Julien St-Jean

Bristol August 21, 2021

Twelve golfers arrived at Pine Lodge last Saturday for the annual Waidt Construction Services golf tournament.

The tournament was a standard “four guys, best ball” tournament, with a few prizes for winners. However, prizes weren’t the main goal. According to participants, the spirit of the tournament is to simply get out with friends and enjoy the game.

“It’s a bunch of guys who try to get together and have a good time,” said Brad Paquette, one of the tournament’s organizers. “It’s really nice to get out as a group and play golf with a bunch of guys I haven’t been able to get out with.”

In the past, the tournament had been much larger, reaching up to 17 groups and renting busses, but Paquette explained that in the last few years, this has changed. “We toned it right down and moved it to [Pine Lodge]. And we like it the way it is.”

Paquette explained that entrants each give some money which adds up to one donation. Last year, the tournament resulted in a roughly $500 donation to the Aylmer Food Center. This year, they once again donated the money to the food bank.

“We try to do a little bit whenever we get together to help those in need,” said Paquette. He said this need has only deepened during the pandemic. “With last year’s COVID, it made total sense to give all the proceeds to those in need. Every dollar counts when you’re helping someone.”