The 25th annual Faro Golf Tournament takes place this year from July 18-20
The Faro Golf Tournament is returning July for its 25th year, hosting 50 teams (of four) for a scramble format tournament consisting of two rounds of nine holes.
“It feels surreal,” says Faro Golf Club secretary Michelle Vainio. “When I first joined the club in 2001 or 2002 it didn’t dawn on me that this club would still be around in 20-plus years. So many organizations fall apart because it’s so hard to keep and get volunteers, but we’ve got three board members that have been volunteering with the club for over 20 years.”
Cathy Nyland, treasurer for Faro Golf Club, says the tournament is important to the community still after all these years because it is one of the things that has helped put the community on the map.
“Whenever I’ve been traveling the territory and been asked where I am from and say, Faro, the golf course is usually the first thing the other person brings up,” she says. “People from all over love our course and they especially love coming out for our tournament.”
Nyland goes on to say that it makes sense that Faro has a large golf community, as the course is right in the middle of the town, and is accessible to all ages and inexpensive to play. Vainio points out that it isn’t just locals who enjoy golf, but golfers from far and wide come to play in Faro, especially during the tournament.
“The golf tournament brings so many people to Faro,” he says. “This year we have 50 teams registered. That’s 200 golfers. Everyone is in Faro to have fun. And that’s what we’ve always strived for.”
The club is teasing this year’s tournament as their biggest ever, with bigger sponsors than previous years and the promise of some surprises for its players. With more golfers than ever before, the tournament is only growing, and the Faro Golf Club team are looking forward to unveiling their new contests and other activities.
“The sponsors that come forward are incredible,” says Nyland. “Some have been sponsoring and donating for many years. It is rewarding that so many people believe in our tournament and our community. Instead of a red lantern award for last place, the last place team members each receive the coveted wooden, hand-painted ‘red truck’ award–it symbolizes the red truck that greets people on the way into the community.”
Gary Jones, Faro Golf Club’s president, says just about everyone in the community has been on the executive team, volunteered at an event or contributed to the club in some way or another. He says the tournament has expanded and stayed alive because of its thousands of volunteers over time, as well as lots of generous funding from sponsors including local businesses, Yukon companies, Yukon Lotteries and Community Development Fund (CDF).
“Over time, a great partnership with the town has evolved,” he says. “Thanks to the Town of Faro and all of its employees for the help. One of our town employees refers to the course as the Faro Golf Course!”
To learn more about the Faro Golf Club and the Faro Golf Tournament, visit www.farogolfclub.ca
“I love golfing in Faro,” says Vainio. “I’m not a golfer and I don’t golf anywhere else because I don’t enjoy the pressure of regular courses. This is a golf course for die hard golfers as well as the once-a-year, Faro Golf Tournament golfers or the first time golfers.”
