Wayne Hachey (far right) and Osoyoos Secondary School teacher John Seminoff (far left) help run the Osoyoos Secondary School Golf Academy program. On Monday, Hachey selected Scott Rausch (second from left), Cole Rezka and Alex Brunner to travel to the world-class Capilano Golf and Country Club in Vancouver for putting in the most practice with the golf academy program over the past four months. Rausch and Rezka were selected last year and are looking forward to going back. Seminoff found out on Monday he’ll be joining them and Brunner and he was pretty happy about it. (Keith Lacey photo)
For the second year in a row, Scott Rausch and Cole Rezka are heading off to play one of Canada’s finest golf courses.
This year they will be accompanied by Alex Brunner as the three young golfers were awarded the special trip to play Vancouver’s Capilano Golf and Country Club for putting in the most practice time as part of the Osoyoos Golf Academy program at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS).
The golf academy program officially wrapped up on Monday and Rausch, Rezka and Brunner put in the most practice time over the course of this semester.
“This isn’t about who plays the best, but simply puts in the most practice and works the hardest,” said Wayne Hachey, the founder of the Osoyoos Desert Academy, which has worked with administration at OSS to form the Osoyoos Golf Academy several years ago.
Rausch, who will turn 17 in less than two weeks, has been “playing a ton of golf” over the past couple of months as he’s been entering tournaments across the Okanagan Valley and other parts of B.C. since early spring.
Rausch recently finished second overall at a junior tournament at Nk’ Mip Golf Club in Oliver.
He and Rezka won the same award last year and were honoured and privileged to play Capilano, which consistently is ranked in the top five golf courses in Canada by respected golf publications.
“It was simply an awesome experience … and I’m glad we’ll be able to go back,” said Rezka. “It’s such a beautiful course … it’s almost hard to describe.”
Playing from the men’s tees, Rezka shot a very respectable 85, while Rausch shot 87 during their first visit to Capilano and they hope to better that score when they return some time this summer.
Brunner, 13, who is a 25 handicap for girls, said she’s very excited to be joining Rezka and Rausch when they travel to Vancouver, likely in July, to play Capilano once again.
“I’ve heard it’s a gorgeous course and I can’t wait to play it,” she said.
All three teenagers have summer jobs at Osoyoos Golf Club. Rausch and Rezka work in the back shop, while Brunner works in the kitchen.
Joining them on the trip to Vancouver will be John Seminoff, a veteran teacher as OSS who helped form the Osoyoos Golf Academy with Hachey.
Hachey is good friends with Brad Burgart, the manager of Capilano Golf and Country Club, and he’s been generous enough to donate free rounds to the kids from Osoyoos who graduate from the golf academy.
“Brad is very supportive of everything I’m trying to do here in Osoyoos to promote junior golf,” he said. “When I approached him last year, he had no problem donating a couple of free rounds to our kids who practice the hardest and he didn’t hesitate again when I asked him this year. Brad and I came up as young golfers through the apprenticeship program at Osoyoos Golf Club, when we were both young assistant pros back in the 1980s. We’ve remained good friends and I really appreciate him helping us out.”
Encouraging young players to practice is a big part of his success as a teaching professional, said Hachey.
“Practice is important in all sports, but perhaps even more with golf because you’re simply not going to improve unless you put in practice time,” he said. “We’re lucky to have a great group of kids who really seem to enjoy the game and go out of their way to put in practice to improve.”
“Capilano is easily one of the most beautiful golf courses in North America,” he said. “I’m thrilled these kids will get to play a course of this calibre. I know they won’t forget it.”
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
