Hands dyed the colour of their gloves; soft, white, wrinkly toes inside their shoes and socks: it was a WET three days June 26 to 28 on the greens for 14 Wing Greenwood golfers.
Twenty-seven golfers – 21 men and six women – were in the field for the play-down event at Paragon Golf & Country Club in Kingston, with the top-three men and women named to the wing’s team for the Canadian Armed Forces Atlantic region tournament.
Wing Commander Colonel Jeff Davis and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Jonathan Proulx gathered the athletes at Hole 1 just before the first round’s tee-off.
“We see here today how adversity and resilience in sport relates to our operational work,” Davis said, as someone leant him the cover of a large black-and-white umbrella. “The Chief and I have a big spot in our hearts for sports. Good luck to everyone – play well and play hard.
“To the individuals who will form our team, it will be about teamwork at regionals, so represent 14 Wing well.”
Major Wayne O’Donnell, manager of the national CISM golf team and a member of 14 Wing’s 14 Operations Support Squadron, opened the tournament with a rules briefing and playdown guidance.
“I’ve been in your seat many, many times, and I’m here to help you,” he said. “The course is in fantastic condition, we’ll ask you to police yourselves and we do have spotters out there to help you. Play well out there and have fun.
14 Wing’s Personnel Support Program fitness staff facilitated the event, from registration to day-to-day logistics and tabulating the results. Following the three days’ play, making up the 14 Wing men’s team will be Master Corporal Todd McAvoy, 405 (Long Range Patrol) Squadron; Corporal Mitchell Conrod, 14 Air Maintenance Squadron; Corporal Pierre Boulianne, 14 Fire Emergency Services; Major Dan MacGregor – D Air Plans, COS; Warrant Officer Greg McNeil, 404 (Long Range Patrol and Training) Squadron; and Master Warrant Officer Andrew Amos, 14 AMS. Men’s team alternates will be Captain Paul Bailey and Captain Marc Roach. The women’s team will include Corporal Joanne Gauthier – 14 MSS (cannot attend regionals; hopefully nationals); Corporal Jodi Payne, 14 Fire Emergency Services; Master Corporal Natasha Philippe. 405 Squadron; and Corporal Carrie Laycock, 405 Squadron.
Atlantic regionals will be hosted by 12 Wing Shearwater at Hartlen Point Golf Club in Eastern Passage in a few weeks. The Atlantic winning team will then travel to the Canadian Armed Forces national event at CFB Borden.
