Some early birds get the worm.
One early bird who signs up for the sixth annual Kelly Smith Memorial Tournament will get a whole lot more.
Registering before May 31 gives golfers a chance to win a 2016 Nissan Micra. Entry is $400 per team and e-money transfers should be sent to kellysmithgolfregistration@hotmail.com.
Presented by the Revy Auto Group Family of Dealership, the tourney donates all proceeds to the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Canada. This year's event goes Aug. 12 at Glacier Greens Golf Course (call 250-339-6515 to reserve a cart).
There is a $5,000 hole-in-one prize put up by CTS Coastal Transportation on both the front and back nine and a putting contest featuring a prize from Campbell River Whale Watching.
The four-ball, best-ball tourney features a 1 p.m. shotgun start. There are KPs on all par threes and a longest drive competition.
Between the ninth and 10th holes, golfers are invited to tailgate with the Comox Fire Department, with donations going to Heart & Stroke.
The 19 Wing Comox Fire Service began the tournament to remember Kelly Smith, who was a deputy chief with the department when he died unexpectedly of a heart attack at age 52.
Smith had no history of heart problems, notes Sgt. Jerry Snook, who is once again co-ordinating this year's tourney. In a previous interview with The Record, Snook explained the Comox Fire Department is involved as they too lost a firefighter (Capt. Stewart Rennie) to a heart attack three years ago.
There will be a dinner and silent auction following golf. For more information, contact Snook at 250-792-2651.
Snook explained the tournament started out small, accepting entries only from the fire hall the first two years and raising a few hundred dollars both a times.
The decision was made to open the entries up in order to raise more funds. With the help of some sponsors, Snook figures the tourney raised about $5,000 in the first four years.
The turning point came last year when the event was opened to the public for the first time and Comox Valley Nissan came on board as a major sponsor. The result was a lot fun – and a lot of funds – as $7,333 was raised for the Heart and Stroke foundation.