The 100th anniversary of the Royal Canadian Air Force in 2024 was a great reason to hit the links (isn’t any reason a good one?!) June 7, as 85 golfers descended on the Osprey Ridge Golf Course in Bridgewater to celebrate the RCAF centennial – and raise money for the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre. The lucky winner of the tournament was a team from 14 Wing Greenwood’s 14 Air Maintenance Squadron, with over $7,000 presented to the GMFRC.
14 Construction Engineering Squadron Honorary Colonel Dan Hennessey organized the tournament, working for months to fill the field, line up a partnering sponsor at every hole, bring in special guests, ensure enough of the RCAF100 specialty beer was on hand, and that there were prizes, contests and lots of opportunity for fun from Hole #1 to Hole #19. A team of volunteers – including his family – helped with all the day’s details.
June 7 dawned with a traditional South Shore morning fog. Golfers wearing toques and colourful, striped knee socks were already early winners! Local MLAs Thanks to Becky Druhan and Susan Corkum-Greek provided opening remarks and a South Shore welcome, and the GMFRC team of staff and volunteers took to their course stations. A CC130 Hercules from 14 Wing Greenwood’s 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron flew at 1,000 feet over the course to put a unique twist on the standard shotgun start.
Once in play, golfers had the opportunity to try for a hole-in-one at a marked hole, take advantage of beverage and snack cart frequent “flybys,” and meet many of the hole sponsors at display tents and activity stations.
Broadcasting legend Steve Armitage was on hand as a VIP putter, offering his services to teams as they came up to his green. Armitage alone raised more than $250, and participants enjoyed meeting this legend.
The tournament was a huge success: between golfer registration, sponsorship and on-course fundraising, the event was able to present the Greenwood Military Family Resource Centre a cheque for over $7,200.
