Bannatyne enters Manitoba golf hall

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john woods / winnipeg free press Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame inductees Steve Bannatyne, Casey Walsh, son of Tannys Aspevig, Joyce Collier, Glen Hnatiuk and Dale Goehring (from left) made their mark locally, nationally and internationally. (WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

He still loves the game and enjoys playing it frequently, but it's not the same game he knew growing up.

Newly enshrined member Steve Bannatyne of St. Charles joined four others in the Manitoba Golf Hall of Fame and Museum Monday night in the annual induction ceremony at McPhillips Street Station casino.

Bridging the years between an older era and today gives the two-time Manitoba Amateur champ unique perspective.

"In those days, when I was playing (competitively) amateurs were going to be career amateurs," Bannatyne said Monday night, a day after his 63rd birthday. "Until Billy Parker was the first one to leave Winnipeg and get a scholarship, none of the rest of us ever did that.

"Until then, competing for the Amateur or the Willingdon Cup team, it was always against the same guys for 10 or 15 years.

"Now, Garth (Collings), is almost the only one who fits the description. He's playing this year (in the Amateur playoff) against three kids that barely add up to his age."

Bannatyne competed with and rubbed shoulders with many of Manitoba's greats, the likes of Jimmy Doyle, David Hill, Terry More, Barry McKenzie, Ted Homeuik and Gary Kullman, among others.

"Garth came along later," Bannatyne added with a smile. "I was lucky he didn't come along earlier because I might not have won anything."

Bannatyne's induction included his contributions as a builder, mainly his stewardship for more than 25 years of the Mundie Putter League, which was begun in the 1950s to add a competitive vehicle for local players.

The class of 2012, the 10th for the Hall, included Selkirk's Glen Hnatiuk, Winnipeggers Dale Goehring and the late Tannys Aspevig and builder Joyce Collier of Portage.

Hnatiuk, now 47 and a phys-ed teacher in Florida, spent 10 years competing against the world's best, including six full-time seasons on the PGA Tour.

He said Monday his playing highlights included four wins on what is now the Web.com Tour and being invited to elite tournaments like The Players.

And among the memories: "Probably the first tournament I won," he said. "I was 10. It was the Carman Junior. I shot 110. But the reason I say it was from then on I was really hooked on competitive golf."

Goehring, who now lives in Calgary, was the Manitoba golfer of the year in 1988 and 1997, when he won the Canadian Amateur.

Aspevig who passed away two years ago at age 60, dominated the Manitoba Amateur with titles in four of five years between 1967 and 1971.

Collier, an instrumental figure in getting the golf Hall of Fame off the ground in Manitoba, was its first president, among the roles she played in a deep career as a volunteer and executive in golf circles.

She was president of the MLGA from 1995-97, and associate governor of the RCGA from 2006-08.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 25, 2012 C2