2021 Patrick Dooley Memorial Tournament Raises $7,700 for Turfgrass Research and Student Awards

Patrick Dooley was a promising young golfer almost graduating from high school. Patrick was excited about a career in the golf industry and planned to enroll in KPU Turf Management diploma Fall 2008 when he died of a sudden illness.

His family began the Patrick Dooley Memorial Scholarship Fund to support worthy KPU Turf Management students. On Oct 8, 2021 the 4th Patrick Dooley Memorial Golf Tournament resumed after an 18 month hiatus to raise funds for this scholarship and celebrate Patrick’s memory.

The Scramble shotgun began at 1:00 PM with sunny, warm skies over a perfectly groomed Mayfair Lakes Golf Club in Richmond. Thank you to Supe Greg Bond and crew! A record field of 92 golfers enjoyed an array of games and activities through the day. KP's, Long Drives, Straight Drive, Spot Drive, Marshmallow Drive, Putting and Chipping contests tested our golfing skills.  On the cerebral side, we also guessed # of tees in a jar and how many balls would be lost by all through the day. KPU Turf students Theo Fong, Christy Olsen, Stanley Ruan and Nishant Kumar were among the volunteers who conducted these games. 

KPU students have the registration desk under control!

Tournament volunteers take players' best guesses and money, all for a great cause!

On tee #2, more volunteers are #1 at entertaining teams with games.

Quiet please, everyone, quiet please...and certainly no laughing!

20 Tee Sponsors supported this event, with 7 of them having fun activities right on the tees. Westerra-Vermeer BC and Avenue Equipment had some big toys on display at #6 Tee and #18 Tee. Eco Health set up shop with their turf health products at the 1st Tee. Celtic Distributors had their new line of battery powered equip on hand for golfers to demo at the 8th Tee. Brett Young entertained players at #6 Tee. JCL Ag Services showed the Maredo overseeder in action on #4 Tee. Players enjoyed a creative game of "Seed Pong" at Premier Pacific Seeds' at #13 Tee. Special thanks to these 7 for going out of their way for really livening up the day! Big thanks to other Tee Sponsors as well: Terralink Horticulture, Nutrien Solutions, Target Specialty Products, Keso Turf, Western Turf Farms, WCTA, BCGSA, Carlsen Studios, HTB Analytics, Ruby Banga Real Estate, ISW Landscapes, Chris Dooley Mat & Alan Bursey.

 Tab Buckner focuses at Lisa Gallo's imaginative "Pong Golf" game at Premier Pacific Seed's #13 Tee.

Pat Differ demonstrates the pedestrian Maredo, or perhaps he's just practicing his moonwalk, we're not sure!

Electric Avenue supplied by Greenworks Commercial Products (Celtic Distributors)

Attendees were a 60/40 split of turf industry and Dooley family and all enjoyed a terrific Mayfair Lakes buffet dinner, followed by emotional words from Steve & Preet Dooley, then some great prizes. The evening closed with the announcement of 2021 Patrick Dooley Award winners from proceeds of this event, KPU Turf Diploma students Fedja Muzur of Northlands GC, Doug Chadwick of New Westminster Parks, Stanley Ruan of Swaneset GC and Coleton Besse of The Falls GC. 

$5,000 was also raised for the WCTA Turf Research Fund.

"I attended this event as a KPU Turf Student volunteer, golf participant and Tee Sponsor. As I looked around the starting point at all the golfers preparing to head out, I could feel the sense of community and joy. Like me, many at the event were participating for the first time since restrictions were put in place, and it was clear to see the happiness and love these reconnections were creating. Turf industry and local businesses sponsored holes with some sponsors including demonstrations and fun games. Golfing was great, weather was fantastic, and the course was in prime shape.

As dinner was finishing up and the speeches began, it wasn’t until Mr. Dooley spoke that I realized, Pat would have been over the moon to see what I was seeing happen at this event. It was all there in one moment: family, friends, love, golf, joy, and happiness. To everyone that participated in the event, I hope to see you next year and thank you for the life experience."

Mat Bursey, KPU Turf Student

I'm telling you, if we hadn't tripled the 17th hole, we would have won this tournament! (same conversation happening at each table) 

These BC Golf Supes were generous in donating golf foursomes as prizes: Northview, Westwood Plateau, Fairview Mountain, Pitt Meadows, Olympic View, Mayfair Lakes, Kings Links, Northlands, Swaneset, Riverway, Fraserview, The Falls, Kamloops, Shannon Lake, Delta, Surrey, Twin Lakes, Guildford, Fort Langley and Carnoustie. 

Stan Kazymerchyk
KPU Turf Management Instructor

Ed. note:  the WCTA Board would like to wholeheartedly thank Stan Kaz for taking the lead once again with Pat Dooley event organization and production.  WCTA staff helped out this year and in regards to Stans' efforts and energy had this to say, "Wow, just Wow!"