Hole-in-one was the start of a unique journey
When Gary Mason scored his first hole-in-one at High River’s Highwood Golf and Country Club last year, his first thought wasn’t about joining a professional tour.
But because of that hole-in-one the 69-year-old was able to compete against 60 other golfers for a spot in the 2015 Pro-Am at the Shaw Charity Classic.
And he didn’t just compete — he won.
The retiree from Calgary’s residential real estate industry started golfing 13 years ago after a heart attack and muscle spasms ended years of running.
“My doctor advised me to take up golf,” he says.
Today, the 12-handicapper can be found at his home course of D’Arcy Ranch in Okotoks. But it was at Highwood, on the par 3, 179-yard first hole, that Mason sunk his ace last year.
When registering his achievement with the head pro, he was told about the Shaw Charity Classic competition and its prize of a spot in the Pro-Am for the winner and three friends who would be able to golf with one of the Champions Tour professionals. An opportunity valued at $20,000.
He registered for the two-stage closest-to-the-pin event and advanced to the last phase against nine other finalists including, according to Mason, “the guy who gave me my first golf lesson.”
Mason came out on top with a shot that ended up less than 14 feet (4.2 metres) from the hole.
Mason’s Pro-Am team was able to golf with Champions Tour pro Scott McCarron. Unfortunately, they were only able to complete six holes at the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club because of rain, but he still considers the process a “great experience.”
Anyone who makes a hole-in-one would be “crazy not to” compete for the Pro-Am prize, not only to play golf, but also to meet the legends of golf. “It’s a once-in-alifetime thing. How many of us can scrape up $5,000 each or $20,000 for a team to play?”
This year, the contest is once again open to any Canadian resident who makes a hole-in-one at a Golf Canada member club between March 1 and Aug. 10. The hole-inone must be scored on a hole 85 yards or longer during a nine- or 18-hole round of golf. The qualification event at Calgary’s Golf Canada Centre will be held on Aug 13.
For more information and to register for the contest, go to: shawcharityclassic.com/ hole-inone-contest.php.