Written by Dwayne Tingley
Cecil Rasmussen calls it old home week for golfers.
Rasmussen is the director of Go Golf Moncton, an extensive pre-season golf show scheduled for this weekend.
“You see all of the golfers come out after a long winter and they enjoy each other’s company,” Rasmussen said.
“They get together and love to talk about golf,” she added. “They talk about their plans for the summer and they get to see what the golf clubs are offering. It’s a great gathering – it’s a lot like old home week.”
The third annual Go Golf Moncton will run Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily at the Moncton Lions Club on Mark Avenue, near Harrison Trimble High School.
Rasmussen, who is also the clubhouse manager of Maplewood Golf and Country Club, said the show attracted 1,200 visitors last year and there are indications the number will increase this weekend.
“Our feedback has been very good,” she said. “People liked the show last year and there has been a lot of talk on social media. Spring is here and the golfers are eager to get going. The show is like the unofficial start of the golf season in New Brunswick.”
The show will feature more exhibitors than last year, including 14 clubs. Maplewood, Lakeside, Hampton, Mountain Woods, Sussex, Stonehurst, Digby Pines, Amherst, Country Meadows, Memramcook, Hillsborough, Pine Needles, Petitcodiac and Bouctouche will all be represented at the show.
Representatives from Golf New Brunswick, Vesey’s (golf cart suppliers), Voxxlife (athletic socks) and Fair Haven funeral home will also be on hand.
“People are getting antsy and the golfers can hardly wait for the season to start,” the show’s director said. “Meeting old friends and talking golf is a great way to spend the day.”
Golf New Brunswick technical director Bari Gourley is looking forward to the show. Golf NB will meet officials from partner courses, talk about the association with visitors and sell its 2019 Golf NB 2 For 1 Cards that feature a single use 2 for 1 coupon at 23 courses in the provinces.
The association will also promote the benefits of becoming a gold member of Golf NB and Golf Canada.
“There will also be a putting mat for people to hit a few putts and challenge their friends,” said Gourley, who is also a PGA of Canada teaching professional.
“We will have our boom room, which is a 10-foot high inflatable driving range so junior golfers can come and hit golf balls,” she said. “It is a great way to get kids interested in golf and for those that already play, they can get a few swings in early.”
Gourley will be on hand to give swing tips. She will also hold seminars at 1:30 p.m. each day. Saturday’s theme will be: “Yes, you can hit a golf ball straight” and Sunday’s theme will be: Short game secrets.”
Golf NB will also be handing out a one-page sheet, explaining the “20 Must Know Rules of Golf For 2019”.
Admission to Go Golf Moncton is just $8 or $15 for two. Free green fees for Maplewood, Lakeside, Hillsborough, Bouctouche and Petitcodiac will be included in the admission fee.
There will be a putting contest with a $5 fee and all proceeds will go to breast cancer research.
“There is going to be a lot to do and see,” Rasmussen said. “Once the golfers go to the show, they’ll begin their countdown to actually get on the course.”
Written by Dwayne Tingley
Golf New Brunswick will partner with Easy Golf Tour this season and tournament and league play will never be the same.
Easy Golf Tour, created and owned by Todd Chant of Sydney, N.S., provides easy-to-use software that will benefit players, Golf New Brunswick’s 47 member clubs and the provincial association.
Players will no longer have to register for tournaments and league play through a third party, Chant said, noting the process will be done on each club’s web site.
All other tournament and league information will also be securely kept there, he added.
“We’ve had great feedback so far because people appreciate how easy it is to run their tournaments and other activities within minutes,” Chant said.
“We started using it at a few clubs last year and it’s expanding quickly when everyone sees how easy it is to use. We are going to have great partners in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia this year. I really enjoy being part of the golf community and giving back like this.”
Golf New Brunswick will provide the software to all of its member clubs at no charge in 2019, with the clubs having the option of integrating the program into each of their own web sites.
Club’s choosing to use the system will then manage it by offering on-line registrations and other tournament management tools, including scoring and payments.
“We know people like to deal with their own club instead of working through another organization,” Chant said. “It’s easy to use and it’s more convenient.”
Golf New Brunswick executive-director Tyson Flinn said clubs will benefit from a financial and human resources perspective and there is a “real win-win” for players.
“Those who are participating in club events that are using the East Golf Tour software will experience an easy and seamless registration process, an improved on-course and digital experience and lower wait times for pairings and awards ceremonies,” Flinn said.
“It will help to make each event more fun, less stressful and create the most positive playing experience possible,” Flinn said.
All details of tournaments, league play and other golf events as well as payments are handled by the user-friendly software program.
“It’s all about giving each course and Golf New Brunswick a value-added product,” Chant said. “In fact, we go beyond that. Our software is set up to work with every course in North America. We can work with them all.”
Flinn predicts Golf New Brunswick’s partnership with Easy Golf Tour is “just the tip of the iceberg.”
“With Todd’s passion and dedication to collaborative product creation it is our hope that we can continue to work together to provide custom club management software options that can help align and streamline our facilities while saving them money and grow the reach of Golf New Brunswick, its programs and the game of golf as a whole in New Brunswick,” Flinn said.
Pat Edwards describes herself as a “very average” golfer, but her impact on the sport in New Brunswick will felt for many generations.
The 82-year-old Bathurst resident is one of six new inductees into the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame. The shrine’s 50th annual induction ceremonies are scheduled for June 1 at the K.C. Irving Regional Centre in Bathurst.
“I was, of course, surprised (by the election to the hall of fame),” Edwards said. “I am very honoured and humbled.”
Edwards, who was born in Point La Nim, didn’t play golf as a junior, but she played her first round in 1958 at the Restigouche Golf Club. She was immediately hooked on the sport and wondered why she didn’t take it up sooner.
Edwards enjoyed competitions, but her legacy would come as a builder. Her tenure as a mentor for juniors and organizer for all levels would continue for many decades.
“Through the years being involved in golf, I have met so many interesting and extraordinary people and the love of the sport – it is just too hard to walk away from it,” said Edwards, whose first foray as a builder was serving four years as the director of ladies’ junior golf in New Brunswick.
“When you are working with the juniors, one becomes very close to them and I was called ‘mom’ by many of them,” she added.
“I am very proud of their successes – Bari Gourley, who is now technical director of Golf N.B. and Allison Chisholm, who is course rating and handicap chair as well as having served as chair of N.B. Golf, are among the many young players I worked with.”
Edwards was chairwoman of junior development in New Brunswick from 1984-87 and has fond memories of helping at junior golf schools with Doug Brewer and Dave Robertson at Magnetic Hill.
She was president of the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association in 1998-99 and later served as vice-president and president of the Canadian Ladies Golf Association. She represented Canada at several international tournaments and meetings.
“It was an honour, but one of the biggest thrills was seeing my youngest daughter, Cyndi, compete at the New Brunswick and Canadian junior championships,” said Edwards, who has three children with her husband Rex.
Another personal highlight was bringing and chairman the first national championship at her home course of Gowan Brae, when the venerable club hosted the junior ladies’ tournament in 1992.
“Having Carole Mix from Moncton and Judy Astle on the executive when I was the CLGA president was also very comforting and assuring,” she noted.
In 2008-09, Edwards served as president of the Canadian women’s senior golf association (New Brunswick branch.
“I have to give the sincerest thanks to all who have supported me over the years and I especially want to thank the two ladies who spearheaded my application for the new Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame – Brenda Parrot and Kathy Grebenc as well as endorsers Bari Gourley and Kathy Meagher.
“I want to give special thanks for the board of directors (of the hall), especially Betty Bouma, who has been a long-time friend and collaborator in skating.”
Edwards judged more than 23 national and international skating competitions.
The New Brunswick hall was formed 1970 and now has more than 700 members.
Written by Dwayne Tingley
Moncton Golf and Country Club general manager Marc Robichaud was immediately impressed with Carter Lavigne.
Lavigne was just five years-old, but his golf knowledge and etiquette belied his youth and his skills also caught the eye of Robichaud, who is also the club’s director of golf.
“For such a young player, he handled himself well and he certainly knew his way around the course,” Robichaud said.
Four years later, Lavigne is still marking significant achievements and turning heads in the game he loves.
The Grade 4 student has qualified to compete in the Drive, Chip and Putt championships on April 7 at the venerable Augusta National Golf Club, the Sunday before the Masters Tournament.
More than 17,000 youngsters tried to earn their way to Augusta from 226 qualifying competitions, but only 80 players advanced to the finals. Lavigne is just one of four Canadians who will be competing and attending a banquet with the Masters participants. The event will be televised by The Golf Channel.
“I am really excited and proud that I was able to get this far,” Carter said. “I remember my first golf experience was when I was two and I played the mini-putt course at Crystal Palace. I was scared and I couldn’t play the hole with pirates on it.
“I knew back then that I really liked golf and I wanted to play all the time. I don’t do mini-putts, but I still want to play all the time.”
He also plays year-round, under the watchful eye of Robichaud. He has one formal training session on the Trackman simulators each week and usually pops into the Moncton Golf and Country Club a couple of other times for other practice sessions.
Carter, who was born in Bathurst, also plays competitive hockey and baseball, but golf remains his passion.
“I like it when I get to beat my dad (Darsey),” he said with a laugh.
“I know that I am young, but I want to be a golf pro someday. That’s my dream.”
Robichaud said Carter should enjoy the experience and not put too much pressure on himself.
“He’s still a kid and we should never forget that,” Robichaud said. “We want him to have fun – no matter how it goes. I’m sure he will do very well, but it has to be fun. That’s the main thing, especially at this age.”
Darsey said Carter has always kept the game in perspective.
“He’s always been a very good player and he’s always had a good time on the golf course,” Darsey said. “That’s where he always wants to be. He could play golf every day if it was possible,”
There were no qualifying events in the Maritimes so Carter’s first foray in the Drive, Putt and Chip competition came last June, when he topped of field of 18 players in Freeport. Me.
From there, he placed second at a competition near Boston before he won the Northeast event at Winged Foot in New York in order to qualify for Augusta.
Drive, Chip and Putt competitions week golfers take nine shots – three drives, three chips from 15 yards and three putts of different lengths. All nine shots count toward a final score.
“It’s going to be exciting and I’m never going to forget the experience,” the nine-year-old said. “I want to be a better player. Right now, I want to keep my mind on getting better. I think this experience will make me a better player.”
Written by Dwayne Tingley
Louis Melanson has been coaching junior golfers in New Brunswick to unprecedented success during the past couple of decades and he believes the best days are yet to come.
Much of his optimism is based on the impact that will be made by the Louis Melanson Golf Academy’s indoor training facility, which holds it grand opening at 211 Mill Rd. in Moncton this Saturday from 1-3 p.m.
“If we look ahead two or three years, we are going to see a lot of junior golfers playing at a very high level,” said Melanson, general manager of the Fox Creek Golf Club and head coach of the New Brunswick junior men’s team.
“These kids are going to benefit from getting year-round instructions and the ability to practice and have gym training all year long,” he added. “These kids love to come to the facility and we’re seeing them make big improvements in their golf game.”
The 7,000 square-foot facility is housed in the former Ecole Champlain and features a driving range designed for six players at a time, a putting green, two Trackman simulators and a well-equipped fitness gym. It is the largest indoor golf training facility in Atlantic Canada.
Melanson, who captured the Atlantic PGA teacher of the year award for the eighth time in 2018, is the head instructor. He is assisted by Marc Bourgeois and Jean-Francois Richard.
“I have a lot of great help and we are all focused on the juniors and others who use the facility,” Melanson said. “We are able to give a lot of one-on-one instruction time.”
The facility is home to high school students from the Sport Etude program at Ecole Odyssee and other athletes from Riverview High and Bernice MacNaughton High School. Melanson is anticipating more schools will participate in the near future.
The high school players train for 12-15 hours a week at the facility. Middle schoolers can take advantage of a four-hour a week program.
“We cover every aspect of the training – from overall fitness to golf techniques,” Melanson said, adding that some students from Bathurst and Miramichi have also come to Moncton to work out at the facility.
The facility is not solely for juniors. It is open for lessons and practice for all players during the evenings and on weekends.
Melanson, a national facilitator for Golf Canada, said the complex has been open for about a year, but the official opening was delayed until it was fully-stocked.
“We want to see as many people as possible at the official opening,” he said. “Come see what we are all about and you will see why we are so excited about the future.”
