Stacey News: Golf NL Hall of Fame Induction

This is an email I received from Golf NL recently. What an honour it is to be inducted into such a prestigious organization.

"Golf Newfoundland Labrador (Golf NL) and the Hall of Fame & Awards Selection Committee to inform you that you have been selected for induction into the Golf Newfoundland Labrador Hall of Fame, Class of 2023, in the category of "Contributor (Volunteer)" .

The scholarship awards, annual awards and Hall of Fame induction ceremonies took place at Bally Haly Country Club on Saturday November 25th, 2023 beginning at 6:30 P.M. with a reception, dinner, scholarship, annual awards presentations and inductions of members into the Golf Hall of Fame.

My sincere appreciation to Keith Howse and Eric Ayers of Grande Meadows for putting my nomination forward and my thanks to Eric, Jeanette Lundrigan, Wayne Gray, Carl Hill, Matthew Hackett, Bob Hoyles and Ray Walsh for their kind words in support of my nomination.

I would like to thank my family members for your encouragement and support in my life endeavours. I come from a family of 12 children and married a girl from a family of 13 children ….so there wasn’t much trouble to get a few people to attend my induction ceremony. With me this evening I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters and other family members and in-laws here, as well as close friends of mine from the Grande Meadows and Bally Haly Golf Courses. As well, a big thank you to Kim Grandy-Baker a fellow Golf NL Hall of Famer from the Grande Meadows Golf Course. Thank you all for attending….it means the world to me.

A big thank Kim and Bill Lee of Grande Meadows for your management of Grande Meadows and the way you allowed me and others to carry out volunteer work at the course. Your guidance, input and professionalism has played a significant role in why Grande Meadows is so highly respected today. As well I would like to thank all the members at Grande Meadows for their support throughout the years. That support has certainly played a big part in my continuing to volunteer around Grande Meadows to this day. Thank you all for your kind words, emails, phone calls as well as social media congratulations after my Hall of Fame Induction became public.

I would be remiss if I didn't thank deceased members of our club who have helped and taught me about the role of volunteering, Dave Brenton, Clayton Welsh, Ray Warren, Don MacBeath and Wilf Miller to name a few. Your kindness towards me and your unselfish volunteering hours at Grande Meadows will never, ever be forgotten.

I would like to thank my wife Gladys for her unwavering love, support and understanding. I know that she has lived - through many days and nights being alone while I was playing in and/or organizing a tournament at the Golf Course. I thank her for planning our vacations around my volunteering and/or me participating in sporting events. It didn’t seem to affect our marriage and lifestyle activities, as we will have been together 52 years this December. And to my precious daughter Cheryl, whom we lost to breast cancer just over 7 years ago. She was her dad's biggest fan and loved playing golf with me. I'm sure she would be proud of your 'old man’s' induction tonight”

There has been an odd time throughout the years when my wife Gladys has said, “Barry, why can't you just go over to the course and play without always volunteering”. I guess it's not in my DNA.

My good friend frequently uses this quote from Sir Winston Churchill…”We make a living by what we get, but we make a life, by what we give.”

Thank you very much for this great Honour of selecting me into the NL Golf of Hall of Fame.

Me with Shaane Nathu, Golf NL President