Jasperite Kees Huibers鈥� golfing accomplishments were recognized earlier this month with a sports hall of fame induction in his hometown of Campbellton, NB.
鈥淚 was nervous, obviously, I鈥檓 not public speaker,鈥� said Huibers, referring to the July 6 ceremony. Although the room was filled with about 120 people, he said his acceptance speech went off without a hitch.
鈥淢y eldest brother was there to represent my family and another gentleman there was my mentor, both on and off the golf course, so I wanted to thank him.鈥�
Huibers and two other athletes celebrated their inductions alongside the Campbellton Sports Hall of Fame鈥檚 25th anniversary. He was presented with a commemorative plaque and his photo will remain on the wall with the other inducted athletes in the sports hall of fame.
Recalling past competitive golf years is 鈥渓ike a dream鈥� for Huibers. 鈥淚 played on a 9-hole golf course,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 travelled from Halifax, N.S. to Victoria, B.C. and played against the best Canadian amateurs at that time.鈥�
Huibers was introduced to golf in 1959 when he started caddying at a local golf course to earn some summer spending money. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 play golf for two years, I just caddied.
鈥淚n 1961, the bug hit me. I got a junior membership, the rest is history.鈥�
He made it to the quarterfinals in the 1964 national juniors. 鈥淭hat was the highlight, I was only 17 and I was in the top eight in Canada for that particular year.鈥� He also was on two provincial teams and six Willingdon Cup teams. Alberta鈥檚 Keith Alexander holds a tie record for being selected for the Willingdon Cup 26 times, Huibers points out.
鈥淭he nice thing is when you made these golf teams, the province paid your way across Canada. And you had these silly suits you used to wear,鈥� he said with a laugh.
After he moved to Jasper in 1975, Huibers switched gears and started playing the game for fun. 鈥淣ow I hardly play at all,鈥� he said.
Golf has remained a classic game throughout the years, but Huibers said he has observed a difference between old and new courses. He said nowadays they are built for 20 year olds who can hit the ball 300 yards.
鈥淚 much prefer the old golf courses to the new ones.鈥�
Since his parents died and his family lives elsewhere, Huibers hasn鈥檛 visited Campbellton in awhile. The inductee ceremony happened during the community鈥檚 annual Salmon Festival, so Huibers said he was also able to enjoy that popular event.
Sarah Makowsky
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