The 2010 Dinner At Olympic View Golf Course

The Coach and Friends Dinner on October 16, 2010 was held at the beautiful Olympic View Golf Course.  Pictured to the left is the view of the 9th hole and fairway taken from the patio area of the clubhouse.

The dinning room was elegantly decorated with a big screen to show pictures highlighting Lloyd's achievements and the people who played a part in his life.

About 120 people came together to enjoy the evening which included an incredible meal, music, fun,  presentations and entertainment.

As more pictures and stories come in they will be posted...enjoy.

Coach and Friends: Best Looking Golf Team?

The Coach and Friends annual golf and dinner celebration (October 15-17/2010) featured some ten golf teams and 40 golfers who ventured to play the Bear Mountain Valley Course designed by Jack Nicklaus.

The picture on the left is one entry into the category of the Best Looking Golf Team, if no other entries come in, this team will have a good chance to win. From left to right the handsome foresome is made up of Will and Terry from Calgary and Wes and Hal from Vancouver.

Pictured behind the foresome is the first hole, par 5 at the Valley Course.

Golfing The Bear

One of the many hilights of the Coach and Friends golfing weekend and dinner (October 15-17/10) was golfing at Bear Mountain in Victoria.

The picture on the left is the practice putting green overlooking the valley and first hole just below. We got to play the Valley Course that meanders through forest, along side lakes and offers a fantastic views of rugged landscapes.

Some 40 golfers took on the Nicklaus designed course and unfortunaltly the Bear won. Golfers were humbled by the large and undulating greens and 4 putts on the green were quite common. If the ball made it's way into the rough, and many did, it was an automatic drop to the fairway if the ball could be found. However, the golf may have been average but the golf experience was spectacular. Not only was the view and the beautiful surroundings incredible but the friendships made were exceptional.

Everyone had a great time and then it was onto the hospitality room at the hotel to meet more friends, have a few drinks and witness the Coach's other talent of cooking bannock.

An Introduction To The Coach

LLOYD GAUTHIER COACH'S STORY
Our inspirational Golf Coach, Lloyd Gauthier, was born in the small community of McLennan, in North-Central Alberta to Cree parents. He was adopted into a loving but poor family that lived primarily of the land and survived by hunting and fishing. Lloyd recalls the small mud home they lived in and the luxury of an outdoor toilet with the latest Sears catalogue to read and use for certain purposes. In those days the family got into town a few times a year by horse and wagon.
At an early age Lloyd started to nurture a deep attachment for the land and the environment. He developed a spiritual connection to how God provided for the land, animals and people. He felt that respect, conservation and gratitude were qualities he wished to demonstrate in his life.

Sports and School
An athlete since high school, Lloyd participated in both hockey and track. Known by the nickname “Tonto” Lloyd was a member of the Mount Royal Cougars from 1967 to 1969, and was on the team when it won both the Alberta Inter-collegiate Championship and the Senior League Championship.

According to Lloyd nature and the land was his teacher for the first 9 years of his life. In grade school he credits many teachers who encouraged him to keep learning. Despite difficult circumstances this motivated Lloyd to continue his education attending High School in High Prairie and later in Calgary, Alberta. Lloyd supported himself through college completing a B.A. degree at Bemidji College in Minnesota.

Golf Legacy
Lloyd Gauthier’s golf legacy is extensive and impressive. Winner of over 50 tournaments Lloyd counts his 3 North American Indian Golf Championships and 3 consecutive Wetaskiwin Open wins as major highlights. Finishing in the money at the Alberta Open and winning 9 out of 10 playoffs are other memorable milestones. Lloyd has recorded 15 hole in ones, an amazing accomplishment that will be featured in the winter edition of the Golf Teaching Pro Magazine that will be distributed throughout North America and Europe this January.

For Lloyd golf is as much a spiritual adventure as it is a game. Golf has been his passion and his greatest teacher. Now as a golf Coach he derives great enjoyment in passing on this passion and knowledge to help others learn and have fun.