Cochranites are invited to ‘Putt’ their golfing skills to the test ‘fore’ a good cause on Oct. 1, through a unique approach at the Rotary Club of Cochrane’s 15th annual Monumental Tournament of Aces.
The tournament will be held at the Links of Gleneagles and conducted alongside Cochrane Search and Rescue, in conjunction with the Lindsay Leigh Kimmett Memorial Foundation.
The event honours the life of Kimmett, who tragically died in 2008 as a passenger in a motor vehicle collision. The organizations will work together to raise funds to support Big Hill Haven, Cochrane Indigenous Centre, Helping Hands Society, Frank Wills Memorial Hall and Cultivate Cochrane. The tournament has raised almost $1.2 million combined in the last 14 years.
For $150, participants can expect a shotgun start, carnival-style competition that is unlike any traditional golf competition. After a day on the links, hungry golfers can enjoy a banquet dinner to wrap up the tournament.
It consists of nine holes of short Par 3 with three pins on each hole. Players will take three tee shots for a hole-in-one or see who gets closest to one of the pins. There’s no chipping allowed, only one putt, and no counting strokes. A team play option of up to 10 players is also available.
Each hole will have a unique challenge that will require participants to substitute golf clubs for a variety of unusual objects or hit targets, score in hockey nets, land shots on floating greens, hit gongs, and even pummel mannequins donning jerseys of NHL and CFL teams.
Aces who hit their marks are rewarded with points for prizes. One prize in particular at the third hole will award any participant lucky enough to sink a hole-in-one from 150-160 yards with $10,000 towards purchasing a vehicle at Cochrane Toyota.
Rotarian and chairman for the tournament, Glen Gryzko, said the Tournament of Aces is a fun golf event and has become a popular staple for Cochrane.
“We have been well supported by all the businesses locally and sponsors have been amazing,” Gryzko said.
He anticipates participants will enjoy an afternoon of wonderful weather and entertainment, and remarked on the incredible support of new and post-pandemic sponsors that continue to show their unwavering support to the cause.
“We are thrilled with Cochrane and area’s support in this and we are hoping to continue this for several more years,” Gryzko said, adding this year, long-term and “Monumental” level sponsors will also be awarded plaques recognizing their support and indicating their participation.
With a limited amount of tickets left for the event, Gryzko invites anyone to who is interested in participating in this event for a good cause and to purchase tickets online at rotarycochrane.ca.
