Colleagues, approximately 25 years ago, the Seven Spruce Golf Club decided that they should come up with a four-person best ball tournament. After thinking about this idea, the executive asked two members to reach out to various businesses in the community and surrounding areas. One of the businesses they reached out to, was the owner of Kingland. He directed them to speak to the parts manager, and since that meeting the partnership has grown. It started out being called the Seven Spruce Four Person Best Ball Tournament, sponsored by Kingland Ford, then it was changed to the Kingland Ford Four Person Best Ball Tournament, and the name was changed to the Aurora Ford Four Person Best Ball Tournament after Aurora Ford purchased Kingland.
With the passing of Pat Rowe, the executive spoke to the staff at Aurora Ford about changing the name to the Pat Rowe Memorial Tournament. After about ten seconds of the conversation, it was agreed that it would be the new name going forward. Now, with this in place, the executive started organizing the tournament. The first thing they needed to do was change the date for this year. It is normally held in July but because of organizational issues, it was decided to be held on the August long weekend.
As the executive started reaching out to businesses, they saw a huge support from local and regional businesses. They were very successful in getting businesses to sponsor the tournament. Like the merchants' bonspiel, they broke it down into the following categories: platinum, gold, silver and bronze. I have attached a list and will ask them deemed to be as read and printed in the Hansard.
Colleagues, as some of you were aware, Pat was always an active supporter of the golf course. He sponsored and did a lot of work on Hole 7 of the course. He was one of three local business owners that paid for the screen porch addition to the clubhouse.
Pat was well respected. This year's tournament saw 13 teams, including three teams from Hay River and a team made up from Yukon, BC and a business owner from Fort Simpson. The winning team was a Fort Simpson team with a score of 12 under. I have been advised next year's tournament is going to see more teams from out of town. I can't wait for next year, to play with my sons again.
Sponsors of the Pat Rowe Memorial Golf Tournament.
Platinum ($ 2,000.00 plus)
PR Contracting
South Nahanni Airways
Rowe's Construction
Enbridge
Aurora Ford
Tire North
Gold ($ 1,000.00 - $ 2,000.00)
Northern
Simpson Air
Silver ($ 500.00 - $ 1,000.00)
Bradbury Services
Jiffy Lube Yellowknife
Taylor & Company
Rings Drugstore
Bronze (less than $ 500.00)
Goose Flying Services
Fort Simpson Beverages
Fort Simpson Fire department
La Dee Dah.
Members' statements. Returns to oral questions. Recognition of visitors in the gallery. Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes.