A 2007 Professional Golf Management graduate, Tyler Martin, is inviting guests to hit the links at the Tyler Martin Invitational, a tournament to help raise funds for his qualification in the Canadian Professional Golf Tour (Canadian Tour).
Having recently graduated, Martin has been fundraising and practising all summer in preparation for the fall qualifying school at the Royal Ashburn Golf Club in September. Costs for his qualification amount to approximately $2,000, including travel.
A lover and player of golf since he was 13, Martin has high hopes for making the Canadian Tour. "It's an individual sport. You put in the effort and you get to see the results," Martin explained. He held jobs at golf courses in Peterborough and Ashburn as a high school and college student, but now hopes to make a living off of professional golf.
Martin was captain of the Durham College varsity golf team, an experience he feels raised his game to a new level and he expects professional golf will have the same effect. He has already played many regional and provincial tournaments.
"I have worked many jobs in the golf industry, both in golf maintenance and the pro shop. These opportunities have fuelled my passion for the game and have contributed to my increased drive and determination," he added.
As part of his fundraising efforts, he is canvassing golf courses throughout Durham and Kawartha regions for donations of green fee packages or merchandise to be used for a silent auction at the Tyler Martin Invitational. He is also asking corporate and retail companies for sponsorship by way of donations in exchange for displaying corporate signage at various holes at his fundraising tournament and free entry to the tournament.
Martin's dedication to the game is evident through his variety of short- and long-term goals, in addition to on-course objectives he would like to meet. Some of these include making a professional golf tour, making enough money to keep his playing status for the following year and becoming one of the best golfers in Canadian history. He feels setting goals is important to making improvements to his game.
The Tyler Martin Invitational is on Friday, August 24 at 1 p.m. The shotgun tournament with a four-man scramble format will take place at the Seaton Golf and Country Club in Pickering, Ontario.