2023 Seymour Golf & Country Club

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

North Vancouver, British Columbia – Throughout the province, golf professionals have been participating in the 18th Annual PGA of BC Golfathon for ALS, presented by Pacific Blue Cross. Golfing from sunrise to sunset, they golf as many holes as possible to raise funds and awareness for people living with ALS.

Dale Schienbein, Connor Rosenlund, Lindy Miyashiro and Lenny Cyr participated in the PGA of BC Golfathon for ALS at Seymour Golf & Country Club on June 30th. They started the day of golf at 4:48 AM and golfed until 9:45 PM for a collective total of 187 holes.

Proceeds from the Golfathon for ALS provide crucial support services to ALS patients and their families, friends, and caregivers. Help support your local golf professionals to raise awareness and funds for the ALS Society of BC. Please donate.

Golfathon Report from Dale Schienbein, PGA of Canada Head Professional, Seymour Golf & CC

Good Afternoon,

Please accept this thank you as my appreciation for your donation to the ALS Golf-A-Thon that I participated in last week. To date, I have received over 196 pledges from Members and Staff of Seymour G&CC, friends, and fellow golf industry associates. Thank you!!!

I started my day with a 3:30 alarm call and teed it up Thursday morning at 4:48 with one of my Associate Professionals, Lenny Cyr (Lenny played 38 holes over the course of the day as he had operational duties to attend to) and was later joined by Seymour Professionals, Connor, Lindy, many of our University Students and my son Sam throughout the day. Additionally, I had the great pleasure of playing 8 holes with our 2023 Men’s League Co-Ordinator, Rob Evans!

I arrived at the Club early as I decided to hit balls as I frequently insist others do, as you always play better and enjoy the early part of your game when you are warmed up. Those of you who know me well know I am not a morning person, so this part of the day is always the hardest part. Bleary-eyed, I was hitting balls, not really following the ball flight (I was awake enough to know it was still dark and I wouldn’t see them 😊) but was keeping an eye out for the bear who had visited our course the previous several days. I am sure we both would have been surprised to run into one another!

As I was “warming up”, I again was amazed at how fortunate I was and struck by how spectacular a day this was going to be. Playing golf all day long on what was to be a nice sunny day… isn’t that what we all dream of?

I wrote this paragraph a couple of years ago and this year again the day “sounded” the same:

One thing that struck me about participating in a “full” day of golf was the transition of sound. Starting out on the range all I could hear were the frogs croaking from the pond on 18! The birds hadn’t even woken up yet! Then one could hear the birds as the sky brightened. Shortly thereafter (5th hole) the engines starting up from the Seymour Grounds staff beginning their day were heard. Next came the sound of traffic on the Parkway and the general hum of the day continued.

The sounds gradually abated in reverse order, and I ended my day on the 18th hole being challenged to a “chip-off” hole at 9:45 in the evening by our Senior Women’s Club Champion, Tracey Evans who had finished dinner and was waiting for me to finish. I won’t say who won 😊!

When the day ended, I had played 5 rounds or 90 holes! There were no injuries, strains or pulls! I am pleased to say I didn’t even need the helpful effects of Advil!! There were lots of crumby shots but lots of good ones too and even more good ones I watched hit by my playing partners.

Most importantly, I am very proud to report that through your support we were able to raise a new record $62,895 (and pledges are still coming in) for the ALS Society of BC. Over the past 17 years, Seymour continues to lead the Province raising over $467,000 for the ALS Society!!  Thank you so much!!!!! Please know that you are making a difference both for ALS patients and in the lives of their family members!!

How was the golf you are wondering?

Years ago, when I first started doing this Golf-A-Thon, it seemed to make sense to report the scores. As I have more grey hair, play less golf and have more scar tissue I think that was a bad decision. Be that as it may, here were the scores by round, 77-79-80-80-78 for a 5 round average of 78.8. With all the busyness associated with this year, I have only played one round prior to August of last year so I was pleased with the scores.  Next year I will have to get out and play a few times before the Golf-A-Thon! While the scores always matter to some degree, I certainly enjoyed being out on the course playing.

Some additional fun facts:

• Lenny played 38 holes this year and played extremely well. He was 1 over par for these 38 holes and had 8 birdies and an eagle. Very impressive indeed!!
• Connor played 36 holes and shot scores of 76-72 with 6 birdies… well done Connor!
• I went through 5 water bottles and didn’t have one Coke until I got home.
• Throughout the day I used 9 sand/seed bottles. Interestingly, I kept the same power cart for all 5 rounds. The new power carts and battery technology are amazing!

• We packed food for the day and were able to keep the wildlife out of our coolers. It seemed like there were more crows following us around this year vs previous years – not sure if that means they are getting more successful in raiding.
• I never encountered the resident bear, but Lindy did take a great photo of a Bald Eagle who I am sure was laughing at us as we played #10!
• Total elapsed time of golf was just over 17 hours.
• I played the last round by myself teeing off at 7:42 in 2 hours and 3 mins. There was no one on the back nine and I played the last four holes with the moon rising in the west. A very neat experience.
• I did not take any Advil, which in previous years, averaged 8! I don’t believe that counts as indicating I am in better shape – more likely that I forgot them in my office😊!

• I enjoyed all the rounds and especially enjoyed playing with some of our University Students. Of special enjoyment was playing 36 holes with my son, Sam! My day’s experiences reinforced to me that this game is more about the people you are playing with and the beautiful surroundings versus just playing for a score!
• The next day, I had lots of Members ask me how I felt after playing all that golf. I smiled and in as straight a face as I could manage, I replied, “I feel fine, I am a Professional Athlete after all!” A great laugh was shared by all of us 😊!
• Aside from a few aches and pains, the next morning came a lot sooner than I thought and it was back to work. We were putting on our Canada Day Tournament and somehow, I thought it was a good idea to arrange the schedule with a Major Club event following the Golf-A-Thon. I won’t make that same mistake next year!!
• Similar to past years, I always hope that I would play more holes than e-mails received that day. It was a bit closer this year than last, but emails still edged out holes played by 7!! Aughhh!!

I recently received this letter from Ms. Wendy Toyer the Executive Director of the ALS Society of BC and wanted to share with you how your donations are assisting those with ALS and their families that you have made possible:

“As we near the end of another PGA of BC Golfathon month, with three courses still scheduled to participate in July, I wanted to touch base to reflect on where we have come over the past 17 years.

17 years ago, the ALS Society of BC offered an equipment loan program and held 4 monthly support groups. Due to funding, there was a lag in the delivery for equipment. ALS patients living in communities outside of a major city, did not receive the same level of service.

With the support of the PGA of BC members, the Society was able to expand our service programs. Now all people living with ALS in BC and the Yukon have equitable access to services provided by ALS BC.

These services include:

• ALS Psychological Support Program for patients and their families.
• Mobile Clinics to serve those who are unable to travel. We take the clinic to them.
• Transportation assistance to enable ALS patients to attend medical appointments.
• Kids Camp (Camp Alohi Lani) for kids whose parent or grandparent is living with ALS.
• 9 locations for Support Groups which are held in-person and virtually including a special support group for caregivers.
• Special programs for caregivers, in most cases the spouses of people living with ALS.
• Expanded equipment loan program that includes state-of-the-art technology devices such as the Obi Robotic Feeder. Equipment is delivered to the patient usually within 2 business days no matter where they live.

It is because of your support and philanthropy, the Society was able to move forward with the confidence of financial stability.” – Wendy Toyer, Executive Director.

Thanks again for your support!!! The ALS Society of BC will be issuing tax receipts and sending them directly to each of you.

Kindest regards,

Dale Schienbein
PGA of Canada Head Professional
Seymour Golf & CC

Jay Janower, Sports Anchor at Global BC and Golfathon Ambassador

“Dale, Wendy and the entire PGA of BC Golfathon for ALS team,

I continue to be amazed, inspired and grateful for all of your efforts in raising awareness and much needed funds.

Watching how individuals like Dale and all of our golf courses/Pros embrace this transcends sport/golf. The Golfathon for ALS is humanity in it’s truest and rawest form. The kindness, the generosity and the compassion that flows province wide is unlike anything else we see. Yes there’s numerous golf tournaments, fundraising events that are constantly going on… but the Golfathon, it’s unique unto itself.

The combined efforts of so many brings us closer to hopefully one day ending the pain and suffering ALS creates for our neighbours, co workers, friends and loved ones.

Saying a sincere “thank you” doesn’t seem grand enough for everything you do… you all continue to make a difference in the lives of countless individuals and their families who battle ALS on a daily basis… I’m so proud to be part of such an impressive team that does so much, year in and year out. With gratitude.” – Jay Janower.

About ALS BC

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of British Columbia (ALS BC) was founded in 1981 by Dr. Andrew Eisen, ALS patients and family members to meet the physical and emotional needs of people living with ALS and their caregivers. Our mission is to cure ALS through funding research, while advocating for and supporting people living with ALS.

About ALS

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also referred to as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder that affects the person’s motor neurons that carry messages to the muscles resulting in weakness and wasting in arms, legs, mouth, throat and elsewhere. Typically, the person is immobilized within two to five years of the initial diagnosis. There is no known cause or cure yet, but there is hope through the ALS Society of BC.

For more information, contact:

Wendy Toyer
Executive Director, ALS Society of BC
604-278-2257 Ext. 222
[email protected]