Lucas Punkari
The importance of Bob Mainville to the Fort Frances Lakers’ organization is one that never will be forgotten.
The Lakers will be making sure his memory stays alive with the first-annual Bobby Mainville Memorial golf tournament, which is set for this Saturday (July 9) at Heron Landing on Couchiching.
“After Bobby passed away last year, we began to start thinking about ways that we could honour him,” noted Lakers’ head coach/general manager Wayne Strachan.
“We had the golf tournament last year a week after his funeral, and we kind of threw it out to the public then to come out and not only remember Bob in a good way, but to also have some fun.
“Throughout the fall, and knowing that we would have this tournament coming up again, we decided to honour him by having the tournament named after him,” Strachan added.
“To name it in memory of him, and to also have it at Heron Landing, which he was involved with bringing to Couchiching, we thought it would it be a great thing to do and that’s why we did it.”
Mainville, a Lakers’ assistant coach who died in a boating mishap on Rainy Lake last July 1, also was an avid golfer, which Strachan said made for an easy decision to name the tournament after him.
The tournament, which gets underway at 10 a.m., will feature four-person teams vying in a best ball format.
“We’re basically hoping for a day that will not only be a lot of fun, but also an opportunity to shares some memories of Bob, and also have a good, enjoyable time out golfing with family and friends,” Strachan remarked.
A number of sponsors and donors also have come on board to help support the event, both on and off the course.
Sunset Country Ford, for instance, is offering a $25,000 prize if someone can get a hole-in-one at one of the par three holes, along with a number of other prizes on the other par threes.
“Obviously, you’re going to need to have a little bit of luck on your side if you are able to knock a hole-in-one in,” Strachan joked.
“There is also going to be some other cash prizes involved with the event, such as with things like the closest-to-the-pin [contest], for instance,” he added.
The day also will include a roast beef meal being and the chance to win three autographed hockey jerseys up for bid in a silent auction.
The jerseys include a signed Steve Yzerman Team Canada uniform and a Team Canada jersey signed by the entire 2011 world junior silver medal winners, donated by RBC, and a Chicago Blackhawks’ jersey signed and donated by Duncan Keith.
“It’s really great of both Duncan Keith and RBC to give us those signed jerseys as prizes to give away,” Strachan enthused.
“For those fans that follow Duncan or [are] a big supporter of Team Canada, it’s a great opportunity for them to not only have a chance to get these jerseys, but to also keep them as keepsakes.”
All proceeds raised from the event will go towards the Lakers’ franchise, which also is something Strachan hopes the golfers remember during the course of the day.
“Obviously, we want people to come out, have fun, and remember Bob,” he stressed.
“But we also want everyone to remember in the back of their mind that this is a fundraiser for the team, and we need to try and make a bit of a profit here to help towards keeping the team going,” he explained.
The entry fee is $400/team, which must have a combined handicap of at least 40.
For more information, contact the Heron Landing pro shop (274-5678) or e-mail Strachan at wayne@fortfranceslakers.com
