As an Olympic coach, Caledon’s Barrie Shepley has seen how long and difficult it is for an athlete to make it to the highest
levels. “A year before the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000, Simon Whitfield was not a carded athlete and he was basically starving to death,” said the Caledon coach. “I have seen literally hundreds of amazing athletes quit sport due to lack of funding support over the years.” Shepley and his C3 colleagues decided to do something about the lack of government funding when they started their yearly Caledon Golf Tournament For Future Champions. “Many people want to help you once you’re the world or Olympic champion, but few people or organizations realize that you most need the help before you actually win,” said Caledon’s Sean Bechtel. Over the last decade, C3 has handed out nearly $1 million dollars of support to future champions with much of the money being spent on local athletes who have lived and gone to school right in Caledon. Thursday, June 4 is the seventh Annual Golfing For Future Champions, and C3 organizers are asking anyone in the community who enjoys golf or supporting local talent to help by participating in either the golf day or the post-golf evening supper. “The golf tournament is a best-ball foursome and we can put you on a team if you don’t have others to golf with,” said event organizer Judy Riseborough.
The day includes lunch, 18 holes of golf at the Caledon Golf and Country Club, a great evening supper, awards, a goodybag, a chance to help local promising athletes and a chance to hear keynote speaker/movie director Michael McGowan.