Barry Wright
For the second time in six years Camlachie will host a national golf championship.
Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa has landed the 2015 Canadian Women's Senior Championship, as well as the Canadian Women's Mid-Amateur Championship in late August.
The club hosted the Canadian Junior Girls Championship in 2010.
It’s the first time Golf Canada has decided to run the women's senior and mid-amateur tournaments together at a single location, said committee chairperson Margo Harrison.
The mid-amateur event is broken into two sections—one for golfers 25 and over and the other for golfers 40 and older.
The senior event has one division for golfers 50-plus, and a super senior division for those 60 years and older.
“We're expecting somewhere in the neighbourhood of 110 women from across Canada, and possibly the United States to attend,” Harrison said.
She said the tournament will have a more relaxed vibe than the junior event in 2010.
“This is a highly competitive tournament, but it's also a little more casual. There will be more people coming here thinking about having a family holiday and still competing,” Harrison said.
She said it will also help the local economy with participants and their families booking hotel rooms, renting cottages, buying food, renting cars and shopping in the area.
Golfers play a practice round on Tuesday, Aug. 25, followed by the 54-hole tournament from Wednesday to Friday, Aug. 28, with the cut after 36 holes.
The par-71 course is expected to play between 5,500 and 6,000 yards, said course general manager and head pro Paul Dumont.
The event requires volunteers. Anyone interested can visit www.sawmill-creek.com for more information, he said.
“It's an event that we want to be an experience, not just a golf tournament.”
Registering for the tournament can also be done at the Sawmill Creek website. Corporate support is also being sought.
“Anything from donating water, fruit, transportation,” said Dumont. “Anything that will enhance the experience is more than welcome.”
Golf Canada is thrilled to be back in Sarnia-Lambton following its experience with the junior girls event, tournament director Justine Decock said in a release.
“Sawmill Creek is a scenic track that will serve as an excellent opportunity for women from across Canada and the United States to test their games,” said Decock.
The national event is the second of two significant events happening at Sawmill Creek this summer.
The Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) will host the Bantam boys and girls (under 15) event at the Lakeshore Road location from Aug. 11-13, with
84 golfers from across the province competing.