The Grey Bruce Junior Golf Tour more or less wrapped up Monday at Saugeen Golf Club in Port Elgin.
I say ” more or less “, simply because the top 4 players; 2009 Champion Jerry Reid of Owen Sound, Charles Hughes out of Ainsdale Golf Club plus Sam McEvenue & Trent MacDonnell both from Stone Tree Golf & Fitness Club will be playing a round next week at the Georgian Bay Club as guests of former Grey Bruce champion Tim van Dolder.
There was a time when the top players from Grey Bruce would go off to a year end Provincial Challenge which pitted the various tours in a head to head competition.
However in an irony, the more the organizers tried to upgrade the Provincial Challenge, the more they got away from the core values of having fun at a reasonable cost and as a result, Grey Bruce, among others opted out.
But back to the local tour, it continues to provide many benefits for young golfers.
They meet new friends, they learn the game, they learn the etiquette, they have a competitive experience at many great courses in the region and by the end of the season, generally, the growth in skills and behaviour is remarkable.
Furthermore, 9 players this year will split more than $ 7,000 in scholarship prizes.
And while it’s over for 2009, one easily envisions planning for 2010.
I’m Fred Wallace