Members of the Saugeen District Secondary School Royals Football team took part in the ninth annual Royals Football Golf Tournament, September 18 at Chippewa Golf & Country Club. 

Hub Staff

The ninth annual Royals Football Golf Tournament took place at Chippewa Golf & Country Club, September 18. The event included 20 teams of current and past Royals players and raised over $3,000 for the varsity team’s upcoming season.

Saugeen District Secondary School (SDSS) teacher and Football team representative Christine Flarity said the tournament is a great way for existing players to interact with football alumni, who continue to participate in the tournament year after year.
The money raised through the tournament, raffle and auction goes directly back to the team.

“The school board doesn't provide any money towards sports,” said Flarity, who explained that the team has to fund the entire season themselves. “We rely on this day and our bottle drive we have in August and we use that money to pay for bussing, pay for uniforms, helmets, all that sort of stuff to get the season started.”

The season will get underway September 22 in Hanover with their first home game taking place September 29 when the SDSS Royals host St. Mary’s High School at 3 p.m.

Flarity said that although the team has a lot of turnover, there are also a lot of returning players. “We have about 20 seniors, so half the team are kids that are in grade 12. And we probably have half a dozen grade nines, so we have a few new kids coming out,” she said.

“I like this kind of team,” Flarity said. “It blends kids from [grades] 9 to 12... it’s all these kids from different backgrounds and different school cliques and different friendships so they just come together and work together, that’s the best part of the team.”

Flarity said that over 40 Saugeen Shores businesses also helped the tournament through donations to the silent auction.

There were many activities held throughout the day, such as Closest to the Pin and a Ball Toss, pictured here, which took place after the tournament.

Royals football player Owen MacKenzie got a “hole in one” with his toss during the tournament’s ball toss. Owen’s mother, Rachelle MacKenzie also participated in the day.

Saugeen District Secondary School Royals alumni had an enjoyable day on the links, September 18. From left: Steve Gostick, Darcy Palmer, Brett Underwood and Jordan Sherwood.