Hall of Fame golf tourney moving to PGCC
Golfers in Jack’s Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame Golf Tournament will be swinging at 18 new holes for 2018.
The 32nd annual tournament is moving to Peterborough Golf and Country Club, a switch from Pine Crest Golf Club.
That’ll allow the event to happen in one place, instead of golfing in Keene and then driving into Peterborough for dinner and prizes.
“It’s the convenience factor above all,” said tournament chairman Doug Gibson at a press conference Tuesday night at the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame.
Local Olympic athletes Mike Swift and Bryan Young, cousins who played hockey for South Korea, were at the press conference to show support for the Hall.
Swift, 31, donated his Olympic jersey to the tournament for auction.
He left Peterborough at 15 to start his hockey career with the Mississauga IceDogs. Swift’s been playing in South Korea for the last seven years, but still comes home to Peterborough every summer.
He donated his South Korea club jersey to the Hall two years ago and was happy to do it again to support the organization.
Playing in the Olympics was a “dream come true” for Swift and he’d like to use it to his advantage to show younger players there are more ways to succeed in hockey than just the NHL.
“I signed an NHL contract but never played, but yet played in the Olympics,” Swift said.
Swift was given two jerseys for the Olympic games. He framed one for his grandmother in honour of his grandfather who died in the summer. His grampa wanted to go to Pyeongchang to watch Swift play.
Had he only gotten one, it may have been a different story.
“Then it would be a little bit different, but at least I have one at home for my keepsake,” he said.
Swift and Young’s support for the Hall and the tournament makes the event more special, the tournament chairman said.
“With Michael and Bryan both being local guys playing in the Olympics and for them to think enough of the hall to donate one of their sweaters – it’s fantastic,” Gibson said.
Another change to the tournament this year is a new day. It’s moved from a Wednesday to a Thursday this year, but is still taking place May 24.
The annual event is a fundraiser for the Hall and its bursaries. Each year, the Hall awards four $1,500 bursaries to local graduating high school student-athletes.
“We take a lot of pride in doing that,” Gibson said.
The remaining funds are used to cover the operating costs of the volunteer-run organization.
The tournament entry fee is $175 and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner. Golfers can choose to play a scramble (best ball) format or traditional play your ball.
The tournament is limited to 220 players. Players who pay by May 18 are eligible for an earlybird draw to win back their registration fee.
Prizes will be awarded for hole in one, longest drive/closest to the pin, putting, tic tac dough and Jack’s Hidden Treasure.
To register, call the Hall at 705-743-6897.