Recognition comes in various forms and while not everyone gets involved in sports to be on the receiving end of a recognition, it’s great to see the “unsung heroes” get their true reward.

Such is the case as we are now hearing that Golf Canada has named it’s 2018 Golf Canada Distinguished Service Award winners.

Fran Marsden (former Alberta Golf President) and Florin “Fuzzy” Bergh (long-time volunteer), plus golf historian Ron Lyons and Cam Cole (golf columnist) will be acknowledged for their contributions as 2018 recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award.

Since 1993 the National Sport Federation’s Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to recognize those individuals who have had a profound impact on Canadian Golf – Nationally or within their own community.

Marsden has been an exceptional volunteer in Alberta for 30 years and was instrumental in the 2000 amalgamation of the former Men’s and Women’s provincial golf associations – now known as Alberta Golf.

Bergh is a life-long contributor who has supported Alberta Golf and the Alberta Golf Foundation in a variety of volunteer and fundraising roles over the past three decades, that far exceed what others have done.

Lyons is the co-owner of the Legends Golf and Country Club in Edmonton, and truth be told he is regarded as one of the foremost golf historians and golf memorabilia collectors in Alberta.

Marsden, Bergh and Lyons will be given the 2018 Distinguished Service Awards (January 27th) as part of Golf Canada’s Annual Meeting at Calgary’s Grey Eagle Casino and Resort.

Cole has covered golf and other sports, but focused on golf over his 40-year career in sport journalism and will be honoured as part of Golf Canada’s National Team Media Day June 4th in Victoria at the Bear Mountain Resort

Golf Canada CEO Laurence Applebaum mentioned “Golf Canada is proud to recognize Fran Marsden, Florin Bergh, Ron Lyons and Cam Cole as the recipients of our 2018 Distinguished Service Award.”

He continued “Each of their respective contributions across various touchpoints in the game has left a meaningful impression on the Canadian golf landscape. It is with great respect and admiration that we honour these individuals for their passion and commitment to our sport.”

Recipients of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award are (often) selected from within the province or region of the organization’s incoming President.

January 27th will see Calgary’s Leslie Dunning named as Golf Canada’s 114th President and will succeed Bedford Nova Scotia’s Roland Deveau who has served consecutive terms as President in both 2016 and 2017.