SHAW PACT EXTENDED
Classic event a big draw
Rocco Mediate arrived in Calgary in 2013 as one of the star attractions.
But as he surveyed the scene at the inaugural Shaw Charity Classic at Canyon Meadows Golf & Country Club, he started to wonder if the birdie-machines were really the biggest draw.
“I remember teeing off on Friday and thinking, ‘What in the heck are they giving away out here?’ Because it seemed like there were a million people there, and it was so cool to see that,” recalled Mediate, who gave golf-crazed Calgarians plenty of reason to ooh and ah as he sizzled to a seven-shot victory. “All week, all of us were in shock. We were all in shock about how many people showed up. And the last four years, they’ve come out the same way.
“I’m sure they’ll keep coming out in droves. I hope so.”
Shaw Charity Classic organizers teed off their fifth-anniversary celebrations Monday with a significant slice of good news, announcing Shaw Communications has signed a three-year extension as the title sponsor of the PGA Tour Champions showdown. That renewal ensures the senior stars will continue to return to Calgary — and, more specifically, to Canyon Meadows — every summer through at least 2020.
That also means the giveaways will continue, just not the type Mediate was wondering about.
In four years since tournament chairman Clay Riddell and the rest of the patron group brought the three-round birdie-fest to this city, the Shaw Charity Classic has raised north of $13.8 million for youth-based charities across Alberta.
In their first crack at it, they shattered the previous record for the largest charitable donation in the history of the senior tour.
They’ve bettered that mark every year since, doling out $5.2 million and change in 2016.
The big names won’t be back until Aug. 30-Sept. 3, but they’ve already reached seven digits in dollars raised for the fifth instalment, with Shaw Communications also revealing Monday they will donate a total of $1 million to be split evenly between the Alberta Children’s Hospital Foundation and the RESOLVE campaign.
“Over the past four years, the Shaw Charity Classic has had a remarkable impact on children’s charities across southern Alberta, and there is no better way to celebrate this success than to ensure its support for local charities can continue,” said Shaw Communications CEO Brad Shaw.
“We are honoured to continue working with the patron group and our partners at the PGA Tour Champions to bring world-class golf to Calgarians for three more years.”
There seems to be no doubt the world-class golfers will continue to circle the Shaw Charity Classic on their schedules.
“For the players, I think everyone loves Calgary. At least, I do,” said World Golf Hall of Fame inductee Fred Couples, who provided the most memorable moment in Shaw Charity Classic history when he drained a chip-in eagle on No. 18 during the closing round in 2014 and then clinched the title in a playoff.
“The fan support is huge there. For any golfers that makes it that much more special. And I think the Shaw family, with their name … Some tournaments we play in, the sponsors are not from the local area. With the Shaws, that’s a huge deal. Everything they do, they would do even if there wasn’t a senior tour event there. But now that we’re there, the local money stays there.
“I think we all realize that the Shaw family are pretty amazing people.”
Jeff Maggert, who was whitehatted as the tournament winner two years ago, also pointed to the crowd support and top-notch sponsor as key ingredients in what has become a favourite stop on the 50-and-over circuit.
“Calgary just seems to be a good golf town,” Maggert said. “A lot of knowledgeable fans. The sponsor, Shaw, is really behind it and it seems like the local businesses are behind it, as well. A lot of great volunteers.
“When you put all those together, it just leads to a very successful event. And obviously, the money they’ve been able to raise for charity has just been unbelievable.”
Proof that it’s not necessarily par for the course for a PGA Tour Champions tournament to rack up millions and millions in charity dollars, Monday’s announcement party included a keep-up-thegood-work video message from golf great Jack Nicklaus.
“Anytime that I can see events that have raised as much money as you have for charity and have done so much good for the community and has been popular and the guys have liked it, it’s time to say congratulations,” Nicklaus said.
Congratulations are well-deserved, but Shaw Charity Classic officials are already thinking bigger and better.
They’re hoping to mark their fifth anniversary by topping $20 million in total donations.
“Our goal from Day 1 was to bring a family friendly professional sporting event to Calgary and to support the many incredible children’s charities in our community,” Riddell said. “Over the past four years, the Shaw Charity Classic has exceeded our expectations on every level, and we’re grateful to continue working with Shaw through 2020.”