With tee-off a few days away, golfers are going to bring their best line-drives to The Links of GlenEagles for the 4th annual Mayor’s Invitational Golf Tournament on July 22.
The tournament features a shotgun start at 1 p.m., a small lunch, a full afternoon on the fairway, and a dinner with a live auction hosted by John Copithorne in the evening.
Mayor Jeff Genung said he was inspired to bring this event to Cochrane after attending similar events in other communities.
“Mayor Brown has one in Airdrie, and it was just a fun way to get people together for a fun afternoon of connecting,” Genung said. “It’s fun golf, it’s best ball so you don’t even have to be a good golfer to have a good time, and it’s to raise money for a good cause.”
The beneficiary for this year’s event will be Cochrane’s Royal Canadian Legion Branch 15 Men of Vision. Although the event is a fundraiser, Genung said there’s never really been a fundraising target for each tournament.
“At the end of the day, it’s about having fun and raising money for charity,” Genung said. “I’d like to surpass last year’s amount, as a personal goal of mine. We seem to be on track this year, but it always comes down to the day of the event.”
A big factor for the event is the weather. Genung hopes that when the event tees off, it’ll be nothing but clear skies and warm weather.
With so many great organizations and causes in the community, Genung said it was difficult to pick which group to support. Ultimately, he decided on the Cochrane Legion, adding that it holds a special place in his heart.
“I interact with them on Remembrance Day every year,” Genung said. “I see first-hand the legion facility, the brick-and-mortar in which they operate. I believe, talking to some folks there, that the newest edition to the Legion was done in the 70’s, so they’re in need of some help.
“They do what they can as far as their fundraising efforts, but it’s just nice to be able to lend a little hand of support.”
He furthers this sentiment adding that he is grateful for the sacrifices by Canadian veterans to protect and uphold Canada’s rights and freedoms.
“None of us would be celebrating he freedoms that we have if it weren’t for our veterans and the work of Legions around the country,” Genung said. “I think it’s only appropriate to show them some support.”
After meeting the president of the Cochrane Legion, Brad Ross, he learned about their plans for the future along with some of the difficulties of their facilities.
“He talked about a program where they’re looking to do some connecting with the community, and [they] really wanted to raise the profile of the Legion, and I just immediately thought – OK, that fits the bill,” Genung said. “So, the deciding factor was Brad, the work of the Legion, and their board.”
Looking to the future, Genung said he hopes future mayors in Cochrane continue to host these tournaments to support worthy causes in the community.
“I hope they carry on with this tradition that I’ve started, and it’s just a way of pumping some money back into some much-needed causes in our community,” Genung said.
Overall, Genung said he would like to thank the sponsors of the event for their, but would also like to mention the charitable nature of Cochrane.
“Cochrane businesses and community have really stepped up in great fashion like this for four years now in a row,” Genung said. “And I need to take my hat off as well to our volunteer committee. There's a lot of work that goes into organizing something like this, and making it a seamless and fun day for all those on the other side of the organization.
“Yeah, I'm just fully of gratitude for sponsors and our organizing committee.”
