In the summer of 1987, one lazy afternoon while sitting in the French Maid (also affectionately known as “The Ballet”) expanding their horizons and seeking additional culture, Neal Bard and Dale Rawson were reflecting on the status of the Western Canadian Oil Industry. As luck would have it, their conversation turned to golf – they discussed the PSI, the 400 Club tournament, the Foothills Oilmen’s and of course the Chinook Oilmen’s. Their feeling was these events were becoming the “Oil Boys’ Club” and really, the non-competitive, once a month golfer needed an event to call their own.

The Calgary Invitational Oilmen’s Team Golf Tournament idea was born. We needed someone with golf connections – enter Bruce McBean, we needed another grass roots organizer – enter Eldon Geib. The four of us struck a committee and here we are some 17 years later going strong. Interestingly enough, only Neal & Dale are left from the original committee (and they still love going to “The Ballet”, some things just don’t change).

The tournament started with 3 concepts:

1. The tournament had to be fun and we needed new golf blood.
2. Because of the tournament’s origins – the event would begin with a registration meeting the evening prior to the tournament, and
3. The tournament would be invitational, and would be held to individuals in sales, procurement and engineering in the oil and gas business.

We have had numerous Executive members over the course of the years but we would like to make mention of a few notables:Cam Thomson, who joined the committee in our 3rd or 4th year, succumbed to cancer in his 2nd season with us – hence the Cam Thomson memorial trophy to honor his valuable but short tenure on the committee. Other memorable gentlemen who we have enjoyed the pleasure of their company include the aforementioned Eldon Geib, Ted Clarke and Ian Sherrington all of whom are no longer with us. The tournament has changed very little, the committee picks the teams, we score using a modified stapleford, Balon has a Barbecue at the registration event, Neal tells us his old jokes, and the registration night in itself is usually a night to behold. We can fondly recall those memorable nights in the “bunker”, and of course John Sherwood swimming around on the floor, Mark Migallo swimming in the pool, Eldon Geib caught in the ladies room – and so many more activities. Who can forget Paul Stewart winning the 21st Century Transport hole-in-one prize of that beautiful boat and trailer with that magnificent “off the side hill, through the rough, across the green and into the cup!” shot.

- Dale Rawson