Paul Grimes, of Kenosee, has always enjoyed golfing. This love of the game has recently led him to Ontario where he will be taking part in the Canadian Men's Senior Amateur Championship after placing second at provincials.
The top three provincial players were selected for nationals after winning in Saskatoon earlier this summer.
Grimes has been taking part in the tournament at the Briars Golf Club in Sutton West this past week, Aug. 27th and 30th. Before taking off for the event he spoke with the Observer about this opportunity, expressing his excitement for the chance to compete.
Having left on Sunday, Aug. 25, he had two days to prepare himself with practice rounds before the tournament began. The tournament features many of the best golfers across North America, with both Canadian and American players participating.
"You're going to have to have your game with you because there's a lot of players."
"The winner the last two years in a row was a fellow from Pennsylvania, so there's lots of good players coming from all over the place. So, you're going to have to play well."
Despite knowing he needs to perform at the tournament Grimes explained that golfing can be difficult because someone's game differs from one day to the next.
"With golf you never know. It changes day to day. But, being it's a first time experience for me I'm sure I'll be a little nervous and I was at [provincials] too, you can't help it though, that's part of it."
Despite being nervous in the past Grimes has succeeded with his golf game, which has been influenced through enjoying the game his entire life.
"I've been playing golf for a long time," Grimes explained. "As a kid I played a little golf, but when your kids are growing up you're busy with them, so you get away from it. You're busy with your work. Then when our kids got a little older we started to golf, my wife and I both golf, so something to do as a family sport."
Though competitions have been something new for Grimes, he is no stranger to participating in tournaments, whether they be fundraisers or work related.
"I got serious about it a year or so ago. I never played a lot of competitive golf when I was younger, but there was always, working in the oil patch, oilman's golf tournaments. It was fun."
The enjoyment of the sport persists in Grimes who is simply excited to be able to take part in such an event with the opportunity to advance to the United States Golf Association (USGA) Senior Amateur Championship.
"I'm really honoured to be able to represent Golf Kenosee and Team Saskatchewan. I'm wearing my Roughrider shirt, you know, and I'm happy to go and I hope we can represent the province well. I'm really looking forward to it."
Golf Kenosee has been represented this year at nationals twice now; once with Grimes in the senior amateur tournament, while earlier Jordan Fenwick in the amateur category represented the golf course. This has created much interest in the sport locally and has created a base of support for the players.
"That's got a lot of people rooting for us and it's been really, really nice. The support and well wishes, it's been interesting with many more people paying attention to it and following it."
Updates on the tournament can be found through Facebook by searching "Golf Canada" or online at http://www.golfcanada.ca/.
