(courtesy Michelle Lee)

As stewards of the sport of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario, Harvey and his late wife, Marion Goehring have a combined for over six decades of volunteer dedication to the golfing community and association.

As a mother, Marion started her volunteer journey and overseeing a program that included over 100 Juniors at the John Blumberg Golf Course. She organized and ran the Junior championships. Throughout her life Marion was a potent advocate for, and to, the youth of Manitoba golfers; she held an unwavering commitment to their development and she derived great joy from watching their growth both on and off the golf course. 

She became President of the Breezy Bend Country Club Ladies League and volunteered her time as a Golf Manitoba championship starter, scorer, fundraiser, and representative. In an unofficial role, Marion also maintained all historical archives.

As a role model for others, Marion would always offer support and encouragement to all players of all levels, took on her volunteer responsibilities with absolute dedication, enthusiasm and positivity. The quiet support she offered may have initially gone unnoticed but the longstanding positive impact is undeniable. Indeed, many golfers today speak so kindly and respectfully of Marion. Without question, one of her contributions was to work together with her husband while advocating for the enhancement of the philosophy, spirit and goals of Golf Manitoba.

Harvey has held numerous roles and positions with both the Manitoba Golf Association and Golf Manitoba proudly provided over 30 years of volunteerism. His portfolio ranges from the club level through to the National level. As with his wife, Harvey always saw great benefit in giving his efforts to player development – especially at the ground level. He, too, ran the junior program at his home club.

Harvey spent several years serving on the Board of Directors of both the MGA & Golf Manitoba. He was a member of every committee of Golf Manitoba with the exception of one. He believed it was important to fully understand the functioning and purpose of each and every facet of our association. Truly dedicated to the mission, philosophy and spirit of our association, Harvey fulfilled several terms on the Board of Directors and became President of Golf Manitoba in 2009-2011.

A brief synopsis of his busy Golf volunteer life includes: 

• Non-playing captain at the National level 3 times.
• Manitoba representative on the RCGA Provincial Council at the inception of this committee and continued on for several years.(governance, strategic & policy issues affecting all provincial associations).
• Golf Canada Governance Committee (Regulatory and structural aspects of the Board of Golf Canada)
• Board member of Golf Manitoba with contributions &/or chair of all but 1 committee
• President 2009 – 2011
• Past President 2012 – 2014
• Active volunteer throughout his 30 years with refereeing, starting, scoring, fund raising, player development and advocate.
• For 20 years, and to this day, sits on the Board of Directors for the Golf Manitoba Hall of Fame Committee.

Harvey believes that golf is a ‘sport for a lifetime’ and his volunteering has been a ‘lifetime experience’. Having devoted well over 1/3 of his almost 90 years of life, he continues to be a staunch advocate for the sport of Golf in Manitoba & Northwest Ontario.

Without question, Marion & Harvey embrace the ideals of Golf Manitoba’s Mission statement. Their longstanding and dedicated volunteerism attest to those principles. Their goal of introducing more people to our sport, their encouraging and positive attitudes, their humble but enthusiastic participation, leadership, dedication, team work, and lifetime contributions have made the Goehrings the most deserving recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Service Award.

Honoring a Community of Volunteers

In addition to the Goehrings, this year’s awards ceremony celebrated the dedication of twelve outstanding volunteers who have reached significant milestones in their service to Golf Manitoba. These individuals have been recognized for their continuous contributions of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25+ years of service.

5 YEARS
Brad Beghetto
Wally Jackson
Bo Kampmann
Scott Kaler
Wayne McLeod
Lloyd Pluschow
Steve Wallace

20 YEARS
Susan Wright-Cassan

25 YEARS
Roy Smith

35 YEARS
Irv Benne
Barbara Hamill
Lou Spado

All volunteers were honoured during the 2024 Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF Tuesday, October 29 at St. Charles Country Club.

To view the photo gallery, click here.

About the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award

The Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recognizes volunteers who have gone above an beyond in making a positive impact on the golf community locally, regionally and/or nationally. The ideal candidate will display qualities of a positive role model to fellow volunteers through leadership, creativity, mentorship, excellent communication skills and dedicated service to the sport of golf and to Golf Manitoba.

Past DSA recipients

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

Golf Manitoba is proud to announce Harvey Goehring and the late Marion Goehring as co-recipients of the 2024 Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award.

This special recognition will be presented on Tuesday, October 29, during the Golf Manitoba Awards, presented by AVID GOLF, at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg.

“Harvey and Marion’s contributions are nothing short of extraordinary,” said Susan Wright-Cassan, President of Golf Manitoba. “They not only demonstrated exceptional leadership but also brought a personal commitment that has had a lasting impact on golfers across the province. It’s an honour to celebrate their legacy.”

Honoring a Community of Volunteers

In addition to the Goehrings, this year’s awards ceremony will also celebrate the dedication of twelve outstanding volunteers who have reached significant milestones in their service to Golf Manitoba. These individuals have been recognized for their continuous contributions of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25+ years of service.

5 YEARS
Brad Beghetto
Wally Jackson
Bo Kampmann
Scott Kaler
Wayne McLeod
Lloyd Pluschow
Steve Wallace

20 YEARS
Susan Wright-Cassan

25 YEARS
Roy Smith

35 YEARS
Irv Benne
Barbara Hamill
Lou Spado

For more information about the 2024 Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF and to join the celebration, please click here.

About the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award

The Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recognizes volunteers who have gone above an beyond in making a positive impact on the golf community locally, regionally and/or nationally. The ideal candidate will display qualities of a positive role model to fellow volunteers through leadership, creativity, mentorship, excellent communication skills and dedicated service to the sport of golf and to Golf Manitoba.

Past DSA recipients

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is the governing body for golf in the province of Manitoba and North West Ontario. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and North West Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

Brian Munz
Director of Communications & Development
Golf Manitoba
(204) 223-1119
brian@golfmb.ca

Don Hargot has been honoured as the 19th recipient of the Golf Manitoba Volunteer Distinguished Service Award. The announcement was made during the 2023 Golf Manitoba Awards presented by AVID GOLF hosted at Glendale Golf & Country Club.

Don fell in love with the sport of golf over 40 years when he joined St. Charles Country Club, where he is still an active member today.

Since 2001, Hargot has dedicated over 2000 hours in his primary volunteer role as a member of the course rating team. He has rated 90 courses across Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario.

Don has also volunteered as a pace of play official, tournament starter, and scorer.

He has also volunteered many hours at his home course serving as Club Captain and on the handicap committee.

Through Don’s decades of volunteering he has become a true Golf Manitoba advocate. He is always a friendly face and a positive influence within the volunteer family.

It is with great pleasure that we welcome & congratulate Mr. Don Hargot as our 2023 Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Also recognized were six individuals who reached milestone volunteer anniversaries with Golf Manitoba.

5 YEARS
Marissa Naylor

10 YEARS
Rick Kaye
Wayne McWhirter

15 YEARS
Jim Gosman

20 YEARS
Bill Barbaza

30 YEARS
Harvey Goehring

For more information about volunteering with Golf Manitoba, please visit golfmb.ca/volunteering.

Brenda Burch has been honored as the 17th recipient of the Golf Manitoba Volunteer Distinguished Service Award. The announcement was made during the 2022 Golf Manitoba Awards event that was held on November 2 at the Breezy Bend Country Club.

Brenda began her volunteerism in the early 1970s with the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association as the Assistant Tournament Director. After two decades of running championships, she joined the course rating team in 1997 and continued until her retirement in 2019.

During her time with the MLGA and Golf Manitoba, Brenda rated over 110 courses in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario. In addition to her field work, Brenda attended numerous provincial, national and USGA course rating seminars. Her expertise and dedication to course rating earned her the distinction of Level 4 Master Rater, which there are few of in Canada.

Dennis Langrell (1954-2021) was posthumously honored as the 18th recipient of the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award.

Dennis volunteered with Golf Manitoba for over 28 years. He served in various compacities including player development, officiating and most recently as the president of the Golf Manitoba Scholarship Fund until his passing in April of 2021.

Dennis was an instrumental contributor to the junior golf development program with Golf Manitoba.  He assisted in managing the association’s junior boy’s Mundie Putter team, assisted at numerous junior golf camps and acted as non-playing captain for Golf Manitoba at the Canadian Junior and Western Canadian Juvenile Championships.

Also recognized at the Awards event was eleven individuals who reached milestone volunteer anniversaries with Golf Manitoba.

5 YEARS
Gerald Diamond
Mary Lou Milhausen
Don Wilgosh

10 YEARS
Gerry Hawryluk
Ken Warwick

15 YEARS
Michael Culley
Mike Lagace
Peggy McLeod

30 YEARS
Don MacDonald
Clare Nesbitt

40 YEARS
George McLeod

For more information about volunteering with Golf Manitoba, please visit golfmb.ca/volunteering.

WINNIPEG, MB – Volunteers have been at the heart of Golf Manitoba since its founding in 2003 and prior to that for both the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association (MLGA) and the Manitoba Golf Association (MGA). The time and expertise volunteers donate year after year enable Golf Manitoba to achieve its goals. The volunteer contribution, dedication and commitment are vital to the growth of the organization.

Each year, Golf Manitoba recognizes the outstanding individual contributions of a long-serving volunteer through its Distinguished Service Award. The criteria for the award is long-time service to Golf Manitoba (including Manitoba Golf Association & Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association); going above and beyond the expectations of a volunteer; proving to be an advocate for the game and the Association, demonstrated commitment to amateur golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario and displaying qualities of a positive role model for other volunteers.

After a combined 52 years of volunteerism to the sport of golf, Golf Manitoba is pleased to recognize Brenda & Dennis Prystayko as this year’s recipients of the Golf Manitoba Distinguished Service Award.

Brenda’s volunteerism in golf began in 1990 with the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association where she served as a Board member and a non-playing captain for numerous junior girl’s provincial teams. When the MLGA merged to become Golf Manitoba, she became actively involved with the junior girl’s development teams that competed in the ladies Nassau League, Western Canada and Canada Summer Games and at national level championships. Brenda’s enthusiasm and her involvement directly contributed to the success of the junior girl’s program where many of her past players have continued to play competitively at university and provincial level championships.

Brenda has been an excellent role model for junior girl’s golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario where she created an atmosphere that made playing competitive golf fun. The Nassau team alumni speak fondly of their experience and continue to enjoy their relationship with Brenda. Every parent and every junior girl who where fortunate to know Brenda have nothing but nice things to say about her contributions and her genuine interest in wanting to help and grow junior girls golf.

Brenda Prystayko’s volunteer highlights:

• Began volunteering with the Manitoba Ladies’ Golf Association (MLGA) in 1990
• Previous Board member of the MLGA
• Non-Playing Captain for Provincial teams with the MLGA
• Manager for Team Manitoba at the 2011 Western Canada Games
• Manager for Team Manitoba at the 2013 Canada Games
• Manager for Team Manitoba at the 2017 Canada Games
• Non-Playing Captain for Team Manitoba numerous times at the Canadian Junior
• Non-Playing Captain for the Junior Girls Nassau Team since their inception in 2008

Dennis Prystayko’s volunteerism began in 1998 with the then Manitoba Golf Association and most recently with Golf Manitoba. He has dedicated countless hours assisting with the junior boy’s development program where he acted as a non-playing captain for the junior teams that competed in the Mundie Putter league and at national junior championships. His leadership skills are exceptional, and he has developed an amazing relationship with many junior golfers several of whom have gone on to play college golf, have become top provincial players as well as Club and Touring Professionals. Dennis has shown a genuine interest and dedication in helping to grow the sport of golf during his 22 years of service.

Dennis Prystayko’s volunteer highlights:

• Began volunteering for the MGA in 1998
• Non-Playing Captain for Team Manitoba at the Canadian Junior for many years
• Captain of the junior boys Mundie Putter team for 17 years
• Past member of Golf Manitoba’s Player Development Committee

Dennis and Brenda continue to enjoy their passion for golf and are both active, long-time members of the Pine Ridge Golf Club in Winnipeg.

“Golf Manitoba is very fortunate to have received so many years of dedicated service from both Brenda and Dennis Prystayko. They have been fantastic role models for junior golf and have been exceptional ambassadors for the association,” said Golf Manitoba Executive Director Jared Ladobruk. “And on behalf of our association and our volunteers, we are honoured to recognize Brenda and Dennis Prystayko as the Distinguished Service Award recipients for 2020.”

Past Distinguished Service Award recipients:

About Golf Manitoba – Golf Manitoba is provincial sport organization (PSO) for amateur golf in Manitoba. Its mission is to develop, promote, govern and service the sport of golf in Manitoba and Northwest Ontario for the benefit of all participants.

For more information:

Jared Ladobruk
Executive Director
Golf Manitoba
204-925-5729
jared@golfmb.ca