Hall of Fame enjoys another sell out!
Capilano Golf and Country Club was the scene of this year’s Induction Dinner for the Golf Hall of Fame of BC as the Hall welcomed five new Honoured Members. A sold out crowd of 146 family, friends and well wishers joined Dawn Coe Jones, Cec Ferguson, and Jim Rutledge to celebrate the recognition of their great careers as competitive golfers. Also inducted were Walter McElroy, and the late Bob Kidd, both outstanding amateurs who enjoyed success on the local, provincial and national scenes in the 1950’s. Barb Kidd, one of Bob Kidd’s two daughters in attendance accepted on behalf of their father and spoke of how thrilled the family was to see their father’s great career recognized and to see so many friends in attendance. Walter McElroy’s grandson, Sterling, brought a message of appreciation from Walter, unable to attend for health reasons.
The evening was like a big reunion as the golf community gathered to acknowledge theses great players. Dawn Coe Jones talked about growing up playing at March Meadows GC in Honeymoon Bay on Vancouver Island, and how she developed her skill with the support of her father who encouraged her to watch the swings of her two fellow inductees, Cec Ferguson and Jim Rutledge. Dawn went on the win the BC Junior girls, the BC Women’s Amateur, the Canadian Amateur and five LPGA Tour events, plus many other great performances throughout her career.
Cec Ferguson talked about competing against great players like Doug Roxburgh, and how it was Jim Rutledge’s father, Grant, that encouraged Cec to come back from a hiatus from the game. Cec went on to win more amateur titles as well as representing Canada (along with Doug Roxburgh) in the Commonwealth Matches in South Africa. Cec was the last amateur to win the BC Open. He then competed professionally for three decades, winning several Canadian Tour events, along with the PGA of Canada’s Club Professional Championship, the PGA Seniors Championships in both Saskatchewan and BC and a number of team competitions.
Barb Kidd, speaking on behalf of her sister Julie, who traveled from Florida to be at the induction, spoke about the fact they were both very young when their father was playing his amateur golf at such a high level, and they were largely unaware of what a great player he was. Bob being the modest man he was, apparently spoke little of his accomplishments, and they were impressive for sure; 3 times BC Amateur Champion, PNGA Men’s Amateur Champion, 8 time BC Willingdon Cup Team member, Canadian Amateur medalist, Americas Cup Team member, World amateur Team member to list just some!
Sterling McElroy, expressed his grandfather’s appreciation at being recognized for his career accomplishments and his disappointment at being unable to attend. Walter McElroy won the BC Junior Boys Championship, the BC Amateur, and the Canadian Amateur, and in 1949 was ranked the number one amateur in Canada. He was a member of seven BC Willingdon Cup Teams, twice a member of the Americas Cup Team as well as a member of the Morse Cup and Hudson Cup Teams and the Commonwealth Amateur Team.
Jim Rutledge expressed his appreciation for being honoured and acknowledged his parents for their support over all the years particularly his early years when they were the designated drivers. Jim won the Victoria, BC and Canadian Junior championships before turning professional at the age of 18. His successful career as a Professional Golfer has taken him to every corner of the world. He has played on mini tours, the Canadian Tour, the Asian, the Australian Tour, the PGA Tour and is now playing regularly on the Champions Tour. He won the BC Open three times and in the intervening years he was runner up three times. In 1981 and ’83 he won the BC PGA Championship and in 1984 he won the Canadian PGA Championship. Jim won several times on the Canadian Tour and in 1995 he won the Indian Open on Asian Tour, and in 2006 captured the New Zealand PGA Championship. Five times he has represented Canada in the world Cup.
From left to right; Stirling McElroy; Jim Rutledge; Dawn Coe Jones; Karen Vanzella, President of the BC Golf House Society; Barb Kidd; Cec Ferguson...... the latest Honoured Members to be inducted into the Golf Hall of Fame of BC
