October 22, 2024
Mount Brenton hosted the Zone 6 Champions of Champions Women’s Tournament on Sept.16.
The event featured 58 participants, winners of individual club tournaments from Zone 6 – representing the regional districts of Alberni/Clayoquot, Central Coast, Comox/Strathcona, Mount Waddington, Nanaimo, Powell River and Cowichan Valley (excluding Arbutus Ridge, Cowichan, and Duncan Meadows).
Dar Michell (low gross category) and Grace Predy (low net category) represented Mount Brenton.
Grace Predy won the low net category with a score of 76 net.
Predy and Michell replaced club champions Kathy Matilpi and Starr Adams, who were unavailable to represent Mount Brenton.
18-Hole Ladies Windup
On Thursday, Oct. 3, the Thursday Ladies’ League held its year-end shotgun final, followed by its Fall AGM and luncheon.
To start the day, a putting contest was held (thank you to Jan and Eric for their assistance).
It was a fun event without much heckling from the Pros; Laverne Boschee won with 170 points. After that, 28 players participated in a Texas Scramble, KPs, and skill challenges. It was good fun and lots of prizes were handed out.
The AGM included the election of an executive for the 2025 season: Bev Bruce (captain), Janice Lowe (vice-captain), Laverne Boschee (secretary), Marianne Sanders (treasurer), Laurie Taylor (match chair), Susan Mulcahy (interclub), and Wilma Hobson (Zone 6).
Thank you to Tracey Scanlan, outgoing treasurer.
Our season lasted 27 weeks, with only two cancellations due to weather and one for course maintenance. We played various skill games, interclub competitions, and zone team challenges during the season.
We also participated in several “in-house” tournaments.
Starr Adams is the 18-hole League Championship gross category winner, with Heather Owsanski as runner-up.
Sigi Ireland won the net category, with Laurie Taylor as runner-up Laurie Taylor.
Susan Hughes won the Rose Bowl Net Tournament Flo Warren as runner-up.
In June, we held a Captain vs Vice Captain Match Play Tournament, which the Shaw Team won.
In September, Wilma Hobson, Laverne Boschee, and Tracey Scanlan won the team tournament; Susan Hughes, Marianne Sanders, and Barb Pauze were the runners-up.
Susan Hughes captured the Rose Bowl, and Laverne Boschee won the Most Improved Trophy.
All winners and runners-up received gift certificates from the Pro Shop.
Laurie Taylor was presented with a “Hole in One” pin and keepsake, Sigi Ireland received a “Breaking 90 Pin” for a score of 89, and Susan Mulcahy was presented with the Quirky Quacker Award.
Five Lee’s Chicken certificates and 10 Mount Brenton Pub certificates were drawn as door prizes.
We thank Rachel and her team for providing us with a delicious lunch and excellent service at the Mount Brenton Pub. Your efforts added to our enjoyment of the day.
BRONZE LADIES WIND UP, 2024
On Monday, September 30, 38 women played our season’s final game. Before starting the game, we had a fun putting contest, which Karen Manning won with 130 points! Wow!
Following our game of best ball and many skill contests along the way, we had our AGM at the Mount Brenton Pub. I’m happy that 42 of 51 members attended the meeting. We had lots of laughs, many door prizes, and elections. Thanks also to Rachel for a lovely meal.
This is a fun group of ladies who have always given back to Mount Brenton by contributing to Jan Best’s ALS marathon and the club’s junior program. The 50/50 money ($203.50) from our field day goes to the Junior Program. Susan Mulcahy, who won the 50/50, generously donated her winnings to the junior program. The Bronze League donated over $400 to the junior program this year.
Our league is a diverse community, with many non-Mount Brenton members, some even from Nanaimo, who pay a green fee each week to play. In past years, a few have become members. You don’t need a golf handicap to join this league; you need a sense of humour and a love for the game. Everyone is welcome here.
If you want to meet new people, have fun, and enjoy the game of golf, we would love to have you join us next year. Our league is all about camaraderie and good times. Our first day of play will be April 7, 2 pm. We can’t wait to see you there!
Kudos to the Senior Men’s League for taking the initiative on a junior membership.
Bev Bruce, outgoing league captain
The outgoing executive, Bev Bruce, Susan Menzies, Lynne Limpert, Karen Manning and Marianne Saunders, will be replaced in 2025 by Lynne Limpert, captain; Carol Petrie, vice-captain; Karen Manning, treasurer; Debbie McLeod, Sunshine Lady; Karen Barnes, secretary; and Sue Mulcahy, inter-club chair.
Hanging out in the sun.
The putting contest.
Anna Androwski left, Pam Boudreau, and others partook in the buffet.
Brian Magee, Gary Rodgers, Mark Palmer, Richard Redfern, and Allan Rettig are the top five Senior League money winners for 2024.
Dale Neubauer, Kelvin Frumento, Steve McConkey, Brian French, Don Timlick, and Dave Evans were the Senior League Match Play winners and finalists. Absent: Bruce Hansen and Richard Moss.
To keep things fresh, we’ve introduced a new award in our league this year—the “Senior Sandman of the Year” award, which will be given to the player with the lowest net average score for the year. The inaugural winner is Mark Palmer, with an impressive average net score of 72.67.
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Mount Brenton’s board of directors would like to thank Senior League organizers Dale Neubauer and Don Campbell for making the Senior League so successful. Credit also to our other league major duomos, Bev Bruce (two leagues), Debbie Henzie, Jayne and Seamus Power, Jody Griffiths, and all their committee members.
The Senior Men’s League played its end-of-season league scramble on Wednesday, Oct. 2.
This league is about playing with new or different players, learning from each other, and making new friends.
It is perfect for new members to meet other golfers. We hope to have an even bigger league next year.
Players compete weekly for cash prizes awarded to the top four low net in two handicap divisions.
Cash prize for low gross. Sleeve of balls for KP’s on the par 3s.
The was scheduled for the week before but was rained out.
Ten members were away, so 44 players participated in a scramble event.
The low score was 62 by Team Ernie Parent, Don Campbell, Don Timlick and Brian French.
Thanks
Dale Neubauer and Don Campbell
Mount Brenton Senior League Coordinators.
Susanna Kim, centre, is flanked by Carol You, left, and Sara Bang after she aced the 101-yard third hole on Tuesday, Oct. 8, with a nine-wood
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Superintendent Ernie Whitelaw, his 2IC Russ Eitner, and their crew for their exceptional work installing the new septic tank.
Their dedication and hard work are truly commendable.
The float alarms in the tank were tested and are functioning correctly.
The septic field specialists will return later to scope the lines in the field and make any necessary repairs to broken lines.
Once a date has been determined, we will let everyone know.
Sunday Morning Ladies League Season Windup
On October 20 our league gathered for our season end lunch and awards presentation. We enjoyed a great lunch buffet upstairs prepared by Rachael and her staff. Our match chair had included some “mystery” games in our weekly play this year. Prizes were handed out to the unknowing winners so it was a nice surprise for some players
Ringer board prizes were also presented.
First Low Gross. Dar Michell. (Unable to attend due to a broken foot)
First Low Net. Julie Strautman
Other ringer board awards included least putts, birdies and chip ins, and best final score. We also had draws for quite a few door prizes so everyone went home with something.
This season 30+ ladies enjoyed golf, a few laughs and the enjoyment of each other’s company. We had very few rain outs which was a bonus. The executive for the league remains the same for next season. Information about the league and contact numbers are downstairs on the bulletin boards to the left of the ladies washroom. We welcome anyone who wants to play.
On behalf of everyone in our league, we would like to thank Jan and the pro shop for weekly tee times, the grounds crew for keeping the course in wonderful shape and Rachael and her staff for great food and friendly service. It is all very much appreciated.
We look forward to next season
Debbie Henzie
Captain
Shelly Stouffer
is our special honorary member!
Mount Brenton Golf Club’s Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Shelly Stouffer has been awarded its first non-member honorary membership for her excellence as an amateur golfer and for her contribution to the promotion of women’s golf on Vancouver Island.
Stouffer, a four-time Mount Brenton Women’s Amateur champion, won Canada’s 2024 Mid-Amateur championship for women 25 and above. She is currently ranked 796th in the WAGR, 16th in the Senior Women’s ranking, and third in Canadian Senior Women, behind Terrill Samuel and Judith Kyrinis.
The board chose to follow the criteria set by The New Golf Club at St. Andrews to bestow this membership on Stouffer.
St. Andrews History, Honorary Members: “Honorary Membership is an honour which the Club does not bestow lightly. Restricted to ‘distinguished strangers,’ The New Golf Club has had only five Honorary Members in over a century of its existence – and never more than one at a time.”
When told of the board’s decision, Stouffer said, “I am happy to be given an honorary membership at Mt. Brenton GC. It is a fun course, and I look forward to playing there more often. Whenever I have played there, it has always been in great shape. I thank the Board of Directors for the honorary membership and look forward to meeting more members.”
The honorary membership is Stouffer’s first.
Stouffer’s two-round total of 144 in stroke play won her medalist honours at the recent USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship in Seattle, earning her the top seed for the six-round match-play portion of the championship. She lost the final 3-2 to Australia’s Nadene Gole. The second-place finish gives her access to the 2025 US LPGA Senior Championship.
Stouffer lives in Nanoose Bay and competes in tournaments throughout Canada and the US.
Next year, she will compete in Ireland and England at both those countries’ senior amateur women’s championships, among other events in 2025.
Stouffer, who currently plays out of and has a working relationship with Morningstar Golf Course in Parksville, visited MBGC recently.
She was impressed with the course and agreed to develop a relationship with our club.
The board and Shelly are working on opportunities for our members to meet and golf with her next season.
The board congratulates club member Chris Sherlock for suggesting Stouffer become an honorary member.
In 1975, Reg de L’Harwood was awarded the only other honorary membership for his work on the committee that brought life to the club.
Click here to learn more about Shelly on and off the course.
Click here for the story on her induction into the PNGA Hall of Fame.
Click here for the 2024 Canadian Mid-Amateur story.
Norm Jackson
December 1 2024
The Pro Shop now closes at 4 pm.
Carts can be rented until 12:30 pm. We cut off cart rentals at noon for slower groups that take 4.5 hours because it gets dark by 4:30 pm or so.
The path-only rule can add about half an hour to a round, so we must also adjust for that.
Be aware that morning golfers may face temporary tees and greens. Please adhere to the rules, use mats where necessary, and use temporary pins.
Because the green looks fine, don’t play to the natural green until you get the all-clear.
We have closed grass tees for play on holes seven and the upper tee on nine, and we have created a forward tee on nine just before the start of the fairway.
Projects / Other Work
The irrigation pipe replacement on the sixth hole has started. The hole will be a par 3, teeing off across the creek.
Plans are still afoot for drainage work on the 18th hill, the area between 6 & 7 just over the bridge, and the parking lot entrance.
Congratulations are in order…
Shelly Stouffer, Mount Brenton’s newly minted Honorary Member, has been voted the Pacific Northwest Golf Association’s 2024 Senior Women’s Golfer Player of the Year.
She is one of three British Columbia women to be honoured, the others being Lauren Kim of Surrey, B.C., Women’s Golfer of the Year and Junior Girls,’ Amy Lee of Langley, B.C.
Men’s Player of the Year is Max Herendeen of Bellevue, Wash.; Men’s Mid-Amateur, Andrew Von Lossow of Spokane, Wash.; Women’s Mid-Amateur, Gretchen Johnson of Portland, Ore.; Senior Men’s, Darren Kuhn of Pocatello, Idaho; Junior Boys’, Wheaton Ennis of Eagle, Idaho.
The PNGA Player of the Year candidates are nominated by the state and provincial golf associations that comprise the PNGA (British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) and selected by a PNGA Championship Committee vote.
Mount Brenton also congratulates Cowichan Golf Club Head Professional Norm Jackson for being honoured as the PGA of BC recipient of the 2024 PGA of BC Dunc Sutherland Distinguished Service Award.
Arden’s last day as our Office Manager was Dec. 19.
However, she has joined the club and won’t be gone long.
As a member, she has been appointed to the MBGC Board of Directors, effective Jan. 1, 2025, to replace Kirk Bellamy, who resigned earlier this year and whose term of office would expire at the next AGM.
Arden’s term will expire at the 2025 AGM, and then, should she wish to stay on, she would have to place her name on the ballot for whatever length of term she wanted.
Laura Lucas
Laura Lucas started working at our club in December 2024 as a replacement for Office Manager Arden Chailler.
Previously, she worked as the office manager at a couple of different companies in the construction industry, and she has operated her own business for almost 10 years.
Laura lives in Nanaimo with her two children and enjoys playing volleyball & hiking.
Jan 1 2025
Pro Shop News for 2025!
We are currently working with Apple to launch our custom Mount Brenton Application for iPhone and Android, which we anticipate being ready in early 2025.
This App will not replace the Chronogolf App but may be a better option for those who prefer its variety of features.
Applications make up 70% of all digital media time, making it a very popular platform in today’s digital age. This App will allow the Pro Shop to send instant “push notifications” directly to your device regarding course conditions, pace of play, weather closures, special events and much more.
The app also allows you to book tee times, comes with a Virtual Caddie for paper-free scorekeeping, and has a GPS feature that shows the yardages of your next shot!
We feel it is essential to send helpful notifications directly to your phone without logging into an account, which can be cumbersome.
The app will be your best place to learn about functions, events, leagues, and other things happening at the golf course and restaurant. The message center will also list any recent news you missed. We will announce when the App goes live in the new year!
Once completed, the app will be free in the App Store or Google Play store.
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Our Honorary Member is doing us proud.
Congratulations to Shelly Stouffer for placing second in the Senior Division at the Women’s California State Open. The event occurred at the Desert Springs Country Club in Palm Desert, CA, on December 16-17.
She finished second by a stroke to former professional Patty Hurst, who has six LPGA Tour wins.
Brad Ziemer of BC Golf chose Shelly’s 2024 season as BC’s fourth-best story of the year.
“No. 4: Another year, more stellar play from Shelly Stouffer. The Nanoose Bay resident began the season by capturing her fifth straight B.C. Senior Women’s title at Sun Peaks Golf Course. She also won the Canadian Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Crown Isle Golf Resort in Courtenay and came close to winning her second U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur title. Stouffer made it to the final at Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle before falling 3&2 to Australian Nadene Gole in the championship final.”
- Late December 2024
- Course Condition Update:
- The course has been extremely wet, having rained 22 of the last 24 days. We usually average about 200 mm of rain in December, but this December, we had 330 mm. To direct golfers away from saturated and trampled areas, we will be roping off more areas around the greens.
- The Municipality of North Cowichan informed the club on Dec. 30 that, according to the meter readings, we probably had a significant leak in our water line to the clubhouse. We discovered the leak on Dec. 3 near the water meter, which is situated in the clubhouse parking area. We waited and completed the repair on Jan. 3. All that’s left is some asphalt work where we excavated.
- The irrigation mainline replacement across holes 4 and 5 is installed, and later this week, we will begin the next phase: replacing the 2” irrigation line and sprinklers on the north side of hole 4. While work is done on hole 4, golfers will play to a temporary green in front of the creek.
- We have brought in the cedar benches for the remainder of the winter. Since the weather is forecasted to be fairly mild for the next couple of weeks, we will leave the fountain on 18 and the ball washers out until the weather changes.
- The 16th green will remain closed for the foreseeable.
- The main irrigation pipe across #s 4 & 5 has been completed, and the crew will start installing a 2″ pipe and sprinklers. A temporary green will be set up in front of the creek.
- Our cedar memorial benches have been stored for the winter.
- Cart drivers, please keep your cart on the paths to prevent this damage.
- And yes, we are playing winter rules, but that doesn’t mean you can’t fill or replace your divots. There are bottles of sand (no seed) by the pro shop.
- And just as crucial to the welfare of the course is to repair ball marks on the greens. Could you fix yours and one other?
- Several members have complained about players leaving orange peels on the course. Could you please stop this? Also, please pick up your trash.
- The lighting in the Pro Shop will soon be updated. Temporary lighting will be installed starting Jan. 10 and will be completed by Feb. 17.
- Our pro, Jan Best and his excellent staff put through 51,816 rounds in 2024. Credit is also due to our grounds crew’s superb work keeping the course well-maintained.