Star-Phoenix from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada • 7

the STAR-PHOENIX, Saskatoon, Friday, July 29, 1977 irmitmiffi pr to wife Margaret. It is good for me. I dont worry about what I shoot. I just relax. He would need time to relax, because his job is demanding.

Beavin puts in between 85 and 105 hours a week', and his work week is seven days. In the past, Beavin has run a golf school during the winter, which he considers a great place to start beginners. What about holidays? It has just been in the last four years that I started to take time off for a holiday in the winter. I like to go to Arizona, and play a different course.every day, especially those with many water hazards. I like to play a finesse game.

I don't knock the cover off the ball. Beavin still shoots consistently in the 70s, and is particularly sharp when he gets near the green. But his highlight came as a youngster. I shot between 66 and 69 for 21 consecutive rounds at Jasper Park, but that was when I was young and hit the ball a country mile. What he considers his most embarrassing moment followed shortly.

After the 21 rounds, he went to the Alberta Open at the Mayfair club in Edmonton. It was a 36-hole competition, and he was the only player to break par the first round to take the lead. But, I blew to a 44 on the front nine in the afternoon and came in with a 36. 1 lost by one stroke to Henry Martell and Bobby FToctor. First prize was $100.

1 bet $200 on myself to win. A lot of money changed hands thatday, because there was another man betting on me. But, I wouldn want to say how much he bet on me. Golf stories! Beavin has them by the dozens. When he retires at the end of this year, possibly to settle in Victoria, the hallways at SGCC are going to be just a little empty.

Golf has been gbod for Les Beavin. Les Beavin has been good for golf in on the pro tour. Stan got the backing, because he was shooting 65-66. In those days, they didnt think 68-69 scores were good enough. So, that left me with becoming a club pro, a teaching pro, explained Beavin.

Beavin was teaching golf when he was 19, a role he has not given up. Hestarted as an assistant pro at Jasper Park, and from there toured the Okanagan Valley, where he gave more than 1,500 lessons in one season. After that, he went to the Lethbridge Country Club as its professional, and then came the war. Beavin went overseas with the 112th Battalion, and upon returning resumed his golf profession. He spent two years at Banff as a teaching and playing assistant.

Beavin was on the move again, this time to the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg, where he was the club pro for fie years. He moved over to Pine Ridge in Winnipeg for two years, and that led to his final move. In 1955, Pat Fletcher told me to come here (SGCC) for an interview. I started here in 1956, and have been here ever since.

While at St. Charles, George Knudson and Jim Collins worked for Beavin. Knudson, in particular, has gone on to great fame as a Canadian golfer on the pro tour. Beavin also tutored A1 Nelson, who is the pro at the Vancouver Golf and Country Club; Len Collette, who is the pro at the new Shaughnessy Club in Vancouver, and Len Harvey, the pro at Regina Was-cana. Because of his commitment as a club pro.

Beavin does not get to play as much as he would like. I never did win very much. My main concern is looking after the aid teaching. There are times I would like to get out and and practice, more. But, my wife drags me out on the course at night, added Beavin, referring By John Cherneski ot the Star-Phoenix It almost seems like Les Beavin has been an institution at the Saskatoon Golf and Country Club, Beavin has been the club professional at SGCC since 1956, which for many of the younger members would seem like an eternity.

However, this year marks the completion of the Beavin era at SGCC. The ami- able professional will retire at the conclusion of this golf season, and take life a little Beavin has followed one steadfast rule in all his years as a professional. The needs of the members are No. 1. The membership comes first.

Ray president of the Saskatchewan Golf Association and a member at SGCC, perhaps best described Beavin. "He is a real gentleman pro. i Les has done a great job for golf at the club level and for golfers in the city, added Marsh. He promoted the club and a club atmosphere. Beavin has made his presence felt across Western Canada.

He has worked as a club pro in Alberta, Manitoba and Sas- katchewan. But, it all started for Beavin approximately 65 years ago in a small mining centre in British Columbia. -He was born at Britannia Mines, B.C., and the family moved to Burnaby when Les was five so the children could go to school. Beavin never started golfing until he was 13. Andy Wilson, a chum of mine, was asked to caddie at Shaughnessy Heights by Dave Black, the head pro.

But he didnt want to go alone, so Dave suggested he bring his chum. Andy quit alter two days, but I kept on. We were allowed to play between 7 and 9 every Monday morning, and in those days they sounded a bell at 9 sharp. Itmeant we had to get off the course right then, no more putts, no more drives. You just picked up your ball and got off the course.

There was another youngster who caddied with Beavin. His name was Stan Leonard, and he went on to become a well-known touring professional in Canada. When Beavin was 17, he shot an amazing 63 at Maple Ridge, B.C., a record which still stands today. Although Beavin shot consistently in the high 60s, it was not good enough to go tennis 'A FOR THOSE OF YOU who live and die with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, here are a few lines of interest. They are borrowed from the Tribune sports editor Jack Matheson, a former boss and at least until now a good friend.

Matty has been on the football beat 25 years, something he never tires of reminding us about, and though he would rather die than admit he's a homer, he has been known to call the Blue Bombers we and to memorize the nicknames of almost every player on the squad. Anyway, these are some of the things he has to say about the Roughriders: there are some signs that the wheels are falling off. I dont think theres any doubt that there are problems in Turkeytown. We do hear there are morale problems that are eating away at the Riders, but thats par for the course. Idont think its unhappiness thats making a loser out of the Roughriders I think its quarterbacking, running, the pass rush and the secondary, and you must admitr that doesnt leave much.

Ron Lancaster isnt playing that well and hejcant lift the Riders by merely cocking his arm any more. Hes too predictable, doing the things that have won for him for 15 years. has to keep trying, though, with his stereotyped game plan, because Ridersdont have the running game you need to set up the pass. Give me Jim Heighten, wholl guarantee you 16 strong, steady games, and you can have Baker and-or Wells getting the quarterback, but only when they feel like it. doubt Ronnie will be striking as much fear into hearts as he used to.

THOSE WORDS OF WISDOM appeared in Mathesons newspaper following Saskatchewans loss at home to the British Columbia Lions. It left the Riders with an 0-2 record and the hounds were nipping at their heels. But you dont man the lifeboats after two games of a 16-game season. I am not a fan of the Roughriders, or any other team in theCanadian Football League. You've probably realized that by now, judging from the mail sent into this office demanding everything from my head to my job.

i There isnt a reporter in the province whose paycheque comes out of the Roughrider office and we are not at the games to wave green-and-white pennants. Thats for the paying customers. Another friend, Regina Leader-Post sports editor Bob Hughes, has been receiving similar flak from the football fans in his area. It seems both Hughes and myself had had the temerity to mention at times that we didnt really think the Roughrider 1977 edition was the greatest football squad ever invented. No apologies are offered because none are due.

If the truth hurts, then I am afraid you are going to have to live with it for a while. The Roughriders won a game in B.C. this week and suddenly all is well with the world again. But for the sake of all sanity don't go out arid stand in any lineup to purchase your Grey Cup ducats. Not yet, This is not to say that the Roughriders cannot reach the national final.

However, it is my deepest bejief that they will not get there with their present personnel. They are not as bad (nowhere near it) as the Winnipeg newspapers suggest. But forget that this team has lost half a dozen people from the lineup which won the west a year ago. The Riders have five new starters and three more new faces as back-up men. They are going to have to beat someone other than the B.C.

Lions before they make any great strides in increasing their credibility. BITS AND PIECES Ottawa Rough Riders have their share of personnel problems. Eleven veterans from the 1976 Grey Cup championship squad have not signed contracts and are in their option year. coach Vic Rapp insists he can see no possible way Winnipeg linebacker John Babinecz will be able to commute from Dallas for the Blue Bombers final nine regular season games. Babinecz plans to enter medical school there in September, arrive wherever the Bombers are the day before each game, then precede with business as usual You wonder how long Bob Swift, Winnipegs centre, has been in the CFL? Well, he played for the last British Columbia team the only B.C.

team) ever to win a Grey Cup. That was away back when the Beatles were appearing on the Ed Sullivan show They've set a new attendance record at the Olympic Stadium. A crowd of 80,000 showed up at Pink Floyd's rock concert, smashing the previous high (no pun intended of 68,000 from the opening day of the Olympiad Speaking of the Olympics, someone has suggested thafceven though a year has passed since the national madness, a new Olympic event is about to be held in Montreal. Its the 100-yard dash to avoid a jail sentence with a great many of Montreal's contractors doing the sprinting now that an inquiry into Games costs has been ordered Perry Miller gave up the Winnipeg Jets and jumped to Detroit Red Wings. No wonder.

The Jet offered Miller a guarantee of $20,000 on a one-year contract. Detroit offered the defenceman a over two seasons. Which would you prefer' Jets are in no money problems, however, having received more than 6,500 season ticket requests already for the 1977-78 campaign It is a little early to be sure, but there is a chance that Jim Harrison might turn out to be the flop of the year and the Lions might live to regret the day Vic Rapp decided to let Lou Harris go in favor of Harrison, who needs plenty of time and running room to build up a head of speed. time faces By Larry Johnsrude of the Star-Phoenix Two Saskatoon youths will carry the torch for the province at the Canadian junior tennis championship in Montreal on Aug. 18-22.

As well as the Canadian championship, Bill. Jenkins 16, will play tennis in the Quebec junior competition, also in Montreal a week prior to the national. He will also compete in the Canada Summer Games, to be held Aug. 6-13 in St. John's, Nfld.

Dave Patoia, the second half of the national championship-bound duo, would have qualified for the Quebec competition, but at the age of 12 he is considered to be too young. I don't think that was fair, Patoia said, and judging from his performance at a Western region qualifier in Edmonton last weekend, despite his age, he would have been a contender. But I guess thats the way they run things, he added Patoia and Jenkins each national matches conies from the east. Indoor courts and larger population sometimes makes it' difficult for western players to stand up against their eastern counterparts. They get a big jump on us because they play all year round, Patoia said.

"They have a larger population so there's more competition. Also, tenfnis enthusiasts in Ontario and Quebec have more training camps open to them. While training camps operate in the western region during the summer, easterners benefit from intensive winter training sessions. Jen-kins said he is considering heading east this winter to attend a tennis school. As for a future playing tennis, Patoia said he is undecided, but Jenkins has been tossing around the idea of turning professional.

If I do turn pro, I would just be teaching pro'find probably not playing pro. I dont think I could learn fast enough to be able to play for any large amount of money, he said. have five years experience to their credit. Patoia competed in the national championship last year while Jenkins took a crack at it two years ago. From what Jenkins remembers of the national meet two years ago, the competition was pretty tough but experience since then will no doubt help him to fare that much better this time around.

lean concentrate a lot better now than I could two years ago. That might keep me in the match much longer, he said. But tennis is always full of surprises, Jenkins added, pointing to some matches where the competition wasnt near as tough as he thought it would be. Although youth interest in tennis has risen substantially within the past few years, Patoia said the sport is just starting to catch on with young people in Saskatoon. There are quite a few young people playing now, but most of them have just started, he said.

The keenest competition in S-P Photo by Tammy Tompalski BILL JENKINS PRACTISES FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS David Patoia (insert) also bound for action in Montreal riii: CLOTHES BAR 1 The Image Makers 1402 college drive (across from university campus) FOUR SEASONS SPORTS STOCK RGBltfiTIOtJ SALE New 1977 Cal Glass 17Vz ft. deep 120 HP Mercruiser inboard outboard Power Trim Tilt i Full Gauges Full Convertible Top Fire Extinguisher 1 Deluxe Carpeting Foam Flotation Easy Load Trailer MSLP $8,250.00 Of) COO SALE PRICE 1977 15 ft. Peterborough Deep Deluxe Model Carpeting Full Convertible Top 1977-55 HP Chrysler 1977 Easy Load Trailer Battery, controls, paddles, etc. MSLP 55,185.00 nOCOO SALE PRICE UjUzJO "See these and many other great sale values at your happiness centre" FOUR SEASONS SPORTS Saskatoon North Battleford is back in Saskatoon DIM NEW MAGE1EIIT Come in and see us! Fountain Drinks Coffee are FREE WITH MEALS FOR THIS WEEKEND ONLY! 620 33rd ST. WEST Ample Parking At Rear HOURS: Weekdays 4 p.m.

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FREE DEUVERY WEST SIDE OF THE RIVER Sailing The Prince Albert team of Lauri Loenius and Duff Robison finished third in the three-day Canadian National Enterprise sailing champion-. ship at Redberry Lake which ended Placing first was Vancouver couple Barry and June Finlayson. In second spot were Lynne and Donna May Wilson also of Vancouver. In the B' fleet, Stewart Bexton and Tom Opfal of Calgary finished first, followed by the father and son team of Paul Moes Sr. and Jr.

of Vancouver. Soccer Concordia blanked Spar-tians 5-0 in Saskatoon Senior Men's Soccer Association action at Thursday at FaL-view Field. Goalie Hartmute Schlueter was credited with the shutout while George Turay collected three goals and Bert and Paul Entwistle added singles. Ron and Bill Bahr invite you to their JOHN WEIMER Come and meet John Weimer, one of Sherwood's newest salesmen. John's easygoing manner makes him a pleasure to deal with.

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