“Golf is now and will always be my passion. When my life is in chaos, I go and
play a game of golf. Every game is different and I get to play with and meet
so many different people as well as enjoy the beautiful outdoors.”
on life that they were able to take forward into their adult years. “I can Multiple knee and shoulder operations have not dampened Betty’s
remember playing basketball and having my parents show up at a enthusiasm for the game as she rationalizes, “I’m paying for my youth
game.” Sharon Ellis recalls. “Immediately Betty made sure I was on the and being in phys-ed all my life”.
court so they could see me play. How many coaches would consider
that?” She adds that one year Betty even drove a young group of girls Betty not only plays golf at Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club, but she
to Kingston one night a week all winter long so they could be certified as contributes to the clubs’ success through her volunteer participation on
basketball referees. “She didn’t have to do it. She just wanted to. She numerous Boards of Directors and a continuing involvement with the
is just a generous person at heart.” women’s section.
Golf came roaring into Betty’s life when friends of her father introduced Looking back, she wishes that she had played more golf when she was
her to the game of golf at Smiths Falls G&CC and also supplied her with younger, but her dedication to teaching took her to summer school for
her first set of golf clubs, left-handed at that. The teacher in her sought professional courses and away from the course and major golf events
out then club professional Gil Gardiner for lessons and he insisted that during her early golfing years. However, she has no regrets about
she hit balls on the range until she was comfortable with her swing. these circumstances and her being a late bloomer to the game.
Through April, May and June of that first year, Betty spent many hours
launching golf balls off the practice tee and she was fine with that as she Through her years of teaching and coaching, Betty has always
was still teaching numerous sports at school and really didn’t really prepared lesson plans and goals for her students. Her games of golf
have the time to play the game. Something must have registered on the are no different. She takes a “thinking” approach to her play each time
range as Betty eventually played golf that summer and became proficient she hits the course. Course management and goals for each game are
enough to make it to the finals of the club championship in her first year. important to Betty. “If I can’t get home on a particular hole, I’m looking for
She has played in “A” flight ever since. the 100-yard marker.” Her short game usually gets her home from
there.
Always the educator, Betty is a self-proclaimed student of the golf swing
and has taken lessons from numerous golf professionals including the Betty also compares golf with other sports that she has played. “How
late Dick Green at Cataraqui, legendary Golf Teachers Hall of Fame many games do you play where you are you on your own and you
member and four-time PGA Tour winner Bob Toski, Rick Boisvert in are your own official? People that don’t call their own penalties are
Ottawa and Tom McPhee at Smiths Falls. Betty says Tom can usually missing the joy of the game and feeling good about themselves.”
provide a fix for her swing after just five minutes of observation.
As a professional teacher and coach Betty is an advocate for professional
Besides advice from the golf professionals, Betty gives much of the lessons and she is hopeful that more girls will take up, and stick with, the
credit for her attitude about golf to people like Vera Charlebois and sport. She knows it is an issue that will affect the future of the game. She
Joyce Alston, two mainstays of the region’s golf community through the says there are certainly some barriers hindering the development of
years. Those players not only encouraged her to play well but also youth golf. “Young girls will come to the golf course and play, but only
showed her how she could help the game by mentoring and supporting if their friends are also playing.” She says she sees a lot of fathers
other players. Those were lessons she has taken to heart. Many of bringing their sons to the golf course, but not always their little girls, and
you reading this will know what I am talking about as Betty is often the hopes that will change.
catalyst who ensures players know when tournaments are on and
pushes player to make sure they are signed up to play. Golf has meant a lot to Betty and not just for the satisfaction of winning
tournaments. “Golf is now and will always be my passion. When my life
Of course, make no mistake; Betty is a competitor as well. With her win is in chaos, I go and play a game of golf. Every game is different and I
in 2003, Betty has won the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club ladies’ get to play with and meet so many different people as well as enjoy the
championship a record twenty times through four decades and she is beautiful outdoors.”
generally in contention when she plays. “Whenever Brittany Henderson
doesn’t play, I’m close”, she said followed by a smile and a laugh, Not shy about giving advice, Betty sums up what she often tells other
referring to the youngster who is a part of the RCGA National golfers. “Play more. Enjoy the game and have some fun. It’s OK to
Development Team. laugh.”
Betty has always been a contender in amateur competitions, but her And she does. Often.
senior years have been very kind to her with City & District Senior
Ladies Championship wins in 2002 and 2003 as well as winning spots It is just one more reason to admire this spirited lady who has made a
on various Golf Quebec Senior Provincial Ladies Teams. significant mark on golf, and so much more, in Eastern Ontario.
FLAGSTICK FOR WOMEN 25
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60