Posted On: Monday, September 9, 2024
Saugeen Golf Club turns 100 years old this year and it has found the perfect way to celebrate the milestone. The picturesque 27-hole facility between Port Elgin and Southampton is playing host to the prestigious Canadian Men's Senior Championship from Sept. 12-15 and tournament organizers are planning a multi-faceted celebration of the game of golf.
With the event including 156 of the best golfers from across Canada, the U.S., Great Britain and Australia, the tournament itself will be a big attraction. But the organizing committee has also planned what they are calling Golf Fest which adds activities that will appeal to the broader community. A huge marquee tent (The Village on the Green) is being erected on the front parking lot, housing interactive games, a golf simulator, sponsor displays, a beer garden, and a silent auction. Outside there will be disc golf and putting, chipping and hole in one contests, plus anyone can follow their favourite golfer around the course.
The field will include at least a few golfers from the BruceGreySimcoe region. While the tent will feature ongoing live entertainment from Thursday through Sunday, the highlight will be on Friday evening (Sept. 13th) when the 18-piece Canadian Big Band takes to the stage. The tournament dates overlap with the Saugeen Shores Big Band weekend and rather than competing with each other for spectators, the organizing committees for each event have collaborated to stage this unique attraction.
Rob Brignell, a member of the Saugeen host organizing committee who brought the two groups together, is excited by the collaboration, stating, “While we will be featuring great local talent throughout the four days of Golf Fest, the fact that we will be hosting The Canadian Big Band on Friday evening is a huge boost for our event.” Charlie Bell of the local Big Band Committee says “It is a truly unique opportunity to be able to host a band of that renown here. The scale of the Golf Fest tent venue makes it possible.” Bell and Brignell, both well acquainted with the music scene, note that the 18 members of the band are among the absolute best professional jazz musicians in the country.
The championship will take place on the Legacy and Sunrise 9-hole layouts, while Sunset will be used for the Golf Fest activities. Anyone can participate in a hole in one contest and, if successful, win a two-year lease on a vehicle provided by Port Elgin Chrysler.
Ken Dunlop, chair of the championship committee, states, “We are fortunate to have twenty seven holes at Saugeen. It provides the unique opportunity to hold this prestigious event on eighteen holes, and to use the other nine for Golf Fest activities.”
Dunlop plans to attract 500 to 1,000 people per day over the four days, noting that Golf Fest will appeal to all ages, golfer or not, and that the local economy, notably hotels and restaurants, will see a welcome off-season surge. Kids 16 and under get free access to Golf Fest when accompanied by an adult. A 4-day pass is $50 for the general public and $30 for members and volunteers. Organizers note that access to the Big Band night would otherwise be $25 alone so the price is a bargain. Golf Fest passes are available in the pro shop or on the club website (saugeengolf.com/seniors).
The event kicks off on Sept. 11 with an opening ceremony featuring dignitaries and local golfing legend Jack Northey hitting the opening tee shot.