Junior golf players had solid seasons

By Dustin Wilson
Now that the competitive golf season has started to wind down here in the district, we can look back and highlight a few key areas that we should recognize and look forward to the future.
Competitive junior golf is on the rise and many local juniors are starting to experience and compete at provincial and national championships.
We as a community need to not only recognize these accomplishments, but also support them through the district knowing they represent our community and are the future of competitive golf in the community.
An area of concern is the growth from a participation standpoint, so hopefully we can come together as a community and hold more junior camps, clinics and introduction to golf programs at all facilities for the long-term growth of the game.
If we can build the bottom of the pyramid, we will have stability for the long-term growth of the game not only from a competitive stream, but a participation standpoint.
This will insure local golf in the community will be strong and all golf courses will have high participation for the future because without the growth of junior golf, we have no future.
I would also like to congratulate all the winners of the district events over the summer as we have seen some real great golf played over the year.
Course records were broken and university students dominated, but in the end a long-time veteran sealed his amateur golf mark in the community. Barry Caland claimed his last major championship to surpass Trevor Jones’ record for the most major wins and calls his retirement in competitive golf (or will we see a Brett Farve-like comeback and will he compete again?).
Regardless, time will only tell, but what a great storyline to end a great summer as we had prime course conditions and Toronto-like weather.
The golf season is still not over, with fall right around the corner, so take advantage while you can to enjoy this wonderful game with some of the most scenic backdrops, sunsets and sunrises that Northwestern Ontario golf has to offer.
Get out and play this fall, rates are low and some of the best golf is still ahead, so don’t pass up this great opportunity to enjoy.

(Dustin Wilson is a Canadian PGA teaching professional at Whitewater Golf Course. This is Dustin’s last column of the season.)