Peterborough Blogs
Family Hosts Memorial Golf Tournament To Honour Their Five-Year-Old Son Passing Away From Golf Cart Accident
/UPDATED: 9 p.m. 23-07-23
A tragic golf cart incident that resulted in the life of five-year-old William Gardner has got his family to create a memorial golf tournament to honour him at Bellmere Winds Golf Resort.
(from left to right) Elizabeth, Aurora, William and Matt Gardner. The family had lived overseas for the past 15 years and often came back during the summer season. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Gardner.
The William Rock Gardner Golf Memorial tournament in Keene is slated for July 29 and will run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. with prizes and draws from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The incident occurred a year ago. The Gardner family and their two friends were at the lower half of Bellemere to play sports and at the splash pad. They were travelling in a golf cart going downhill as it started to accelerate with the brakes failing.
After the cart swayed out of control, it flipped and ejected all the passengers onto the roadside according to Elizabeth Gardner, William’s mother. He sustained massive head trauma and was airlifted to SickKids Hospital. The parents and their friends had sustained injuries (with the latter taking the year off to recover) from the incident and were treated at Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC). His seven-year-old sister Aurora was unharmed during the accident but had feelings of guilt and shame as the only sibling to survive said Elizabeth.
“Our family at that time knew everything was changing and I laid on the roadside trying to keep him breathing,” she explained.
The family visited William at SickKids and made the difficult decision to let him go due to the severe brain damage he suffered.
“After saying goodbye to William, both my husband and I were admitted to Peterborough Hospital due to our injuries,” explained Elizabeth. “I ended up staying in Peterborough Hospital for over a month recovering and planning my son’s funeral.”
Despite the unfortunate series of events, the family bears no ill will towards anyone and is grateful for the care that they received.
“Sick Kids Hospital and Peterborough Regional Health Centre were extremely supportive during our darkest days,” explained Elizabeth. “These golf tournaments will be in support of both of those institutions.”
The police report determined that the mishap was an accident due to the golf cart’s malfunction according to Elizabeth. Bellemere Winds had offered their golf resort to host the memorial tournament.
“We are still devastated from everything but cannot thank the Bellmere owners enough for pushing for this golf tournament,” said Elizabeth. “We are thankful we can honour William, as memories and events like these keep him alive.”
William was three weeks short of celebrating his fifth birthday upon his passing. He was entering kindergarten that September.
“He was a little boy with a great sense of humour and loved to run around in his bare feet,” said Elizabeth. “William loved all kids and above all loved playing with anybody but especially his sister Aurora.”
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Trent University's 17th Annual President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament Fundraises For Student-Athlete Scholarship
/The 17th Trent University President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament saw 76 golfers hit the links at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
Trent University kinesiology graduate Grace Sanderson making a putt with onlookers cheering her on to help kick off the 17th Annual President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament. Last year’s event took place at the Quarry Golf Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
The fundraising event is for Trent Excalibur Green and White Scholarship Fund. It is awarded to exceptional first-year student-athletes at Trent University who have an 80 per cent (or above) average The event’s annual goal is to raise at least $50,000 annually. Over $575,000 has been raised through this tournament for the fund.
The day included 18 holes of golf, a barbecue lunch, a golf gift, on-course refreshments, a silent auction and dinner with an awards presentation.
Third-Annual 'Be a Saint" St. Joseph's At Fleming Golf Fundraiser Tournament In Full Swing
/Roughly 80 golfers hit the links at the third-annual "Be a Saint" St. Joseph's at Fleming fundraiser at the Quarry Golf Club on Thursday afternoon.
Celebrity golf entertainer and instructor Todd Keirstead getting the trust of Jennifer Armstrong as he rockets a tee shot off her as one of his many trick shots. Keirstead was a guest entertainer at the 15th hole at the Quarry Golf Club. Photo by David Tuan Bui.
All proceeds go towards St. Joseph’s to upgrade its infrastructure since the long-term care home is roughly 20 years old and needs work according to administrative coordinator Sarah Cox.
“Being a building that runs every day of the year, 24/7, there are some capital upgrades we need,” she explained. “Flooring, our HVAC systems, new technology, medical equipment, things like that are what we are trying to raise money for the 200 residents that live at St. Joseph's.”
Cox said last year’s event raised roughly $26,000 and aims to meet if not exceed that goal for the tournament’s third inception. The ultimate goal over the next few years is to raise $3.5 million.
“We're about $1.6 million into that so there's still a few years to go,” said Cox. “We do different fundraisers all year around, Christmas mailings, stuff with the families at St. Joseph's to get them involved. Just different fundraisers to raise money towards that $3.5 million.”
A silent auction was held after the tournament as an additional source to raise funds for the not-for-profit long-term care home.
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Trent University Hosts 16th Annual Golf Tournament To Fundraise Student-Athlete Scholarship
/After taking a two-year break, the 16th President’s Excalibur Golf Tournament returned to the Quarry Golf Course on June 30, raising $65,000 for Trent Excalibur Green and White Scholarship Fund on Thursday.
Photo By Luke Best.
The scholarship is awarded to exceptional first-year student-athletes at Trent University.
“With the support of all our partners, Trent Athletics has been able to develop and grow our high-performance Excalibur varsity program.” said Tariq Al-idrissi, Trent vice president of finance and administration. “We will continue to be able to recruit the best and the brightest to Trent, enhancing the overall varsity student-athlete high-performance experience.”
Emma Purdie Remembered Ten Years After Her Passing With Golf Tournament
/The Emma Purdie Memorial golf tournament will take place at Black Diamond Golf Club on July 7.
Photo courtesy of Barb Purdie.
Ten years after the tragic passing of Emma Purdie at 20 years old, friends and family are gathering at Black Diamond Golf Club to remember her and to raise money for the two scholarships in Purdie’s name.
The EP scholarship is awarded to two students, one at Thomas A. Secondary School (TASS) and the other at Queen’s University.
At TASS the winner of the EP Memorial scholarship must exemplify a love of the arts, a passion for performing, a spirit of bringing people together to achieve a common goal and an ability to support others in realizing their dreams.
At Queens the scholarship recipient will be a member of Dance Pak, a dance team that Purdie was a part of during her studies. The recipient is chosen by the team and represents Emma’s vivacious and outgoing personality.
Those interested in golfing can sign up by emailing bpurdie@xplornet.com.
In addition to golfing there are various prizes to be won.
Prizes include:
A Traeger Pro 780 Peller Grill valued at $1400
Home and Health Package: a day of painting in the winners home with the Friendly Painter Nikolas Cooke, a 50” flatscreen Smart TV (LR Brown Audiovisual) and a photoshoot with Mary Zita Payne Photography valued at $1200
Four Season Package - A round of golf for four with carts at Black Diamond Golf Club, four passes to Brimacombe Ski Resort and one night at Whispering Springs valued at $1300
Two Tickets to a regular season Leaf Game for 2022-23 season and a $200 Keg Gift Card valued at $850
Tickets are 8 for $20 and can be purchased by emailing Barb Purdie at bpurdie@xplornet.com
Please include name, phone number and which prizes you would like your tickets in included in the message.
Third Annual Lakers Alumni Golf Tournament To Support Peterborough Grassroots Lacrosse Programs
/Roughly 70 golfers teed off at the Keystone Links Golf & Country Club for the third annual Peterborough Lakers Alumni golf tournament held on Friday.
Johnny “Shooter” Davis as one of four Lakers alumni that participated in the ceremonial tee-off. Photo by Luke Best.
Professional lacrosse players, former Peterborough Lakers and golfing fans were invited to participate in the open tournament. Past and present players including members of the undefeated 1974 Peterborough PCO lacrosse team were in attednance.
All proceeds go towards the Peterborough Lakers Alumni that support the sustainability and grassroots lacrosse programs in the Peterborough area.
“We feel that if we don't focus on that area, then we're just going to dissolve after so many years so focusing on that, trying to make sure we have new kids coming into the game and trying to make it non-cost prohibitive for families,” said Jamie Batley, Alumni president.
Lakers alumni Doug Evans, Paul Evans, Brian Evans, Bob Wasson and Johnny “Shooter” Davis all took ceremonial tee shots from the first hole prior to the tournament.
The tournament had prizes for lowest score, closest-to-pin shots and longest drives for both the male and female categories.
@ptbo_canada The third annual Lakers Alumni golf tourney! #ptbo #ptbocanada #peterborough #golf #charity #lacrosse #lakers #ptbolakers #tournament ♬ Blooper Open (From "Mario Golf, Toadstool Tour") - Arcade Player
“We know as being sports people, if you put your kids in sports, they learn teamwork, they learn communication, they learn how to work in a group. Lacrosse is a great sport to learn all those values,” said Batley.
Hometown PTBO: Former Teacher Michael Stewart Getting Paralyzed, His Rehabilitation Process and Getting a Hole-In-One
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This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with former phys ed teacher Michael Stewart about his near-death experience of being paralyzed, his rehabilitation process and getting a hole in one at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club.
Local Musician Goes Viral With Golf Parody Song
/What was supposed to be a fun video shared around friends and family has become viral with almost 80,000 Youtube views in less than a week for musician Chad Driscoll since its release on Sunday.
The song, “Ontario, Let Me Go (Play Some Golf)” is a parody of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”.
The viral video is about typical golfer experiences and how they cannot golf under the unexpected shutdown extension. Ontario had prohibited golf and other outdoor recreational activities under the new restrictions on April 16.
Driscoll has received massive support and positive reviews from viewers and golf courses extending as far as Ottawa.
“A lot of golf courses have been reaching out and thanking me for the song and stuff which is kind of funny,” he said.
Driscoll released his first album, Unreliable Instincts back in 2011. Photo Courtesy of Chad Driscoll.
The lyrics and recording took roughly an hour. Using John Denver for a parody was a decision that organically happened and was recognizable by all ages according to Driscoll.
He wrote the song as a way to relate his golf experiences with others and express his grief for the sudden decision of not being able to play.
“Talk to any golfer, they’re really frustrated and it’s something that we can all resonate with,” said Driscoll. “I’ve been golfing since I was a kid. It’s been a big part of my life.”
Driscoll attended St. Peter’s Secondary School in Peterborough. Photo Courtesy of Chad Driscoll.
People are looking for things to do during the pandemic and restricting something that is safe can get mentally taxing according to Driscoll.
“It was such a great way to get out of the house,” he said. “It felt normal out there. You didn’t have a mask on and you were six feet away from each other. When they closed, I was really bummed.”
Driscoll’s first live singing performance was when he was 10 in 1991. He participated in the” Nintendo Search for the Stars” singing contest placing second at Lansdowne Place.
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Peterborough Man Drives Car Onto Golf Course, Peterborough Man Gets Arrested
/Reminder: You can drive a golf cart on a golf course but not a car...
image via PtboGolf.com
From a police release today (May 1st)...
On Friday May 1, 2015 at approximately 5 a.m. Peterborough Police received a call from the complainant stating there was a vehicle on the golf course at the Peterborough Golf and Country Club located on Armour Road. Officers were dispatched to the scene and located the suspect vehicle stopped in a swampy area on the north end of the golf course and a male driver and female passenger inside. As a result of the investigation Louis Shane Yourkin, 24, of Bellevue Street, was arrested and charged with mischief over $5,000 and breaching his probation. He was released from custody and is scheduled to appear in court on May 14, 2015. Brandie Lynn Anthony, 22, of no fixed address, was arrested and charged with party to the offence- mischief over $5,000 and failing to comply with a recognizance X3. She was held in custody and is scheduled to appear in court later today (May1). Significant damage occurred to the golf course as a result of the vehicle being driven across the green. The total damage to the golf course is not yet known.
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