Ian Van Seters Memorial Golf Tourney

By Stan Ashbee
Sunny South News

Coaldale Chiefs present the 3rd Annual Ian Van Seters Memorial Golf Tournament Friday at Land-O-Lakes Golf and Country Club in Coaldale.
All proceeds go to the youth sports and recreation projects in Coaldale.
“We’re raising money for the community,” said Tony Tams from the Coaldale Chiefs.
Last year, Tams noted, the fundraiser raised money for the Jennie Emery Elementary School playground build, funds for the Coaldale Thunder, minor hockey and for the Kinsmen outdoor skating rink — to name a few.
“Just little things like that,” he added.
Tams said this year organizers have been in touch with the Town of Coaldale to perhaps team up to help raise funds for the town’s bid for a Southern Alberta Summer Games (SASG) bid for 2018.
“They’re lacking beach volleyball and tennis courts. I think there’s track meet work and stuff like that we can maybe work with the town on — revamping some of that. We have existing courts and stuff but they’re in shambles right now,” said Tams.
Stephanie Wierl, community services manager with the Town of Coaldale said, the Chiefs heard the town has been investigating the hosting of the 2018 SASG.
“And called me to see if there was a way they might be able to support the bid. Some of the potential infrastructure upgrades such as the Kate Andrews field, beach volleyball courts and tennis court revitalization were mentioned. Both the Chiefs and myself felt there was some potential for the Chiefs to be involved in some way. Since the decision to host the Games in 2018 is yet to be made by town council, no further discussions have happened with the Chiefs. Our bid investigation committee is thrilled with the possibility for the Chiefs to be involved,” said Wierl.
According to Tams, last year the tournament raised close to $15,000. Some of the money went to the aforementioned initiatives but also funds were also directed to the St. Joseph’s School youth band.
“It’s not just sports. It’s just anything youth/recreation that we’re putting our money towards.”
Tams said the tournament got it’s start with the Coaldale Rotary Club doing a tournament with funds raised going to youth sports and recreation initiatives in town.
“We were doing a tournament ourselves. Ian Van Seters was part of our hockey club at the time and he was battling cancer. We just thought, well let’s raise a little money for him, as he was going through his thing and it started off small. Initially our intent was always to put money into youth sports and recreation in town. He was a big part of it in the community. We all kind of grew up playing sports together and it kind of became a bond with all of us. I think we’ve all been playing together for, some of us, over 30 years. It’s been a long time in Coaldale and it’s created some good bonds and he was a big part of that,” said Tams.
Tams said last year was a full tournament with 144 golfers and sponsorships are full this year.
“The sponsorships have been fantastic over the last three years. It’s awesome. People have really jumped on board with that tournament.”
The tournament fee is $150 per player and it includes the green fee, cart and dinner plus a tournament gift. Dinner only is $30. There will be a 50/50 raffle and mulligans matched by Scotiabank.
Registration is at noon with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. Dinner to follow.
For more information contact Tams at 403-345-4757 or Kevin Fujita at 403-894-3854.
Coaldale Chiefs kick off their new season in October.