In March the Whistler Mountain Ski Club celebrated the 25 th annual Bob Parsons Memorial Downhill, Whistler’s longest running alpine skiing event. The event was created by ski coach and race director Bob Parsons in 1969 to give young athletes a safe opportunity to race speed events as they prepare to graduate to the next competitive level.
The juvenile races were named after Parsons following his death in 1979.
In two weeks the Parsons family will host the 24 th Annual Bob Parsons Memorial Golf Tournament, one of the longest running golf fundraisers in the valley, to help pay for the ski races and provide bursaries to young B.C. ski racers.
Usually two skiers at the FIS level receive this bursary each year, including one skier from the Whistler area.
The tournament takes place on Saturday, May 8 at the Big Sky Golf Course. The format for the tournament is a best ball Texas Scramble, with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m.
"This tournament is for all abilities because it’s best ball," said Chris Leighton, Bob Parsons’ daughter and the tournament organizer. "It’s nice to be able to play a course like Big Sky and not feel the pressure, but go out and have fun."
There will be side competitions throughout the day, including a "closest to the ski" contest.
The event is followed by a dinner at the clubhouse, with awards, prizes and a raffle for bottles of wine.
The entry fee is $115, which includes green fees, dinner and prizes. The registration deadline is April 22.
The event usually takes place in the fall but was moved to the spring this year. Even with the change of date organizers are hoping to get 100 or more participants this year.
To sign up for the Bob Parsons Memorial Golf Tournament contact Chris Leighton at 604-932-3742 or e-mail b&cleighton@telus.net.
