Canadian migration

By Matt Ginella
Photo By Matt Ginella March 2009

Of all the selfless golf-trip planners I've met while overseeing the Golf Digest Ambush, Russ DaSilva leads the way. Every fall for the past 16 years he has guided as many as 135 men, mostly from Belleville, Ontario, to Panama City Beach, Fla. He passes out a 12-page program with all the competitive details of their Canadian Pro-Am, hands out golf balls and gift bags, makes sure everyone gets fed (and watered), does the daily scoring by hand and distributes daily payouts of a $10 skins game (this year a skin paid $360).

"I don't mind. It's a hobby, it's a passion and they appreciate it," says DaSilva, who's the director of golf at Bay of Quinte Country Club in Belleville. "I'll do what I have to do to make sure people have a good time."

DaSilva keeps costs down by going in the off-peak season (second week of November) and negotiating with merchants. "I try to keep the entry less than $1,000," he says.

On their most recent trip, the three amateurs on every four-man team paid $995 each, which also covered their professional's expenses and a portion of the prize money. Pros competed for a share of $11,000 in cash, and the amateurs played for a retail value of $14,000 in prizes. "I can't believe it's only $995, and we have a chance to win money!" says Kevin Revell.

What they got for their money was six rounds of golf on four courses, seven nights of lodging in a two-bedroom, four-person condo at the Edgewater Beach Resort, six dinners and access to a hospitality suite with poker tables and an open bar in a small conference room at the hotel. They had an opening-night party, and everyone received a dozen Pro V1s, a hat clip and a divot-repair tool with a Canadian Pro-Am logo. Transportation was not included. Most of the guys drove 22 hours each way.

I ambushed the Canadians at Hombre Golf Club, which has hosted the second stage of the PGA Tour's Q school. I gave them four $50 gift certificates for the winning team, made 100 prints of their group picture at a local Wal-Mart and picked up the tab for two hours of all-they-could-consume hot wings and beer at Hooters.

The competitors gush over DaSilva's efforts and offer handshakes and backslaps of thanks throughout the week. "You'd think Russ would be taking $100 per man to coordinate this thing, but he doesn't," says John Wellard, who has been coming for the past seven years. "He might even lose money."

In fact, DaSilva has lost money in the past by paying the difference for various bills out of his pocket. "One year I lost $5,000," he says.

Six years ago, at the 10th Canadian Pro-Am, DaSilva announced it would be the last. He passed out gifts to Dave Woods and Jamie Grylicki, who help DaSilva and are the only other guys who've made it every year. But that didn't last for long. "So many people encouraged me to keep it going, I did it again the next year," he says.

His new goal is to do it for 20 years. My guess is, he won't be able to stop there, either.

LET'S REVIEW

AVG. GROUP SIZE: 21.4
AVG. COST OF TRIP (EXCLUDING AIRFARE): $1,273
AVG. NIGHTS: 4.2
AVG. ROUNDS: 4.9
MOST EXPENSIVE: $2,500 per man, "The Ponce," Sea Island in Georgia (April issue)
BEST DEAL: $660 a man, "O'Toole brothers," Orlando (July)
BEST PROGRAM: "Organization men," 27-page booklet, St. George, Utah (Nov.)
BEST MEAL: Dreamland BBQ in Birmingham, Ala., "A magical weekend" (Jan. 2009)
BEST IMPROMPTU ENCOUNTER: Playboy bus in Destin, Fla., "Louisville sluggers" (June)
BEST NICKNAME: "George," as in Costanza, because Dan Mannes lived at home until he was 30, "No spot for thin skin" (May)