Executive Director s Blog, Jean-Pierre Beaulieu. The Strength of Golf Québec: Its Volunteers

Transcription

1 Executive Director s Blog, Jean-Pierre Beaulieu The Strength of Golf Québec: Its Volunteers The main provincial championships are now completed and we were privileged to witness great performances. Although the golf season is far from coming to an end, we can already say that Golf Québec successfully accomplished its mission. It is, indeed, quite a mission. We have to admit that it is a major achievement for a sport federation to present so many activities aiming to developing and promoting participation in a sport. 42 tournaments representing 81 days of competition, over 50 schools and golf clubs visitations, women s golf clinics, approximately thirty events in the new Introduction to Competition Tour (ICT), benefittournaments, and much more. This is what we do! than 240 active volunteers contributing to our events and programs. Their heart and passion as well as the numerous hours that they dedicate to this sport that they love enable Golf Québec to successfully deliver its mandate. As a matter of fact, at the last Sports Our secret? The driving force of our success? The strength and dynamism of our volunteers. There are more

2 Québec Gala, Golf Québec was one of the nominees for the Sport Federation of the Year Award. Complementing our activities, golf clubs are also organizing events to promote interest in the game of golf, provide recreational activities to their players, and contribute to developing golfing skills. These clubs also rely on many dedicated volunteers, and Golf Québec honours them in its weekly newsletter, e-golf Québec, to celebrate their great work and achievements. Everywhere, in the province, the driving force of golf is an army of volunteers. If you share their passion, do not hesitate to contact us and find out how you could also help us deliver our mandate.

3 News and Upcoming Events A new Golf Québec contest is open to all. Subscribe to Golf Québec s newsletter for a chance to win our grand prize: a visit to the prestigious Cabot Links golf club. This majestic sea-side course located in Cap Breton is inspired by Scotland s most renowned establishments. Our Provincial Champions Hugo Bernard and Anne-Catherine Tanguay were crowned amongst provincial amateurs. For Tanguay, it is a third consecutive title. In the junior championships, Etienne Papineau and Valérie Tanguay captured the titles at the Club de golf des Bois Francs. By doing so, Valérie successfully defended her title acquired in Complete results: index.htm

4 Anne-Catherine Tanguay Our Provincial Amateur Champion ranked 2nd at the Canadian Amateur Women s Championship held at the Club de golf Beloeil from July 23 to 26. Brooke Henderson was simply too good to be defeated in the final round where she made 4 birdies in the first ten holes of the course. Interview with Anne-Catherine Tanguay: Results of the Canadian Junior Championships 21 boys and 11 girls recently took place in the Canadian Junior Championships held in Ontario. The boys Team Québec was composed of Hugo Bernard, Étienne Papineau, and Raphaël Lapierre-Messier. They completed the inter-provincial competition in 3rd place at the Timberwolf Golf Club, in Sudbury. In the individual event, Étienne Papineau was our best representative. He tied for 2nd in the juvenile division and tied for 8th in the junior category. At the same time, girls were at the Cherry Downs Golf and Country Club in Pickering for the Royale Cup Canadian Junior Girls Championship. Team Québec, composed of Valérie Tanguay, Annie Lacombe, and Catherine Rousseau, ranked 2nd, 14 strokes behind Team Alberta. In the individual competition, we were well represented by Annie Lacombe who ranked 13rd in the juvenile division while Valérie Tanguay tied for 18th amongst juniors.

5 Enter Your Games! Contest Congratulations to Mr. Richard Cossette, member of the Larrimac Golf Club located in the Ottawa Valley, who is the winner of our exclusive "Enter Your Games!" contest. By using the Golf Canada Score Center and accepting the terms and conditions of the system, Mr. Cossette automatically became eligible for our draw. He will soon have the opportunity to visit beautiful Tucson, Arizona, and enjoy a fabulous golf trip for two (approximate value of CAN$5,000). University Tour Another competitive season is about to start, in September, for college and university athletes and teams. Many events will feature our best Québec golfers. dex.htm Relive the Winning Moments of 2013 You can see our photo albums on Facebook and watch our reports and interviews on our YouTube channel.

6 Where Are They Now? Keven Fortin-Simard Guest editorial written by Raphaël Guillemette Much has changed since Keven Fortin-Simard reached the PGA Tour, the most glamorous tour on the planet. Appointed as General Manager and Head Professional at the Club de golf Lac-Saint-Jean this past February, the 27 years old experienced a major career change. Let s face it. This was a really drastic change, declared Keven Fortin- Simard when he was interviewed by Revue Golf AGP. Making the transition from playing on the main American golf tours to managing a golf club is not a small issue. Nonetheless, this is the new daily workload accomplished by the former Québec rising star. I have little to no experience in office work, but I feel close to my members and club. As this is what I do best, I spend most of my time outdoors, on the course, adds Fortin-Simard as he greets golfers who are passing by. His golfing career could have been completely different. If Keven had made fewer strokes at the last tournament of the season, he might have joined the best golfers of the world on the course. Yet, Keven has no regrets. As I reflect on my experience on the Nationwide Tour, what bugs me the most is not knowing what could have happened. A combination of factors brought me where I am today. I m

7 very happy with it and would probably not want to change a thing, explains the young man who holds a Business Administration degree from Université du Québec à Chicoutimi. As for his professional career, Keven Fortin-Simard doesn t deny that he plans on getting back on the Québec and American courses. I did not give up on playing golf, but this is a secondary goal at the moment. I am familiar with American mini-tours, and would not say know to joining one. However, at the moment, I would say that I just don t feel the passion any longer, explained KFS.

8 Rising Stars Guest editorial written by Raphaël Guillemette with South Florida University where he will benefit, next year, from one of the best golf program in North America and an outstanding academic environment. They offer excellent training facilities and this is exactly what I was looking for. Their superior academic reputation was also very important to me, explains Hugo. Hugo Bernard The next golf season should be very interesting for the 18 years old golfer, Hugo Bernard. His goals are very high, but achievable. Interview with Hugo Bernard, provincial amateur champion =EOP86rMtB_s&list=TLOqxkP1foM yg I appreciated my experience on the Canadian development squad, but next year I really would like to be on Team Canada. Bernard also hopes to qualify for the U.S. Amateur and get an exemption for the Canadian Open aside from performing well at the Canadian Amateur Championship. This member of La Vallée du Richelieu can rest easy concerning his long-term development. He recently confirmed an agreement

9 At 22 years old, her future is fairly well outlined. I should become a professional in the fall for Q School. This will be very interesting after spending the last four years on the American University Tour. I really feel ready for this new challenge! mentions the soon to be graduated accounting and management student. Anne-Catherine Tanguay Interview with Anne-Catherine Tanguay, provincial amateur champion =3sWleL1mln8&list=TLuw1ZqhEOn vs Anne-Catherine Tanguay doesn t need to be introduced anymore. With two provincial titles and a second place at the 2013 Canada Amateur Women Championship, she has only one year left with the University of Oklahoma Sooners before taking a stab at the highest women s tour. I just can t wait! I have very high goals: win the division title and play in the national championships, mentioned the recent Memphrémagog Cup winner who also hopes to rank in the top ten of her tournaments and become All-American. Étienne Papineau The 2013 golf season is not finished yet, but Étienne Papineau is already looking forward to the next one, and with good reasons. It should be a turning point for the

10 16 years old golfer who could be appointed to the national development squad; his main goal after such a spectacular summer. With his victories at the Provincial Junior Championship and CN Future Links Québec Championship, combined to his excellent performance at the Canadian Junior Championship, the Royal Bromont golfer really has maximized all his chances to succeed. He also has other specific goals. In terms of competitions, I hope to win next year s Canadian Junior Championship, qualify for the U.S. Junior and, of course, successfully defend my provincial junior title, here, in Québec, he adds. Interview with Étienne Papineau, provincial junior and juvenile champion =YibzcTdb-q4&list=TLeR_JM5Stnb4 Valérie Tanguay A member of the national development squad and provincial junior champion for the second consecutive year, Valérie Tanguay is aware that others expect a lot from her. This year, I was somewhat disappointed with my own performances. I kept on improving myself, but I would have hoped for better results, she explains. Personally, Valérie is looking forward to remain on the development squad. This can only be beneficial for me. We learn how to compete and practice with the best in Canada, mentions this athlete who is looking forward to be in the squad s Top 3 next year.

11 amateur ranking and eventually get a place on Team Canada, she added. The St-Hyacinthe golfer has only one junior year left. As a result, she will be playing in a larger number of amateur events next year. I want to improve my Interview with Valérie Tanguay, provincial junior champion =U5BugUFU4Zw&list=TLUlaw02hjD zq

12 Development Towards Excellence An Evolving Tour Barely ten years ago, the best Québec golfers who wanted to go to university while continuing their golf development and eventually get their chance to shine on one of the main tours had to attend an American establishment. Nowadays, they have another attractive option: they can go to school and pursue their sport development here, in Québec! Rémi Bouchard, Eric Couture, Marc-André Roy, Lisa Meldrum, Véronique Drouin, all excellent and successful golfers, studied in the United States and were members of an American University golf team. Back then, it was the way to do it, and many great golfers are still following this path. However, there is another option for our young golfers. Golf programs that are offered in Québec colleges and universities have literally boomed in the past 3 to 5 years. They are the natural continuation of the Golf-Études programs featured in our high schools. As a result, instead of going South of the border and spending big bucks, our young hopefuls can now pursue their studies and training in their own backyard. Coaches supervising these local programs have been trained by the PGA of Canada and are very qualified. We have comprehensive programs covering all important aspects of athletic development such as technical skills, strategic approach, mental preparation, nutrition, and physical training. In the past few years, very good golfers have been benefiting from the Québec University Tour and our teams are very successful on the Canadian scene.

13 For instance, this past month of May, the women s team of the Université de Montréal Carabins wrote a new page of history at the Club de golf Val-des-Lacs were they won their first national team title at the Canadian Collegiate and University Championship presented by Golf Canada. year in Val-des-Lacs. As well, the men s team of the Université Laval Rouge et Or held the national title for two years before finishing 2nd this In the individual competition, Sabrina Sapone of the Carabins and Ugo Coussaud of the Rouge et Or were crowned in this year s championship. Mathieu Perron has also been playing on the University Tour for a few years. Proof of his successful progression, Mathieu captured the victory at the recent edition of the Duke of Kent with a record score of -10 after playing 7 strokes under par in the last six holes of the competition. Charles Côté and Sonny Michaud, past members of the Rouge et or, also won prestigious titles on the provincial scene. Valérie Tanguay, a member of the Team Canada Development Squad, is currently representing Champlain St-Lawrence College. A Tradition Since 1971 In the fall, the Québec University Golf Tour will be starting its 42nd season. Golf Québec is an active partner of the RSEQ in the management of this Tour.

14 Created in 1971, this Tour is aiming to providing students-athletes with opportunities to play in high level competitions while pursuing their university studies. The best athletes of the Provincial Championship can participate in the Canadian Collegiate and University Championship sanctioned by Golf Canada. Then, performances registered at the Canadian Championship lead some of the top players to the World Championships presented by the International University Sports Federation (FISU).

15 Fundraiser Campaigns Junior Development at the Heart of Our Priorities Our future is here, now. We cannot deny it. It is not always obvious on the course, for various reasons, but our young hopefuls are there and thriving. The number of elementary and high schools that are offering the Golf in Schools program is constantly increasing. Golf clubs offering kidfriendly activities are also getting more numerous. In 2013, the new Introduction to Competition Tour (ICT) was successfully implemented in every region and Golf Québec never had to refuse as many entries in its provincial competitions as it did this year. These observations are proofs that the actions undertaken by Golf Québec and its industry partners are bearing fruit and the golf industry is on the right track. Yet, we cannot just sit back and must continue the work which has been started. This is the main reason why Golf Québec needs your financial support. We need your help to keep on inciting more youth to play golf. You could contribute as follows: Adopt a School Since the month of May 2009, many individuals and companies have supported our program by adopting a

16 school of their neighbourhood. Could this be your turn? With a $500 donation made to Golf Québec, you could provide your old school or the one attended by your children with a complete golf teaching kit, adapted to school requirements and needs, as well as the teaching material that comes with it. Adopt a School: Birdies for Charity Birdies for Charity is a fundraiser based on the number of birdies that the Champions Tour players will be able to make at the 2013 Montréal Championship to be held from September 2 to 8 at La Vallée du Richelieu. Commit to making a donation for every birdies made by the Champions Tour players during the three rounds of this tournament. Birdies for Charity: Le Mirage Will Be Host to the Benefit Golf Tournament Finally, our tradition will continue on October 3, 2013, when the prestigious Golf Le Mirage will be host to the 7th edition of Golf Québec s Benefit Golf Tournament. Join us and contribute to this fundraiser. Benefit golf tournament: Visit to get more information on these donation opportunities.