Fox Creek course to host PGA stars
Published Friday July 3rd, 2009
Paul Casey, Stephen Ames to play exhibition contest on July 28
It took a year of talks, but the Fox Creek Golf Course in Dieppe has finally landed PGA star Paul Casey and Canadian Stephen Ames for a head-to-head contest over 18 holes on July 28.
"This is the first time we've actually had two PGA golfers who are still playing at that calibre in New Brunswick," Denis LeBlanc, owner of the Fox Creek course, said.
Casey is Europe's dominant player and is ranked third in the world, trailing Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Ames registers at No. 50 in the world.
LeBlanc said the exhibition match has been in the works between Fox Creek and Nike Golf for about a year. He and Nike Golf's Maritime representative Mike O'Pray finalized the deal earlier this week.
"We have a privileged relationship with Nike Golf Canada and we were able to set up an event with these two world-class golfers," LeBlanc said, adding his shop sells Nike merchandise and the company helped establish his layout as a first-class course.
Tickets for the Fox Creek Challenge go on sale next Wednesday, for $100 per person, and can be bought at the course or online at www.foxcreekgolf.ca.
LeBlanc said only 1,500 tickets will be sold to ensure the public gets an up close and personal experience with the top PGA players.
"We want to create an intimate and interactive atmosphere between people and these two world-class golfers.
"It's not a PGA tour event where they have to focus hard on every shot, so they'll be more than willing to yak it up with the crowd," LeBlanc said.
"It'll be a really great day for the patrons."
Casey captured his first PGA victory in April at the Shell Houston Open and came in second at this year's Accenture Match Play championship, propelling the 31-year-old to No. 11 on the PGA Tour money list with $2,560,610 in earnings and the No. 3 world ranking behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Ames, who became a Canadian citizen in 2004, is 57th on the PGA Tour money list with $866,638. His best 2009 showing came at the 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer where he finished tied for fifth. The 45-year-old was born in Trinidad and Tobago and now lives with his wife Jodi in Calgary.
"This is a thrill for the LeBlanc family. Just like we dreamed of having a golf course, we dreamed of having PGA players at our course," LeBlanc said.
Fox Creek opened in 2005 and is the product of renowned Canadian architect Graham Cooke. The 6,900 yard, tree-line course is built around a natural landscape in the heart of Dieppe.
"We haven't had golfers of that calibre on our course, so we're anxious to see how they'll score," LeBlanc said. "I'm sure they'll be able to rip it up pretty easily," he added, because the course is geared for public players.
Fox Creek has hosted the Assumption Life Bobby Ore Charity Golf Classic for the last three years. The fall event draws close to 200 golfers and last year raised $120,000. In additional to hosting a slew of corporate tournaments, the course also held the Taylor Ford Friends of the Moncton Hospital tournament last August.
LeBlanc is looking forward to the Ames-Casey exhibition for the national recognition the course will receive as a place that can handle high-profile events.
"We have the facilities and expertise to host high-end events like these. We're up for the challenge and hopefully this will be the first of many in years to come."
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