Dooley Memorial Tournament Raises North of $11,000 for Turf Management Scholarships and Turf Research

Patrick Dooley was a promising young golfer preparing to graduate from high school.  He was excited about a career in the golf industry and planned to enroll in the KPU Turf Management Diploma program fall 2008 intake when he died of a sudden illness.

Shortly after, his family began the Patrick Dooley Memorial Scholarship Fund to support worthy KPU Turf Management students.  On April 29, 2022, the 5th Patrick Dooley Memorial Golf Tournament resumed to raise funds for this scholarship and celebrate Patrick’s memory.

The 5th Annual Patrick Dooley Memorial Golf Tournament at Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club gets underway.

The scramble shotgun began at 1:00pm with sunny, warm skies (the only nice day this Spring!) over a perfectly groomed Hazelmere GC.  Thank you Jamie Muter and crew!  A record field of 152 golfers enjoyed an array of games and activities over the course of the day including KP's, Long Drives, Straight Drive, Spot Drive, Marshmallow Drive, Putting and Chipping contests, all of which tested our golfing skills.  On the cerebral side, we also guessed the number of tees in a jar and how many total golf balls would be lost throughout the day.

Tab Buckner and the Terralink ring toss - you gotta play for the wind man!

Team Reid here for a good time not a long time at the Premier Pacific Seed 'Seed Pong Challenge' (that table had no bounce at all!)

Take a ride on the e-side Ron Marchuk, equipment provided by Celtic Distributors

30 tee sponsors supported the event with 9 of them having fun activities right on the tees.  Celtic Distributors had their new line of battery powered equipment on hand for golfers to demo.  Brett Young, Premier Pacific Seeds and Terralink all entertained players with fun games while West Coast Bio-Green set up a clever "Green Jacket" photo booth for memorable pics. 

On top of that, WCTA sponsored a $10,000 Hole-In-One Contest, Eco- Health hosted a booth with their turf health products and Westerra/Vermeer BC and Avenue Equipment had some big toys on display.  Special thanks to all those who went out of their way to really liven up the day! 

That's Rob Yates at the Long Putt contest otherwise know as '40 Yards to the flagstick by Willie Make-It and Betty Won't'

Buckner again at the BrettYoung Chip & Putt action station. Aren't you ever at work?

A big thanks goes out to other Tee Sponsors as well: West Coast Golf Group, FarmTek, TDS West, Nutrien Solutions, Target Specialty Products, Keso Turf, Western Turf Farms, WCTA, BCGSA, BCGA, Sports Turf Canada, Carlsen Studios, Overton Environmental, Rainbird International, Oakcreek Golf & Turf, Westplay, Taylors Turf Care, Inside Golf, Terminal City Iron Works, Dobney Foundry, Macmillan Goode Beer and The Pat Dooley Family.

Attendees were a 60/40 split of turf industry and Dooley family and all enjoyed a terrific Hazelmere buffet dinner followed by emotional words from Steve & Preet Dooley.  After some great prizes were handed out, West Coast Golf Group made a generous donation of $10,000 to the Pat Dooley Memorial Endowment Fund. 

 

From left to right, Doug Chadwick, Steve Dooley, Daniel Lee, Preet Dooley

The 2022 Patrick Dooley Award winners were announced at the end of the evening with the following  KPU Turf Diploma students honoured for their achievements:
Daniel Lee of Point Grey GC
Doug Chadwick of New West Parks
Mat Bursey of Nanaimo
Theodore Fong of Carnoustie GC
Josh Carlsen of Langley Township Parks.

"Thank you for selecting me as one of the recipients of the Pat Dooley Memorial Fund Award.  I am so honoured and grateful for the generous support, which helps so much in easing the financial burden of going back to school as a mature student.  This award will help me continue my education and support me in my goal of becoming a golf course superintendent in the future.  I’m currently working at Carnoustie Golf Club and am entering my second year there.  I’m very thankful to be working there for a Superintendent who is able to teach me and give me the guidance I need to become a Superintendent and I have enjoyed my time there because of that.  I look forward to continuing my studies part-time in the fall semester and continuing my employment at Carnoustie for many years to come.  Thank you for your continued support of myself and other KPU students."

Sincerely, 

Theodore Fong

Special thanks to these BC Golf Supes for generously donating golf foursomes as prizes: Point Grey, Beach Grove, Richmond, Pitt Meadows, Shuswap Lake, Northview, Westwood Plateau, Fairview Mountain, Mayfair Lakes, Kings Links, Northlands, Riverway, Fraserview, Kamloops, Shannon Lake, Delta, Surrey, Guildford, Carnoustie, Chilliwack, Surrey, Poppy Estates, Mission, Sandpiper, Ledgeview, Delta, Greenacres and Hampton Cove. 

See you next time!

Stan Kazymerchyk
KPU Turf Management Instructor

Butler Cabin pics provided by West Coast Bio-Green.