Cubs event hits record-high 101 players
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ONANOLE — The future of the Tamarack golf tournament looks as promising as ever.
On Wednesday, a record 101 golfers aged five to 12 teed off in the Cubs event at Poplar Ridge Golf Course.
“Just to see the smiles on their faces is awesome, and for some of the kids, this is their favourite part of the Tamarack, obviously,” said Tamarack president Jason Curtis.
Bo Calvert, 7, lines up a putt on the seventh green. (Thomas Friesen/The Brandon Sun)
“They watch their parents play, mom or dad, but then they get to have their day. We were thankful the weather turned out OK.”
Curtis estimates about 65-70 per cent of the Cubs players end up in the junior division at some point after turning 13.
The forecast wasn’t promising, nor was the start to Wednesday morning, as heavy rain pounded the course. Thunder and lightning led to delays both at Poplar and at Clear Lake Golf Course for the quarterfinals of the main event.
But clouds gave way to the hottest day of the week and allowed for the little ones to have their fun.
And they certainly did. Grayson Moore, 11, was all smiles on his fourth Cubs day, with just one left before he’ll jump into the junior ranks.
“It’s a lot of fun seeing all my friends again and playing golf,” said Moore, who’s eager to improve his game before the 2027 Tamarack.
“I’m not a strong putter, but my chipping around the green (is good) … I can hit (the driver) pretty good.”
A few of the youngsters might just have better swings than their parents already.
Former NHL player Matt Calvert chuckled his son Bo “Came out swinging like that,” after the seven-year-old hit an impressive approach shot on the uphill sixth hole.
While some miss far more shots than they make, you won’t see more smiles or hear more laughs throughout this eight-day tournament than at the Cubs event.
Even if some of them wish they played better, they come back to the clubhouse for the same lunch and swag bag provided by Brandon Source for Sports, the event’s sponsor.
“They’re just so awesome. They provide us with everything, and they’ve been doing it for years, so we appreciate their support,” Curtis said.
“It’s so important to give them a valuable, good first experience. It’s non-competitive; they keep score if they want … they get a good swag bag, so they’re excited when they finish the round, whether they played great or didn’t.
“They come, get something to eat, they get a swag bag, so it puts a smile on their face, and it’s a positive experience in golf, because golf is hard.
“Having this experience really helps keep them in golf, so that’s important for us.”
» tfriesen@brandonsun.com
» Instagram: @thomasfriesen5