Ally Tidcombe has crossed oceans and continents in his pursuit of the PGA Tour, all the while proudly representing the Maple Leaf.
THE JOURNEYMAN
By Peter Robinson Created: June 1, 2018
ON A FEW OCCASIONS DURING HIS GOLF JOURNEY throughout Latin America, Ally Tidcombe has wondered where exactly he was headed. “We can be in an Uber, or looking at the GPS,” said the 25-year-old of his time playing PGA Tour Latinoamerica, “and it looks like there couldn’t possibly be a golf course anywhere around and then all of a sudden…”
Tidcombe didn’t need to finish the sentence because his point was clear: The destination isn’t always in sight or apparent but he’s getting there nonetheless.
His journey through countries such as Argentina, Guatemala and Nicaragua over the past two golf seasons tells only part of the story of the sophomore pro. Born in England, Tidcombe came to Canada in his early teens, settling with his family in Nova Scotia because his parents — mom Helen, who now works at Acadia University, and dad Wayne, a salesman — saw the country as providing a better opportunity for their two boys. They became citizens four years ago, with Ally’s golf journey taking him from the Annapolis Valley to the University of British Columbia, to a small school in Kentucky, to the College of Coastal Georgia near the popular tour-pro settlement of St. Simons Island, Ga. — where he’s been based since graduating with a business degree — to various outposts in Latin America.
Those are some Gary Player-like air miles.
When he took the time to chat recently, Tidcombe was shoehorning the conversation in between a practice session at home and packing ahead of a 3 a.m. wake-up call to catch a flight to Jamaica. He even managed to squeeze in a Stanley Cup playoff game featuring Sidney Crosby, whose ascension into NHL royalty coincided roughly with Tidcombe’s arrival in Nova Scotia.
“It’s been quite incredible to watch him since moving to Canada,” said Tidcombe.
Speaking of incredible, Tidcombe simply being able to swing a club is quite a feat after what he endured as a toddler, when a severe accident while playing in the backyard of the family home in England led to pins being inserted into his left elbow. They’re still there.
“We were told he’d never have 100 per cent use of that elbow,” said Helen Tidcombe.
Young Ally wasn’t phased. He first had designs on playing for Manchester United, the soccer team he still supports, and spent several years playing out of the academy program of Boston United, a lowerlevel professional team back in England. But soon after the permanent transatlantic move, Tidcombe became fixated on another game played on grass.
“Everyone wanted to be David Beckham and so did I, but then I (became) attracted to the individual nature of golf,” he said.
Tidcombe played a bit in England but really dove into the sport once he turned up at Ken-Wo GC in New Minas, not far from where he lived in Wolfville. (The family now lives in Bedford.)
“The NSGA (Nova Scotia Golf Association) really helped and there were hundreds of kids at Ken-Wo, a lot of good people there to be around,” Tidcombe explained.
Though the Atlantic provinces don’t have the competitive numbers of Central Canada and B.C., Tidcombe showed enough promise to end up at UBC, which features one of the best collegiate teams in Canada, before eventually landing at Coastal Georgia, an NAIA school, where he won a handful of college titles and helped the squad to the national championship. He also won the 2014 Nova Scotia Amateur championship.
Tidcombe remained an amateur for two more years but turned professional in 2016 and won his Latinoamerica card soon after. He fell short of restamping it in his rookie season but managed to get through qualifying to return to action this year. During that span he also tried his luck in Europe, progressing through a first-stage qualifier in England, but falling one shot outside the cut-off in second stage.
He’s had his moments, including a T3 at an unofficial Latinoamerica event and a T14 during the regular season, but Tidcombe is the first to admit he’s not satisfied with his performance so far. Citing a lack of experience and some struggles with the putter, he’s still awaiting a breakthrough. That said, he’s not discouraged.
“You rarely achieve success in golf overnight,” he said. “Sometimes I (lack) experience to really understand the conditions, when to know that it’s a green-light day, or that with wind or tight pins that you have to be cautious.“I also haven’t putted as well as I had hoped. I’ve only had a couple good putting days and it can be difficult sometimes to get used to the greens — they can vary from course to course.”
Played across a vast region where interest in golf can range from passionate — large swathes of Argentina and the expat communities of Sao Paulo and Central America — to virtually nonexistent, PGA Tour Latinoamerica is an interesting loop on which to cut your teeth. Tidcombe learned that quickly the first time he heard monkeys scurrying through the jungle terrain through which some courses wind.
But the circuit is no slouch competitively. At around the same time Tidcombe was watching Crosby on television, he was also peering in on a Web.com Tour event won by Mexican veteran José de Jesús Rodríquez, who has played throughout Latin America over the past 10 years.
“I think the quality of golf on the tour is very underrated,” Tidcombe said.
Helen, a pleasant voice that, unlike her two sons, still hangs firmly onto her English accent, has watched her son pursue his passion for most of the past decade. Like any parent, she is both content and a little anxious to watch her youngest son chase his far-flung dream.
PGA TOUR LATINOAMERICA
Tidcombe is still getting used to the peculiarities of some far-flung places on PGA Tour Latinioamerica.
“It’s not for the faint hearted,” she said of his quest. “As a parent, you watch your children work so hard at what they believe in, you see how much they want to achieve (their goals).”
At the time of writing Ally’s older brother, Matthew, was about to take a short break from his job as a digital content manager for the American Hockey League’s Belleville Senators to loop for Ally in Costa Rica. Matthew is a non-golfer, but the brothers spent many years facing off in soccer — Ally a striker and Matthew in goal. It was on the pitch where they tuned their competitive instincts, sometimes against one another, but it’s fair to say they won’t get into a battle of wills over club selection like what has happened to Ally a few times in his season-plus on tour.
“I can get by in Spanish,” said Ally, “but I’m not conversational. I had my caddie walk ahead with my bag because he wanted me to use three-wood and I’m, ‘Ahem, no, I think I’m going to use driver.’ There have been a few interesting moments like that.”
Tidcombe is unsure at this stage when he’ll next get to play back home in Canada. He plans on filling gaps on the Latinoamerica schedule this summer by doing Monday qualifying on both the Web.com and PGA tours. At present, there are no plans to attempt to qualify for the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada, but much like navigating his way through Latin America, Tidcombe is still trying to figure out how to reach pro golf’s ultimate destination.
One thing’s for sure though: His family’s decision to move to Canada a decade ago provided him with the perfect starting point.
“Both our boys,” relayed Helen, “have told us a number of times how much they appreciate the opportunity that Canada has afforded them.”
This article appears in the 2018 May-June Issue of SCOREGolf Magazine.
Garrett Rank’s remarkable journey to the U.S. Open
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — It was a dream, one that hardly even seemed possible, back in the days when Garrett Rank was a member of Golf Canada’s National Men’s Team from 2012-14.
One of his teammates was Mackenzie Hughes and now, four years later, the band will be back together again, this time on one of golf’s biggest stages.
Rank and Hughes have taken different paths to get to this U.S. Open at the demanding, undulating and windswept Shinnecock Hills, but they will be together Thursday morning, along with Australian Aaron Baddeley, at 7:18 a.m. off the 10th tee.
Rank, from Elmira, ON, has been one of the popular stories in the early days of the tournament. Coming off his second full season as a referee in the NHL, he has been a media darling. He was the first player in the media centre on Monday and has done a steady stream of interviews since.
The 30-year-old deserves all the attention he has been getting, from winning a battle with testicular cancer in 2011 to putting together an impressive amateur career to establishing himself as a referee in the best hockey league in the world.
He had a hat trick at the Canadian Mid-Amateur championship, winning it three times in a row and finished runnerup in the 2012 U.S. Mid-Am. Winning the Canadian Mid-Am got him a ticket to three RBC Canadian Opens, making the cut in 2016. (Last year, he played the par-3 seventh hole, made to look like a hockey rink, in a referee’s sweater).
This season, despite being limited to less than a dozen rounds of golf during the winter as he worked 73 regular-season games in the NHL, he qualified for the U.S. Open with a pair of 71s at the Ansley Golf Club’s Settindown Course in Atlanta.
Hughes turned pro in 2013 and won the RSM Classic in 2016.
After playing 14 holes with Hughes, from Dundas, ON, and Adam Hadwin of Abbotsford, BC, on Tuesday, Rank put in a good session on the range with coach Dave Smallwood and was then interviewed live on The Golf Channel.
The whirlwind will ease Thursday morning when he can step onto the tee where there will be a familiar face.
“That was great for me. I couldn’t have got a better group, I don’t think,” Rank said. “I attended Mackenzie’s wedding. We’re great friends. We played on the Canadian national team for three years together, so very comfortable. It will be kind of nice for me, as I’m sure I’ll be really anxious and nervous and just to have that familiar face beside me in battle is huge.
“And then it’s cool, like Aaron Baddeley growing up was a huge name and still is a big name in golf. Secretly, it’s cool. Like I saw all the guys on the range today and I’m just there kind of like a little fan boy, so it’s cool to see those guys and be able to play with them, as well.”
Stephen Walkom, the NHL’s director of officiating, said the same qualities that make Rank an up-and coming referee serve him well on the golf course.
“I think he’s going to be really happy when the tournament starts,” Walkom said. “Once the tournament starts, it’s like a hockey game starting. He’s going to feel at peace, I’m sure. In golf, you have to be mentally tough and I think there are similarities with hockey, recovering quickly from a bad shot or a missed call. Garrett’s got a real passion for hockey and for the game of golf.
“On behalf of all the guys (on the officiating staff), we’re all extremely proud of Garrett and all that he’s accomplished qualifying for the U.S. Open. All the guys are going to enjoy it and wish him the best of luck. It’s great for Garrett. He’s going to have the chance to do something he dreamed about as a kid.”
With the spotlight turned on him, Rank has been taking the opportunity to spread the word Canada isn’t just about hockey.
“Yeah, growing up in Canada, you’re kind of born with a pair of skates on your feet, so hockey is probably our number one sport. But golf is getting there,” he said. “I’ve had a great opportunity with Golf Canada for three years on their Canadian Men’s National Team and have represented them in many international competitions. Obviously, I owe a huge debt to them. I wouldn’t be here without the guidance and support their staff has given me.”
Rank said his goal is to make the cut at Shinnecock. He said he had some issues with the wind, which shifted from the east to southwest on Tuesday, and that’s what kept him on the range.
Rank’s coach, David Smallwood, said what Rank has done getting here is remarkable for a guy who has a full-time job.
“You know what? For somebody who spends 72 nights dropping a puck, this is a part-time gig for him. He gets a few opportunities (to play) when he refs some Florida games and some mini-camps with me in Florida. We’d like it to be a couple more, but he’s busy with all the travel and stuff.
“It’s not the best situation to be able to come out here and compete with the best players in the world, but he’s a helluva an athlete, a helluva player and a helluva guy. When you have talent, you have talent. Is he as sharp mentally? Does he not question stuff because he’s a little rusty or not? He’s had three or four tournaments in the spring. He’s had some playing time. He just hasn’t had the range time.
“It’s a whirlwind,” Smallwood said as Rank headed off to talk to The Golf Channel. “We were planning on being out of here by now just relaxing at the house. It hasn’t worked out that way, so we’re going to do some chipping, some putting, some media. It’s a busy week.
“It’s a bucket list thing and we’re just all so excited about his opportunity this week.”
Adam Sheparski and Kevin Scott win the 2018 NSGA Men’s Four Ball
Lombard and LeBlanc lead the 2018 NSGA Four Ball Championship
Abercrombie Country Club set to host the 52nd Annual NSGA Men’s Four Ball Championship
UBC Thunderbirds and Fraser Valley Cascades top the leaderboard at the Canadian University/College Championship
Hellman, Lee, Graham, Olson and Brook top individual standings
CHILLIWACK, B.C. –An overcast first round of the Canadian University/College Championship saw five individuals sit atop the leaderboard today at Chilliwack Golf Club.
Zack Olson shot a 4-under to share a piece of 4th and give host team University of the Fraser Valley Cascades a commanding lead, while Kelly Hellman and Avril Li carded an even-par to help defending women’s champion University of British Columbia Thunderbirds top the women’s competition.
The University of the Fraser Valley Cascades men’s team earned a combined 10-under par to earn a commanding lead, building a 13-shot advantage over defending men’s team champion Université Laval Rouge et Or who posted a 3-over par. University of Guelph Gryphons are currently in third with a 4-over par.
Three players in the men’s individual championship – Adam Graham (Brock University Badgers), Wyatt Brook (Vancouver Island University Mariners), and Zach Olson (University of the Fraser Valley Cascades) – head into tomorrow in first place at 4-under par.
Thunderbirds Kelly Hellman of Nelson, B.C. and Avril Li of Port Moody, B.C. both fired an even-par 72 to earn top spots in the women’s individual competition. The Thunderbirds have won 12 of the past 15 editions of the women’s team event.
Veronique Fortin-Latreille of the Université de Montréal Carabins and Sarah Dunning of the University of Guelph Gryphons are very close behind, sitting second in the women’s individual competition one stroke behind at 1-over par.
With a combined score of 5-over par, the Thunderbirds are two strokes ahead of the Université de Montréal Carabins, who posted a team score of 7-over par on day one. The University of Victoria Vikes sit in third place at 10-over par.
The Women’s and Men’s Individual winners receive an exemption into their respective Canadian Amateur Championship. The top-three Men’s and Women’s individual finishers qualify for the FISU Universiade Games.
Former NS Development Team member, Ben Chasse fired a two over, 74 to currently sit at T31.
For more information on the event, including tomorrow’s tee times and current results, can be found here.
TOP-5 MEN’S – TEAM
1 University of the Fraser Valley Cascades. -10. F -10 278
2 Université Laval Rouge et Or +3 F* +3 291
3 University of Guelph Gryphons +4 F +4 292
T4. Université de Montréal Carabins +5 F +5 293
T4. University of British Columbia Thunderbirds +5 F +5 293
TOP-5 MEN’S – INDIVIDUAL
T1. Adam Graham Brock University Badgers *35-33-68 -4
T1. Wyatt Brook Vancouver Island University Mariners *35-33-68 -4
T1. Zack Olson University of the Fraser Valley Cascades *32-36-68 -4
T4. Nicholas Striker University of Guelph Gryphons *34-35-69 -3
T4. Daniel Campbell University of the Fraser Valley Cascades *32-37-69 +2
TOP-5 WOMEN’S – TEAM
- University of British Columbia Thunderbirds +5 F +5 221
- Université de Montréal Carabins +7 F* +7 223
- University of Victoria Vikes +10 F +10 226
- University of Toronto Varsity Blues +18 F +18 234
- University of the Fraser Valley Cascades +20 F +20 236
TOP-5 WOMEN’S – INDIVIDUAL
T1. Kelly Hellman University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. *35-37-72 E
T1. Avril Li University of British Columbia Thunderbirds *36-36-72 E
T3. Veronique Fortin-Latreille Université de Montréal Carabins *38-35-73 +1
T3. Sarah Dunning University of Guelph Gryphons *38-35-73 +1
T5. Mylène Limoges Université de Montréal Carabins *37-37-74 +2
T5. Quinn Fitzgerald University of Victoria Vikes *41-33-74 +2
Click hereto download photos; credit to Golf Canada.
David Hearn Foundation Kia grant applications now open
Canadian PGA golfer David Hearn along with Kia Canada Inc. are teaming up to battle Alzheimer’s disease once again this year.
In 2015, Hearn, 38, launched his Foundation focusing on supporting the Alzheimer Society of Canada. The Foundation aims to increase awareness, improve care for those in need, and reducing the impact of the disease by raising funds and providing services to individuals and families.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2018 grant program with assistance from Kia Canada. The program is open to all junior golfers in Canada. The two winners will receive $4,500 each to contribute to an Alzheimer Society of their choice. The two recipients will also be invited to play in the 2018 David Hearn Foundation Charity Classic in Brantford, Ont. and $500 to spend at Golftown. Besides being a Canadian resident, applicants must be under 18-years-old on July 30, enrolled in school, and involved in the sport of golf including a junior program, member of a course, taking lessons or attending a camp. There is an essay portion of the application as well asking entrants to explain why they should be chosen to support a certain Alzheimer’s Society chapter.
The deadline to apply is June 19, the winners will be chosen on July 4 and announced on July 6. Applications can be downloaded here.
Post scores and you could win the golf trip of a lifetime
The Great Canadian East-West Contest is back for 2018, giving one lucky draw winner the golf trip of a lifetime to one of Canada’s most renowned golf courses. This year will include an all-expenses-paid trip for two to either Bear Mountain Golf & Country Club in B.C., or Kingswood Golf & Country Club in N.B.
The winner is drawn from all score entries posted by Golf Canada members from April 1 – Oct. 31, 2018. Each additional score posted counts for an additional entry. In addition to the golf, the winner will receive:
- Four nights accommodation at hotel near chosen golf course
- Round trip airfare (with either Delta or WestJet)
- Five-day car rental (with National/Enterprise)
- One hour lesson and one round of golf with the PGA of Canada professional
- $500 spending money
Draw will take place on November 10th, 2018
In 2017, the Great Canadian East-West Contest came to an end Oct. 31, with North Vancouver’s Patrick Lloyd winning the draw amongst over 7 million scores posted by Golf Canada members.
As the winner, Lloyd was given the choice of a golf vacation for two in 2018 to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club (also in B.C.) or The Links at Crowbush Cove in Morell, P.E.I.
Lloyd, a member of Seymour Golf & Country Club in North Vancouver, B.C., will head east to Crowbush Cove alongside wife Linda this summer.
Lorie Kane to receive honorary degree from Acadia University
Wolfville, N.S. – More than 800 graduates from Acadia University will receive their diplomas at ceremonies taking place May 13-14, joining Acadia’s more than 30,000 alumni worldwide. In addition, Acadia will confer Honorary Degrees on individuals who have distinguished themselves in public service, education and professional sports. Among those Honorees will be Canadian LPGA Tour professional Lorie Kane. Kane, an Honoured Member of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame who graduated from Acadia in 1988, will receive a Doctor of Humanities.
“Our Honorary Degree recipients exemplify in every way how each of us can use our background and experience to make significant and meaningful contributions to our communities, our country and to the world,” said Acadia President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Peter Ricketts.
Kane has triumphed on the golf course and is recognized as a leader for the sport. Since her rookie year on the LPGA Tour in 1996, she has won nearly $7 million in career earnings. In that time, she recorded four LPGA Tour victories and 99 top-ten finishes, including eight in majors.
In 1998, she won the Heather Farr Player Award, given by the LPGA Tour to the golfer who demonstrates determination, perseverance and spirit through hard work, dedication and love of the game. In 2000, she won the William and Mousie Powell Award given by the LPGA Tour to the golfer whose behavior and deeds best exemplifies the spirit, ideals and values of the LPGA. In 2006, she became a member of the Order of Canada.
Prior to turning pro in 1993, Kane represented Canada as a member of the Canadian International Team from 1989 to 1992. She was also a member of the 1991 Canadian Commonwealth Team and the 1992 Canadian World Amateur Team. As a CP Ambassador, she embodies ongoing support of women’s golf through the CP Women’s Open and helps advocate and elevate the CP Has Heart charitable campaign which raises money and awareness for heart health.
Congrats to CP ambassador @LorieKaneLPGA on @AcadiaU’s announcement that she will receive an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree! With her dedication to @CPHasHeart, we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving. ❤️?? https://t.co/Tr8I3jiFOx pic.twitter.com/A9p5fWWS3x
— Canadian Pacific (@CanadianPacific) May 2, 2018
Golf fans in Saskatchewan will be able to watch Kane compete live at the 2018 CP Women’s Open, taking place August 20-26 at Wascana Country Club in Regina.
Men’s 4 Ball Registration Closes June 1
The Abercrombie Country Club has hosted a number of provincial and national championships including the 2015 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Abercrombie will also host the 2019 MCT Men’s Amateur Championship as part of the clubs 100th Anniversary celebration.
Entry fee includes team practice round and two competitive rounds plus a team meal!
For more information on the 2018 NSGA Men’s Four Ball Championship please CLICK HERE