Renald Lameroux wins big at TELUS Golf Shootout in Kimberley

Event raises $1000 for the Kimberley Food Bank

Renald Lameroux came out on top during the final of the week-long TELUS golf shootout in Kimberley, competing against participants from all over Alberta, BC, and one even as far as Houston, Texas.

“The Kimberley golf courses attract a lot of golfers from Calgary and the Lower Mainland,” said Trevor Simkins, General Manager at Bootleg Gap Golf. “We had a couple of big groups from the Lower Mainland. We were hoping for about a 50/50 mix of out-of-towners and locals, and I think we achieved that.”

Causes and prizes

The event, which ran from July 21-26, was sponsored by TELUS and designed to both to raise money for the Kimberley Food Bank and bring an exciting new event to Kimberley’s golf scene.

“We approached TELUS to see if they wanted to sponsor,” said Simkins. “They’ve had a relationship with the Kimberley Food Bank through a couple golf events in the past, and they were very excited to help out with the food bank, that the shootout was the first of its kind, and excited to be part of what we think is the biggest KP prize ever handed out in Canada.”

The grand prize for the event was $5400 dollars in cash, though the runner-up prizes weren’t anything to scoff at. Second place received a 2015 Golf Kimberley package with accommodation valued at about $1500, and third, fourth, and fifth place could select between an iPhone 5C, a digital camera, and an iPod.

The event raised $1000 for the food bank, and Simkins says that he hopes they can raise even more next year.

The competition

Participants throughout the week competed at Trickle Creek, Bootleg Gap, and Kimberley Golf Club. Golfers were able to purchase an attempt at a qualifying shot on any of the designated holes at participating courses for five dollars. From each course on each competition day, the two closest to the pin, as well as one qualifier chosen from a draw, were selected for the final–a 125-yard shot across the water to the green on Bootleg’s Hole 18.

The winners from each day competed in heats at the final on July 26–a 125-yard shot across the water on Bootleg’s Hole 18. The five shots closest to the pin from these heats then went on to compete in the final round. The closest qualifying shot came from Lameroux himelf with 6 feet, 11.5 inches from the pin, and the farthest was Clem Marshall’s shot of 18 feet, 7 inches from the pin. Other finalists were George Gish, Scott Davis, and Ray Seney.

Excitement was high at the final shootout, which was well-attended by an enthusiastic crowd–booing at shots that the judges deemed unmeasurable, and sighing when competitors hit the ball into the water. Though the competition was fierce, Lameroux once again came out on top with a shot that fell 7 feet, 5 inches from the pin. The next closest shot came from Ray Seney, 15 feet, 6 inches from the pin.

Coming back next year

With an even higher attendance than anticipated, a great crowd of spectators for the final, and plenty of funds raised for the Kimberley Food Bank, Simkins says that he’s excited to see the event return in 2015.

“We expected 600 participants and we had close to 900,” he said. “We’re hoping to grow it, hoping to make more money for the food bank next year, and up the top prize.”

Tom Vold, Director of Golf at Kimberley Golf Club, said that he loved the new and fun atmosphere the shootout brought to the community.

“[It was] wonderful, absolutely fantastic,” he said. “I think what it did is it brought a different level. Golf is fun, golf can be something that’s different than just going out there and playing, it’s just, it’s all about fun.”