Golfers at four area courses will be giving back starting today, as part of a unique Canadian Armed Forces fundraiser with a golf twist.
Honourary Colonel Tom Hedican came up with the idea from an initiative in the U.S. called “Patriot Golf”. The creator of Coach4food contacted the organizers of that initiative and in 2013, the 'Soldier On' golfing fundraiser for military families got its birth.
This year, a total of four area golf courses will be giving one dollar of green fees towards the military based charity, including North Bay Golf and Country Club, Osprey Links, Pinewood and Highview in Powassan which jumped on board this year.
Hedican says all 60 Honourary Colonels received letters to engage in the program with the hopes that each Colonel can get one golf course to join the program which traditionally takes place on Labour Day Monday.
“All the pros at Osprey, Pinewood, North Bay and Osprey are very excited, they are very engaged in it, and we have added Highview this year too so we are hoping each course can raise a minimum of $1,000 and then we will go from there,” said Hedican, at the media conference which took place this morning at the North Bay Golf and Country Club.
Since the program's inception, close to $50,000 has been raised for the cause and Hedican believes a lot of that comes right here in North Bay.
“It has been a slow climb but it’s really starting to pick up because people are aware of it same as Coach4Food, my first year it was 1,000 pounds and then we went to 100,000 every year,” said Hedican comparing the event to Coach4Food.
Officials with the program say the program supports serving members and veterans who acquired a permanent or mental health illness or injury while enrolled in the Canadian Armed Forces, regardless if it is attributable or not to service.
