Richard Gaudreau Fall Golf Classic 2025

Richard Gaudreau, pictured to the left, was a long time friend, skier, Whistler Mountain volunteer, and a PSC Member who was on our executive for many years, passing away on August 20th, 2022, while still on our executive as Treasurer.

Yet, when the sun came out, his love golf resurfaced as it was his favourite non-winter sport, a game he played all over Greater Vancouver and up the Sunshine Coast.  He was also lucky enough to have a house with his wife, Allyson, in Palm City, Florida where many PSC members, past and present, flew or drove down to play golf, his Florida house being on the 4th hole of the Piper’s Landing course.  That 18 hole course was part and parcel of the Piper’s Landing Yacht and Country Club in Palm City.

His love for golf was so great that, after one of his heart attacks, he checked himself out of the hospital on the day of the tournament and showed up in a golf cart with Allison on the seat beside him.  He did not actually play that day (doctor’s orders were not to lift his arm above his shoulder), but he wanted to a part of that spirit on the golf course.  After his passing, that spirit followed him.  To honour Richard Gaudreau and recall how he played –he would line up a drive, 5 or 6 times to ensure it was correct, then he would hit his famous Tee Shot, one that mostly did go straight, but it did not go all that far.  He would always follow that up by saying, “In my younger days, I could hit it 200 yards or more,” and that broad smile would cross his face.  If you hit a bad shot, Richard was always most helpful in telling you how to do it correctly next time –the Pacific Ski Club changed the name of our Fall Golf Classic, an event that has been going on for many, many years.

 

In the past, we held in at the Arnold Palmer Golf Course in Whistler, at both of the golf courses in Pemberton, and a few others.  Finally, we moved into the Vancouver area, beginning at the 9 hole Mylora course in Richmond.  When the golf pro who had been so helpful over a few years at Mylora moved to the Delta Golf Course, our ski club moved with him.  We have been there for the past 5 or 6 years.

 

What a great day for golfing Wednesday, September 10th turned out to be.  Yet, actually getting to the golf course proved to be quite a challenge if you came via the Alex Fraser Bridge that morning.  A mid-span accident and resulting car fire closed both fast lanes in each direction and we ended up moving the tee off time back by 30 minutes.  It also made a few changes to our foursomes as golfers arrived a different times and we sent them out once a set of four golfers had arrived.

As with the PSC tournaments, it is a fun event, and we do sell Mulligans and permit Best Ball Play for teams with weaker players.

The Delta Course is not only well drained and well maintained, but it looks like a few of the 130 to 160 yard holes may be expanding to become a much longer hole.  I saw a lot of ground work in progress as we made our way around the golf course.  We  will have to see what they offer next season.

Shannon was able to sink long putts as well as put them into the hole went not even on the green!  She beat her husband by a few stokes to score an 87.

Ken Roed and Rocke Watela tied for the low score, hitting the wee ball only 85 times for the 18 holes.  Greg Palm had the most fun scoring over 110 stokes.  I played my best game, scoring under 90 with an 88, or one stroke behind Shannon. 

Donald MacIver played his first golf game and his first tournament having provided him with an extra set of clubs which I still had lying around.  I also lent him my #1 Wilson Driver and used 1930’s Ram woods (real wood-no metal).  I only have a #3 and a #5 wood in these beauties, but they reached 160 to 200 yards with no slice or hook on all the drives on which I used them.  Bruce said he had never seen me hit the ball straight ever time in all the years he has played golf with me.  I must say, it was the experienced golf club and not the player as I have only played one game this year, that being the Spring PSC Tournament.

Bruce Chadwick, without a doubt, had the best over-all shot.  135 yards from the 18th green, his approach shot sliced off to the right and, instead of plunging into the lake with the fountain, managed to hit a rock on the far edge of that water hazard, sending it off to the club house where it hit the underside of the eve of the roof and careened straight down to land right in front of the Pro-Shop door.  The noise had the lady open the door where she saw Bruce’s ball.  I yelled for her not to move it as Bruce would have to shoot it from where it landed.

Bruce Chadwick and Walter ran the BBQ which lacked some of the condiments as Trevor, my helper, left them all on the kitchen counter and I never saw them until we had eaten.  

A Greek Salad, a Mac and Cheese with everything but mayonnaise in it, and a home made potato salad were complimented with lots of cheese, cold cuts, and vegetable plates.  Of course, there were  chips, dips, peanuts, and other snacks. We offered excellent red and white wines from Sven’s Winery which were served and several unopened bottles were offered as prizes.  The wine must have tasted to everyone’s liking as nine empty bottles were counted next morning while on clean up.

Rocke and Sven took out the guitars and played three or four songs to entertain the guests sounding not all that bad, having played a few times together either at the Beach or at Tracey’s garden party earlier in the year.

Bruce Chadwick again ran the awards ceremony and provided many of the prizes including shirts, golf equipment and other items.  As a PSC Sponsor, I provided a few other prizes.

All-in-all, we did have a great time golfing along with a wonderful afternoon and evening at the Richard Gaudreau Fall Golf Classic Garden BBQ Party.

If you are a past member, and you want to play, send us an e-mail and we can put you onto a golfing list so you can join us next year.  Members should plan to golf with the PSC next year as well.

 

One more Driving Range Night in September, on the 25th.