Memorial pro-am back for year four

One of the longtime "faces of golf" at Mountainside Golf Course will be honoured once again, as the course's annual pro-am tournament returns for its fourth year.

One of the longtime “faces of golf” at Mountainside Golf Course will be honoured once again, as the course’s annual pro-am tournament returns for its fourth year.

The Lorne Rowe Memorial Charity Pro-Am runs August 22 at the Fairmont course and spaces for teams and sponsors are still available.

Rowe spent 22 years as head professional at Mountainside, explains golf shop manager and tournament organizer Jeremy Johnson.

“He was around this valley for quite a few years, and was the face of golf, as we say.”

Rowe, who developed Type A Diabetes late in life, passed away in December of 2007. The first memorial pro-am, which raises funds for the Canadian Diabetes Association, was held August 2008.

“It’s a pro-am, so there’s one pro and four amateurs for each team, and there’s three best net scores out of five,” Johnson says.

“Most of the pros come from the valley around here, from the various local courses. There’s a few teams from Calgary, and Lorne Rowe’s wife comes out from Calgary and brings her whole family and they play in it as well.”

In the three years the event has run, it’s raised more than $28,000 for diabetes research, outreach programs and support services for those living with the condition.

For more information on the Lorne Rowe Memorial tournament contact Johnson at 250-345-6514 or jjohnson@fhsr.com.

Invermere Valley Echo