This year Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament on Monday at the North Battleford Golf and Country Club.
It was an exceptionally beautiful day and the 216 golfers on the course enjoyed every minute of the day.
“The foundation is overjoyed at the success of this tournament, which would not have occurred without the continued support of Wayne’s family and friends. In the past 20 years this golf tournament has helped to purchase over $414,000 in medical equipment to enhance health care in the Battlefords. It is a privilege that the Pruden family supported the foundation’s in memorial choice 20 years ago,” noted Claudette McGuire, executive director BUH Foundation.
Throughout the years traditions have sprung up with this tournament and many teams arrive in the morning in costumes and bright golfing gear. Many of the golfers have participated in this tournament since its inception 20 years ago.
“When the foundation was looking for possible memorial candidates the name Wayne Pruden kept coming to the forefront. There were many individuals who only had praise for this man: ‘he would give you the shirt off his back,’ 'his community is important to him and helps out all the time,’ ‘gives where and when he could,’ ‘is devoted to his family’ and on and on. It was an honour for us to be associated with this man and his family and friends and have this tournament named after him,” explained Sharon Spence speaking at the banquet following the tournament.
Spence was the first executive director of BUH Foundation and the individual who initiated the idea of the Wayne Pruden Memorial Golf Tournament 20 years ago.
Terry Lumsdon spent many days at the News-Optimist pouring over past editions of the newspaper for memorabilia pictures from past tournaments to add to the memory board that was displayed at this year’s banquet. Accompanying this display were the numerous souvenirs and programs from prior years including a couple of bottles of Labatt’s beer with the bottle caps sporting the tournament’s logo.
BUH Foundation is grateful to everyone who participated and supported this tournament. You have made a difference in your community health care.
