 on new furniture for the lounge. Our pro shop continues to provide exceptional customer service ensuring patrons feel welcome and can relax in a friendly environment. The food and beverage department revenues have once again increased due to the quality of service and product provided. Our small and committed greens staff ensures the condition of the course improves year after year. In particular, the green surfaces have been enhanced through the implementation of a top dressing program in conjunction with regular use of the new greens roller. Many times this season we have been commended on the condition of our course and especially our greens. However, the poor condition of the bunkers continues to be a problem. Steps were taken at the end of the season to rectify this issue by the installation of a sod wall bunker on the first hole. The design of the bunker will mitigate washouts and sand-loss through wind exposure, decrease maintenance time and is aesthetically pleasing. Current feedback has been positive and we plan on refurbishing other bunkers using rhe same technique.

Gander Golf Club continues to support local charities and has hosted a number of charity events which have risen a substantial amount in charitable donations. The traditional marketing streams we have been using are no longer fit for purpose and we have shifted towards online marketing. There is still a lot of work to be done in this area, however, the steps we have taken have already reaped rewards and we can only improve going forward. We have 16 out of our 18 holes sponsored which provides the club with a much-needed revenue stream. It was identified that the utilization of the lounge was not what it could be and steps were taken to promote increased usage. The initial result was encouraging we hope to build on this success for many seasons to come.

Carrie-Lee has worked at the Gander Golf Club for 10 years with the majority of that time being spent as Pro Shop Manager. This past year, Carrie-Lee exemplified exceptional commitment to her role and went above and beyond what is expected of her on a number of occasions. Carrie-Lee understands that the pro shop is the principal contact for patrons of the golf club and has her staff diligently trained to ensure customers feel welcomed. Carre-Lee has a willingness to learn new skills which has allowed her to grow as an individual and employee of the Gander Golf Club.

At the start of the season, Carrie-Lee spent a large amount of time setting up a new point of sale system (POS) in the pro shop. This involved becoming an expert in the system, inputting inventory, setting up new member accounts, developing reports, and training staff. As well as the POS, the club implemented an online tee booking system which also required a substantial amount of training. This season the golf club undertook two major projects and the success of these projects was due to a number of factors, one of which was the additional administrative duties Carrie-Lee undertook in order to take the pressure off of other areas of the operation.

Carrie-Lee is not afraid to suggest new ideas which would better the club and will implement new philosophies with great self-belief and ease. Her communication with management allows for the effective running of the club and she uses her initiative to solve any problems which arise. After work hours Carrie-Lee spends a great deal of time replying to emails, scheduling workers shifts, and planning for upcoming events.

In conclusion, the Gander Golf Club owes a lot of its success to the hard work and loyalty of Carrie-Lee Bennett.

A long time member of the Grand Falls Golf Club, harold Butt is the epitome of a volunteer.

Just this past season, Harold gave countless hours of his time to assist in the operation of various aspects of the club and events including:

Serving on the Grand Falls Golf Club Board of Directors as Secretary

Chairperson – Club Storage

Chairperson – Cart Corral

2016 Provincial Mixed Tournament Committee Member including Chairperson of registration and communications.

Chairperson – Grand Falls Golf Club 2016 Hole in one Commemorative Plaques Display.

Harold initiated this project. Raised the money to purchase the plaques, maintains and keeps the project up to date and ensures all golfers who recorded a hole in one receive a certificate acknowledging the accomplishment.

Official Photographer/Reporter for Grand Falls Golf Club.

Harold is the club photographer, He photographs all tournaments and special events for the club. Harold sends the pictures to the local paper and writes the story for them as well. He volunteers to take pictures of all the Corporate Tournaments and has a complete library of photos on display on the big screen during the tournament dinner and presentation of awards.

During the season, Harold can be seen either taking up meals at the more than 20 plus weddings and events, assisting with junior golf programs, developing and printing tickets for various functions, and in the spring of the year, working with the grounds crew to remove cores off the greens after they have aerated.

Harold, along with his wife, walks the course almost every day before we open in the Spring, and again in the Fall after we close until the snow falls. He and his wide after doing this every year for quite some time have become known as the Grand Falls Golf Club Security.

He does all this in a very unassuming fashion. Harold usually got the volunteer project complete before most members knew it was started. Harold was by far and wide the most dedicated volunteer at the club during the 2016 season.

A member of the Gander Golf CLub, Mr. Bursey has been involved in competitve golf for the past 10 years and during the 2016 season accumulated a total of 17,750 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

During this past season Mr. Bursey won:

Provincial Amateur Championship;

Placed 5th at the Canadian National Amateur Men’s Championship;

Captain of the 2016 Willingdon Cup Championship Team;

Brandon Dunes Championship NCAA, Individual Medalist Honours;

The Willingdon Cup Team of which Blair was named a finalist for the City of St. John’s, Team of the Year Award and is a finalist for the Sport NL Provincial Team of the Year.

Blair is also a finalist of the Senior Provincial Athlete of the Year.

Mr. Bursey is presently in his third year of studies at Utah Valley University on a golf scholarship and competing in Division 1

A member of the Humber Valley Resort, Mr. Bruce has been involved in competitive golf for the past nine years and during the 2016 season, accumulated a total of 15,274 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours:

This past season Mr. Bruce:

Placed 2nd at the Royal LePage Pronvincial Junior Championships

Placed 5th at the Future Links Atlantic in Fairview, PEI and won an additional quota sport for GNL at the National Junior Boys Championships.

Placed 63rd at the National Junior Boys Championships held at Clovelly in St. John’s.

Mr. Bruce is presently leading the Order of Merit for the 2017 Canada Summer Games Team and is investigating a golf scholarship.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2016 Outstanding Junior Male Golfer of the Year, Mr. Andrew Bruce.

Bob Skanes holds the position of 2nd Vice President on the Executive at the Gander Golf Club and is completing the second year of his current two-year term. Bob has been a part of the Executive for many years and plays an important role within the club. On top of his normal duties, Bob volunteered to assist with a number of different activities at the Gander Golf Club.

At the start of the year, the Gander Golf Club applied and received a grant from the Job Creation Program (JCP). A committee was established to oversee the two main areas of work which included refurbishing cart paths and extensive brush clearing. Bob was first to volunteer his time and played a major role in the brush clearing segment of the JCP project. Firstly, a large amount of time was spent assessing areas on the course which needed to be cleared of brush. Secondly, a plan and schedule of works were developed which was used to direct the JCP workers. Bob attended and played an active role within the JCP meetings. Finally, Bob made sure he was present on a daily basis, reviewing work completed and assessing project time schedules.

Bob also offered his assistance to the Tournament Chairperson and Club President in the running of club tournaments and men’s night. Bob also reviewed the handicaps of members, contacted members to raise awareness of the handicap system, entered scores for members into the handicap system and established a process for members to input their own scores. At the end of the season, Bob assisted in the building of a sod wall bunker on the first hole which has undoubtedly enhanced the look of the hole. The significance of his contributions this year will benefit the club for many years to come.

Mike Brown exceeds the requirements and expectations for this award. His abilities, talents and qualifications complement the community of past recipients and make him highly deserving of the honour. He is dependable, efficient, and puncual individual. As a matter of fact, he is often at the Course before opening time in the morning and at times late in the evening.

He is willing to take on difficult projects like course renewals and always seeks out the best people to implement his vision. This year he learned of an individual with exceptional expertise in golf course management who had moved to town. Though otherwise employed, he has been contracted to do some consulting work with the staff.

Mike projects a warm, cheerful attitude towards our golfers. He knows each one personally and can call everyone by name. Mike is also very aware of special events in the lives of each golfer such as birthdays and anniversaries. Furthermore, he relates extremely well with senior golfers and his dearly loved by them.

Mike has cultivated a good relationship with corporate sponsors. Their involvement adds significantly to the quality of our tournaments. Mike has been committed to growing the Junior Program. This year he has established and encouraged a committee of parents to help with the Junior Program. This has resulted in increased participation in both overall numbers and involvement.

His relationship with the staff allows for a harmonious working environment which encourages all staff to go the extra mile that, in turn, helps to make our club a successful enterprise. Mike possesses may of the qualities when dealing with staff: fairness, honesty, and compassion to name a few.

Mike has worked tirelessly to develop and maintain a very strong volunteer base. For instance, all of our tournaments are run exceedingly well including our Provincial Mixed by dedicated volunteers. He has nurtured a strong relationship with Council and Staff of the Town of Grand Falls – Windsor. This year he was instrumental in working out a financial arrangement which solidifies our financial position for some years to come.

He can resolve conflicts and handle difficult situations with remarkable patience and admirable tact. His work on behalf of our club is very much appreciated by all. He is an exceptional individual whose service and interactions with the Board are very much appreciated.

Tom Jones has been an integral aprt of the Gander Golf Club for the past 25 years. Many of those years have been spet on the Executive as the President of the Gander Golf Club.

Most recently Tom has taken on the position of Greens Chairperson and is now into the second year of his two year term.  In his role as Greens Chairperson Tom goes above and beyond what is required of him holding daily interaction with the greens staff and is always on hand to bounce ideas off and offer his expert advice when needed.

This season has presented many obstacles for the greens staff to overcome and with Tom’s guidance, Gander Golf Club have been able to overcome each and every one.  The condition of the course and especially the greens at the end of March caused concern for all involved at the Gander Golf Club.  However, with hard work and quick thinking along with great patience, the greens were revived and develop the course into an excellent condition.

As well as offer guidance, Tom is very keen to get his hands dirty and has assisted staff in many projects throughout the season.  Projects included fairway maintenance, tee deck renovation, bunker renovation and spending many hours supporting our major construction project of redirecting a cart path and moving of culverts on hole number 6.  Tom has also gone through training on the sharpener to assist staff when sharpening the maintenance equipment blades.

Although Tom’s main duty within the Executive is to oversee the greens, he also participates constructively in Executive meetings and is always willing to assist others with their duties.  These may include helping around the clubhouse, organizing and running tournaments or cooking steaks for major events. Tom has also played an integral role in developing plans for next year’s greens, bunkers, and brush maintenance programs.  Tom can always be counted on when you need him and the Gander Golf Club would struggle to function if it was not for the contributions of Tom Jones and his love for the Gander Golf Club.

Joan Bennett has been the Food and Beverage Manager at the Gander Golf Club for more than 20 years and has been integral to the growth and seccuess of the Club. Joan could be a candidate for this award on a yearly basis. However, her performance this year has been truly exceptional, although Joan would suggest that she is only fulfilling the duties required of her role.

It is the professionalism with which she carries out her duties that makes her truly extraordinary. A contributing factor to this is her willingness to go above and beyond what is expected to ensure the members and visitors are catered for whilst maintaining high standards. Joan, who like to work behind the scenes uses her passion and work ethic to inspire her dedicated staff to perform to the best of their abilities.

The Gander Golf Club recently decided to cater to large events in house as opposed to hiring an outside caterer. Joan was a driving force in this decision due to the eagerness and confidence she showed in her own ability to manage this portion of the business. This season, Joan has really grown into this role and has been able to increase our food revenues by 21%. It is the quality of service and cuisine that has contributed to the increase in numbers attending Ladies League and Men’s Nights by 37.5% and 33.5% respectively.

Joan played an important part in developing the food and beverage section of the course’s strategic plan. The main focus this year was to increase the number of non-golfers attending the golf club for lunch. Joan’s hard work has seen an increase in this demographic attending the clubhouse for lunch and initiatives have been established on how to best further increase this area of the business.

Joan operates her department on a tight budget whilst managing to turn over a healthy profit all while providing a relaxed, friendly, and socially enjoyable atmosphere. Joan is not afraid to suggest new ideas which will better the club and will implement new ideas with great self0belief and ease. Her communication with management allows for the effective running of the club and she uses her initiative to solve any problems which arise. The Gander Golf Club owes a lot of its success to the hard work and loyalty of Joan Bennett.

This past season Matthew competed at the Provincial Mens Amateur and Mid-Amateur Championships and captured the Mid-Amateur title and placed second in the Amateur Divison. Matthew represented the province at the Atlantic Championships in the Men’s Amateur Divison winning the title and awarded with an exemption into the 2016 Men’s National Amatuer Championship.

Matthew Competed in a number of invitation tournaments and capped off the season with a win at the Blomidon Men’s Club Championships. Overall Matthew compiled a total of 17,400 Order of Merit points.

A member of Glendenning Golf, Ms. Coleman has been involved in competitive golf for the past six years and during the 2015 season accumulated a total of 13,450 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

This past year, Ms. Coleman won the Provincial Junior Girls Championship and competed at the CN Future Links Atlantics in Bathurst NB. Competing in the Tely Tour, Ms. Coleman placed second in the Order of Merit for the Junior Girls Divison and finished second in the Tour Championship. Other results of the Tely Tour included:

• 1st at Corner Brook Junior Invitational
• 1st at Glendenning Golf Invitational
• 1st at Bally Haly Junior Invitational
• 1st at The Wilds Junior Invitational

Ruth Peach is a member of the Gander Golf Club who has previously served on the Executive a Ladies President. Although Ruth was not on the Executive this year, she played a key roles during the submission process for an ACOA Grant. Ruth initiated the idea of applying for Grant by informing the Gander Golf Club’s Executive that ACOA were accepting applications for funding.

After many discussions of which Ruth played an integral part, it was decided to make an application to complete three major pieces of work at the Gander Golf Club. Ruth took ownership of the application process which was both, time-consuming and at times perilous. Ruth was always up to speed with what was expected from ACOA due to the excellent working relationship she developed throughout the application process. This foresight and constant contact allowed for a well prepared and extremely well-written application.

Throughout the process, Ruth attended Executive meetings in her free tie to provide up to date feedback on how the application was progressing. At the time of writing the submission has yet to be accepted due to a delay in the application review process. However, Gander Golf Club managed to complete one of the projects with the understanding that ACOA would only reimburse any monies spent if the application was successful. The undertaking of this project would not have been possible without the planning and budget preparation that went into the application of which Ruth was fundamental.

Ruth also assisted with our ladies section through tournament preparations which included determining team handicaps, marking the course, and establishing tournament specific local rules for both the men’s and ladies tournaments. In addition to this, Ruth has taken the lead in overseeing the Gander Golf Club’s Memorial tree planting project and organizing the planting and ongoing maintaining of trees and shrubs around the course. Ruth has also kept the Executive informed in regard to potentially applying for an upcoming JCP Grant in order to conduct Brush clearing around the course.

A member of the Gander Golf Club, Mr. Bursey has been involved in competative golf for the past nine years and during the 2015 season has accumulated a total of 15,710 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours. This past season Mr. Bursey won:

Provincial Junior Championship

Placed 3rd at the CN Future Links Atlantics in Bathhurt NB and won an addition quota spot for NL at the National Junior Boys Championships

Mr. Bursey is presently on a golf scholarship attending Utah Valley State and competing in Divison 1.

A member of Humber Valley Resort Course, Ms. Earle has been involved in competitive golf for the past five years and during the 2014 season accumulated a total of 9,500 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

This past year Ms. Earle won the Tely Tour Order of Merit for the Junior Girls Division and finished first in the Tour Championship. Other results of the Tely Tour included:

• 1st at Harmon Seaside Links Junior Invitational
• 1st at Humber River Junior
• 1st at Corner Brook Junior Invitational Blomidon
• 1st at Grand Falls Junior Invitational
• 1st at Bally Haly Junior Invitational
• 1st at Gatorade Junior Masters Clovelly
• 2nd at Provincial Junior Championships
• 8th at Future Links Atlantic Championships
• 1st at the inaugural High School Provincial Championship at Glendenning Golf
• Ladies and Gentlemen, the 2014 Outstanding Junior Female Golfer of the Year, Ms. Angela Earle. Accepting on her behalf is Wilf Pardy of the Blomidon Golf Club.

Mr. Bartlett has been Treasurer of Blomidon Golf Club for the past 8 years and served on the Board member  for the past 11 years.

For the past 8 years Gerry has been the Treasurer of Blomidon Golf Club.  Retired from the financial sector, Gerry’s expertise with money and budgets has proved a valuable asset to the course.  Gerry spends a minimum of 15 hours a week carrying out his duties as treasurer.  As the world gets faster paced and people seem to be busier and less involved.  It is getting harder to get people to donate their time to be a board member with regards to the golf course. 

Gerry is the exception to this rule.  Gerry is always involved in the finances of the golf course on a daily basis.  It’s nothing for Gerry to be home late at night crunching numbers, working on spreadsheets or coming up with new ideas to improve the finances of our club.

Being the treasurer of the club is a very tedious position and a very important one.  Ultimately you are responsible directly to the board for all the finances of the club.  To do this for 8 years straight as a volunteer is the reason why I am submitting Gerry for 2014 board member of the year.

Ladies and Gentlemen the 2014 Employe of the Year…. Mr. Garry Bartlett. Accepting on his behalf is Wilf Pardy of the Blomidon Golf Club.

Glendenning strongly believes in supporting community and social projects. During the 2014 season Glendenning donated unlimited use of their facilities to the Mt. Pearl Special Olympics Golf Program, conducted a Breast Cancer, and Prostate Cancer fundraisers, where 100% of proceeds went to funding local Breast Cancer research and programs.

Glendenning also continues to be a strong supporter of Golf in Schools and regularly provides access to the Practice Range and Golf Course for a number of schools as a resource for their physical education program. This year we supplied several schools with the equipment required to start a golf program as part of their physical education curriculum.

Membership at Glendenning continues to grow and evolve in 2014. Specific initiatives to grow their membership in underutilized categories was a huge success with Young Adult Membership (Under 30 years old) grew from 30 to 42 members for an increase of 40%. Female Membership grew from 24 to 31 for an increase of 30%. Young Juniors (under age 14) grew from 17 to 28 for an increase of 65%.

Despite the presence of a big box golf retailer, Glendenning achieved the same overall net profits as 2013, which was a record year for the pro shop. The course partnered with an International Software company that specializes in designing Golf Course On-Line Shops.  This venture was so successful that Glendenning became the #1 on-line store in their network and because of the success, the Golf Professional (Paul Kelly) was asked to sit on their customer advisory board. 

During the 2014 season Glendenning’s Golf Professionals delivered formal instructional programs to approximately 265 children, ranging in ages from 4 to 18. Every one of our Junior Golf Programs was sold out with a waiting list. Glendenning’s FUNdamentals program for kids age 4 to 8 was exceptionally strong with over 80 participants. Glendenning’s Junior Membership was sold out for the 14th year in a row, with over 45 kids receiving instruction and unlimited access to the course seven days a week. 

Despite the unusually long and harsh winter, Glendenning was in great shape from opening day, May 9th. This can be largely attributed to the fantastic work Scott Sleep and his crew did all last fall in preparing the course for winter. Members and guests have said week after week all season, that this is the best they’ve ever seen it.

In 2014 Glendenning’s already hugely successful Golf Leagues continue to wow participants. The Wednesday Men’s League had 326 registered participants while the Tuesday Ladies League had 247 regular participants. Every Tuesday and Wednesday from May – September the course and restaurant were filled to capacity with League play. Participants regularly comment that the focus on having fun at Glendenning is he key to their success. 

Along with numerous club tournaments, Glendenning also played host to the Tri-Club City Championship and the inaugural Provincial High School Championship. Both of these events were extremely well received and produced exciting play and fantastic scores.

Throughout the year Glendenning hosted over 20 Corporate Shotgun Tournaments with most of these events being conducted with long term business partners.

Glendenning’s staff is what makes Glendenning such a special place to work and visit. A large number of staff have most of their adult lives invested in Glendenning and consider it a second home, not a workplace.

Ladies and Gentlemen accepting the award on behalf of Glendenning Golf is General Manager Patti Hamilton.

Herb Newhook has been the greens superintendent at the Gander Golf Club for more than 30 years and in that time has been an instrumental individual in its continued success.  Herb could be a candidate for this award on a yearly basis however his performance this year has been truly exceptional.  A contributing factor to this is his willingness to ensure the course is in the best possible condition along with his determination and enthusiasm for his work.  Herb is an unassuming individual whose passion and work ethic inspire his staff to perform to the best of their abilities.

Herb’s focus turns to the golf course early in the year usually when there is still a couple of foot of snow on the ground.  Every season Herb manages to overcome the elements and puts in many hours of work in order to get the course ready for the season.  This year as the season got underway the end of May and June was like every other year.  However this soon changed with July being an extremely busy month due to exceptionally warm weather and very little rain.  Herbs primary focus was to ensure that the greens and tees received adequate water supply.  As usual this work was taken on without complaint and watering took place at all hours of the day in order to maintain healthy growing conditions.  His versatility in dealing with the unexpected in a calm and rational manner ensures there is little to no disruption to the day to day operation.

Early on in September a course inspection was carried out in order to identify projects which could be completed over the next few seasons.  Herb was forthcoming with his ideas on work required and on how and when to best carry out this work.  A plan of action was drawn up and three projects where selected to be completed by the end of the season.  This included work on renovating five bunkers, which required the removal of old sand, installation of drainage and finally filling with new sand.  Secondly the pond on number 9 required to be excavated and a culvert with a rock and sod wall was installed.  An area which was once an eye sore is now an eye catching feature.  The final project required removal of a large area of brush in front of the 3rd tee which caused plenty of aggravation and collected many lost golf balls.  This area has been completely excavated, filled with cores and will be ready for play in the upcoming season.  As operations started to wind down Herb maintained his exceptional work rate and started to plan for next season by identifying equipment and budget requirements. 

In conclusion the Gander Golf Club could never repay the hard work and loyalty Herb has shown during his employment.  It is his determination and passion that has ensured the Gander Golf Club improves on a yearly basis.  Finally the executive, staff and members of Gander Golf Club would like to say thank you and congratulations on receiving this award which is greatly deserved.

Ladies and Gentlemen the 2014 Employee of the Year….Mr. Herb Newhook. Accepting on his behalf is Bert Peddle, President of the Gander Golf Club.

A member Bally Haly Country Club, Ms. Mills has been involved in competitive golf for a number of years  and during the 2014 season accumulated a total of 9,750 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours.

This past year Ms. Mills achievements include:

• Provincial Mid-Amateur Champion
• Provincial Mid-Master Champion
• Provincial Senior Champion
• Represented NL in the Senior Division at the Atlantic Amateur Championship
• T4 – Dunne Hong Ladies Invitational
• 1st Place – Clovelley Ladies Senior Invitational Champion
• 1st Place – Twin Rivers Fall Classic Invitational

Ladies and Gentlemen the 2014 Outstanding Female Golfer of the Year….Ms. Janet Mills.

A member of Grande Meadows Golf Club, Mr. Hackett has been involved in competitive golf for a number of years and during the 2014 season accumulated a total of 8,500 points on the Order of Merit to take top honours. This past year Matthew finished:

• 3rd at the Grande Meadows Invitational
• 2nd in the Mid-Amateur Division at the Provincial Championships
• 2nd at the Grande Meadows Club Championship
• Competed at the National Mid_Amateur Championships

Ladies and Gentlemen the 2014 Outstanding Male Golfer of the Year….Mr. Matthew Hackett.

In 2005, Adam Stanley joined the Bally Haly Board of Directors. In his many years on the board he has served in a variety of capacities and has volunteered on a number of committees. During his tenure, it has been one of his main initiatives to oversee and instigate improvements to the club.

In 2008, Mr. Stanley was involved in the restructuring of the management at Bally Haly as well as setting up a Financial Review Committee aimed at developing a strategy to improve the financial position at the club. Mr. Stanley, along with Miller Ayre, worked closely with the Global Golf Consulting firm to review the current situation and create a strategy moving forward. This study, along with the recommendations of the Financial Review Committee, brought about a Membership Debenture Program that enabled the club to secure the finances necessary to undertake the long overdue renovations to the clubhouse.

In 2009, again with Miller Ayre, Mr. Stanley negotiated a financial agreement that allowed Bally Haly to undertake a 2 million dollar renovation project. The Renovation Committee, chaired by Stanley, was formed to oversee the planning of the project. Along with renovations, Stanley was responsible for overseeing the general running and operations dealing with all issues that arose regarding members, staff and contacts.

Although not a current member of the board, Adam Stanley still has a strong presence at Bally Haly and remains a “go to guy” at the club.

In 2009, Miller Ayre was approached by the president of Bally Haly to head a committee responsible for reviewing the financial situation and straining operations at the club. Mr. Ayre quickly accepted the challenge and his committee undertook a study of the long-term finances at Bally Haly. After presenting his recommendations to the board, he accepted an invitation to become a member himself over the next two years.

Relying on his business life experience and connections, Mr. Ayre developed a roadmap to get the club back on track. The services of Global Golf Consultants were utilized to review the entire operation of the club and provide a list of recommendations, checkpoints and key success factors in the initiative. Mr. Ayre was a pivotal member on the committee that reviewed the data and put a plan into action.

The first step was acquiring a substantial monetary investment necessary for renovations and improvements at Bally Haly. Ayre and his colleague Adam Stanley approached various financial institutions and quickly realized a need for more than just capital assets as collateral for securing a loan. They proceeded to set up and promote a membership debenture plan that raised crucial funds necessary to obtain further investment from the bank. The pair finally was able to successfully negotiate a financial agreement that enabled Bally Haly to undertake a 2 million dollar renovation project. A Renovation Committee, on which Mr. Ayre was a member, was created to oversee the planning, development and implementation of the project. Without his work, this incredible lifesaving endeavor at Bally Haly would not have succeeded.

In 2011 Mr. Ayre stepped into the role of President at the club and remained focused on setting Bally Haly on a strong financial path by taking a hands on approach to budgeting, projections, and the actuals of the club. He remained on the board as Past President until February 2013.

Chris Williams has been with Glendenning Golf for six seasons, beginning when he was just 16 years old. Despite his young age, Mr. Williams has demonstrated maturity, wisdom and a strong work ethic well beyond his years of experience.

His perspective and ability to articulate his opinions clearly to other staff and management are invaluable to Glendenning’s operations. Prior to implementing new policy, guidelines, programs and promotions, Mr. Williams is regularly consulted because of the value-added input he consistently provides decision-makers. He has a unique way of seeing things clearly from both the business and customer perspective.

During 2012, Mr. Williams was involved in every aspect of the operation including golf leagues, banquets, restaurant operations, public relations, fundraising and special events. While his primary responsibility was with the Pro Shop, his versatility allowed him to quickly switch hats and take on jobs with other departments, consistently demonstrating his assets in the workplace.

Mr. Williams is currently enrolled in Medical School at Memorial University of Newfoundland. He has recently volunteered his time and money to a School building project in Haiti and hopes to continue volunteering overseas as a doctor in the future. 

At the tender age of 13, Eddie Bearns began his golfing career at Pippy Park Golf Course. As a shy teenager, he did not venture far from this home club until 1980 when he traveled to Corner Brook to compete in his first Junior Provincial Tournament. This marked the beginning of a long and successful golfing career. Mr. Bearns finished third in this tournament, earning the right to represent Newfoundland and Labrador at the Canadian Junior Nationals for the first time. In 1987, Mr. Bearns joined Bally Haly and has been tweaking his competitive spirit there ever since.

In 1990 he won his first NL Amateur Championship at the club and went on to the National Amateur Championship in Toronto. Among some of the highlights of his career of the past 23 years include a third place finish in the provincial Amateur tournament in 1994, a first place finish at the provincial Mid-Amateur tournament in 2003, a third place finish in the provincial Amateur tournament in 2007, a second place finish in the provincial Amateur championship in 2008 and a Mid-Masters competition win in 2011.

Outside of provincial and national competitions, Mr. Bearns has attended a number of prestigious invitational events where he has represented Newfoundland and Labrador with pride. In 2004 and 2005 he was invited to the Barrett Invitational in St. Andrews, New Brunswik, which showcases the top amateur golfers in Eastern Canada and the United States, and in 2012 he was part of the Newfoundland team in the Maritime Cup competition.

Mr. Bearns is a great ambassador of golf in this province. He is well known for his participation in club events and has won numerous interclub tournaments and Men’s Club and Match Play Championships. In 2012, he even added a Mixed Club Championship to his resume. His love of the game is unquestionable and he is well known throughout the province, especially at Bally Haly, his participation in golf events.

Established in 1908, Bally Haly is the oldest golf course in Newfoundland and Labrador. It boasts the best greens on the island despite poor climate conditions and old terrain. Over the past 104 years, Bally Haly has managed to survive through good times and tough times. The most recent rough spot was a seemingly continual decrease in membership and declining financial stability, which started in the early 2000’s. With the hard work of the management team and the Board of Directors, Bally Haly has been able to rebound and rejuvenate. An investment of 2.2 million dollars has resulted in beautiful renovation of the clubhouse, a new marketing strategy, along with a rejuvenation of the membership and increased rental of facilities. The course also undertook improvements to resurface two tee boxes, increase on course signage and expand the parking lot.

In 2012, Bally Haly saw a significant increase in the number of registered golfers, especially in members ages 19 to 35. In 2009, Bally Haly only had 14 members in this age bracket and has since seen a 480% increase to 68 members. Recognizing that this demographic influences the sustainability of club membership, Bally Haly actively undertook several initiatives to remedy this situation. A new team-based interclub tournament was developed to draw in this audience, as well as clinics being offered for free instruction and golf. The club also offered a ‘Groupon’ inviting patrons to enjoy a round of golf with a cart at a substantially reduced price. With these specials, Bally Haly saw many new faces come to play the sport.

Bally Haly continues to have a healthy social environment offering nine and dine events, ‘Theme Nights’ and events for non-members and members alike. It is proving to be the place to be!

Although Janet Mills has been a golfer for only ten years, she has accomplished much in a short period of time. Her previous competitive sport history has transferred well into her game of golf. After enjoying five years of recreational golf, Ms. Mills decided to plunge into the competitive field and did so with immediate success. She represented Newfoundland and Labrador four times as a member of the provincial team at nationals – three times in women’s amateur and once on the senior team.

In 2012, Mills represented our province at the national women’s senior championships in Prince Edward Island. She played two solid rounds, carding 88 on each round and missed the cut by only four strokes. Playing in a field of such accomplished golfers in our country, she proved that she is a talented player who is able to compete with seasoned veterans of the sport, despite her relative newness to it. 

After competing and winning the 2012 Super Senior Championships held at Blomidon Golf Club in July 2012, John Williams represented the province at the 2012 Canadian National Super Senior Championship.

Williams, a native of St. John’s, Newfoundland and a member of Clovelly Golf, went on to capture the Super Senior Division title of the 2012 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship held at Golf Griffon des Sources in Mirabel, Que from August 27th to 31st. A total of 71 players made the 36-hole cut, which was set at 18-over par 162. As the winner, Williams earned an exemption into the 2012 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, which took place September 29th to October 4th at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, New Jersey.

As a result of this success, Mr. Williams has been awarded the 2012 Male Golfer of the Year.

In 2011, at the age of 14 and in only his 6th season golfing, Blair Bursey really showed results for all his dedication to the sport of golf.

Bursey’s season began a little early in 2011, and in March he was fortunate to attend the Henry Brunton Strive for Excellence Training Camp in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where he golfed alongside the Canadian National Development Team. Through a colleague he met there, Bursey then travelled to Toronto where he won the 14 and under category of a Canadian International Junior Challenge Qualifying event on June 29th. Here, he had the lowest score for the 19 and under category. He then went on to win (by 15 strokes) the NL Provincial Juvenile and Junior titles on July 14th. This resulted in obtaining a spot on the NL team to attend the Atlantics in New Brunswik and Nationals in British Columbia. Bursey’s outstanding 2011 season ended on a provincial scale on August 31st when he won the Tely Tour Championship Event at Terra Nova, and was named to the NLGA Canada 2013 Canada Summer Games Development Team.

In addition to this accomplished season, Bursey excelled in his golf ability at his home course in Gander. He was named the Junior Club Champion and the Men’s Club Champion for 2011.

From the NLGA training camps, which started in the fall of 2011, Bursey has faithfully followed a workout regime designed by the development team trainer and spent countless hours working on his putting and swing. During 2011, his has focused on maximizing his fitness level and fine-tuning his equipment and readiness for the 2012 season. For his numerous achievements, he has been named the 2011 NLGA Male Golfer of the Year.

The one primary mandate of all Golf Courses is to “Grow the Game.” There are many ways a course can accomplish this, one of which is to develop a good junior golf program and to make a course Junior friendly.

In 2011, Glendenning provided formal instructional programs to approximately 250 children from ages 4 to 18. Their Junior membership is strong with over 40 children having unlimited access to the course seven days a week. Glendenning is also a strong supporter of the Golf in Schools program and regularly provides access to the practice range and their golf course for a number of schools for their physical education programs.

In 2011, Glendenning was also one of the few courses in our province whose membership grew. Also, their Ladies’ and Men’s Leagues saw approximately 3600 rounds of golf being played. The course is tooted as being one of the biggest weekly turnouts in the province, and possibly even Canada.

For these reasons and many more, Glendenning has been chosen NLGA 2011 Course of the Year.

Affectionately known by everyone at Glendenning as “Coop”, Dave Cooper has had the primary responsibility as Head Players Assistant there for years. That being said, he has been involved with every aspect of the operation including golf, banquets, maintenance, public relations, fundraising and special events. 

In 2011, Mr. Cooper’s dedication to Glendenning has helped in many ways to enhance the Glendenning experience. With the ladies’ league especially, he is a permanent fixture in creating the most enjoyable Ladies’ Day in our Province. Of course, he works his magic as well with the Men’s League setting the jovial atmosphere of the day and being the driving force behind ticket sales and prize raffles.

In truth, he is a master fundraiser at Glendenning. He has an uncanny ability to sell tickets, get donations, and create contests that generate thousands of dollars. Most prestigiously he raised a lot of funds for breast and prostate cancer.

Mr. Cooper’s heart is not only limited to the golf course. His preoccupation with the community shines through in his volunteering with such events as the annual Southlands BBQ, playing Santa for the annual Christmas Breakfast, and bringing care packages to guests and members in need.

He certainly is a valued employee and volunteer at the Glendenning Golf Club.