There are routines and traditions that we go through at the start of any year, year after year.
Personally, or professionally, I’d suggest humans are creatures of habit, and the announcer in this space is highly predictable.
Among the annual functions early in any new year is to check and verify schedules of events well ahead in the year.
Imagine in 2011, my surprise and disappointment when I checked the Nationwide Golf Tour and saw there was no Canadian event scheduled, meaning the Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic in this area has run its course.
The 3 year agreement between the Gretzky Foundation, the Nationwide Tour and the operators of the Georgian Bay Club and The Raven @ Lora Bay had been quite successful, or at least I thought.
But about a month ago, with precious little consultation, the two elite golf courses in the Thornbury region had to surmise, based on a tiny print report, that the partnership had been dissolved.
Why ?
I’m guessing economics were a factor, certainly as they pertain to the Gretzky Foundation and Ford.
From a playing standpoint, The Raven & the Georgian Bay Club appear to be willing and able to be the host venue, except, as they’ve come to understand, there is no event, at least not in 2011 and probably far beyond
And that is a shame. I hate to see big events vanish from the local sporting landscape, but the decision here is far removed from my hands and apparently beyond the influence of the host courses in our region.
I’m Fred Wallace