Manitoba Golf Guide

MANITOBA DUO HEADING TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER GAMES Winkler's Peter Thiessen and Matthew Watters of Winnipeg qualified for the event by finishing first and second respectively at the Special Olympics Manitoba Summer Games in Brandon last year. Trudy Adamson, a volunteer coach with Special Olympians for nearly 30 years who resides in Minnedosa, will be coaching Watters and Thiessen in Nova Scotia. "They both really wanted to go, so they were quite happy when they found out that they had qualified," Adamson says. "I can't wait," says Thiessen, who turns 47 in June. He's been golfing for about 12 years and plays in a men's league at the Winkler Centennial Golf Course. Peter Klassen is Thiessen's caregiver and also his golfing partner in the men's league. "He's very excited about going to the summer games. He talks to everybody about it," says Klassen, who'll be caddying for Thiessen at the games, to be held July 31 to Aug. 4. Thiessen hasn't competed in a Special Olympics Canada Summer Games before, but he did take part in the 2013 Special Olympics North American Golf Invitational Tournament in New Jersey and came away a winner. "I won a gold medal there — that was awesome. I had a lot of fun," recalls Thiessen, who says he watches a lot of golf on television and is a big Tiger Woods fan. Like Thiessen, Watters is looking forward to participating in his first Special Olympics Canada Summer Games: "It will be fun." In 2012, Watters took part in a Special Olympics national golf tournament in Hamilton and last year he was among the competitors at the 2017 Special Olympics North American Golf Invitational Tournament, held near Seattle, Wash. The 29-year-old has been golfing ever since he was eight, when he started tagging along with his dad to the driving range with a set of cut-down clubs. He's been golfing with the Manitoba Special Olympics program for many years and also plays regularly with his father at Players Golf Course in Winnipeg. "We have a good time," says Watters, about golfing with his dad Bill. "What I like about golf is hitting the ball far and straight. It makes me feel good." To prepare for the upcoming games, Watters and Thiessen are involved in conditioning and strength training programs. They, along with several other Special Olympians, have also been getting regular golf instruction from Winnipeg golf pro Darren McMillan at The Golf Dome over the winter. "It's basically a way to stay involved in golf in the offseason so they don't get too rusty," McMillan says. "They have taken to the instruction really well. They're both doing great, and they're really excited for the summer." McMillan, who's been involved in the Manitoba Special Olympics program for the past three years, says he's enjoyed the opportunity to get to know Thiessen better in recent months. "He's a great guy who loves the game," MacMillan says. "He's very outgoing and personable, and I've been very impressed with how he hits the golf ball as well." McMillan has known Watters for much longer. "Matthew was just a young guy coming out to the driving range when I got to know him and his family. He has taken lessons from me over the years, and he's actually worked for me on a couple of different occasions at different golf courses where I've worked," McMillan says. "I've been so impressed with him over the years with how much he has improved, and how much his interest in the game has increased," he adds. "Matthew is incredibly steady. He just does his thing — it doesn't matter if it's a tournament or if he's just out playing with his dad, he plays the same way every game." McMillan says he's honoured that Watters picked him to be his caddy for the upcoming games. "His dad asked if I would be interested and willing, and I jumped all over it. It's going to be a great experience with Matthew," he says. "I just like spending time with the guy." Manitoba will send two golfers to the upcoming Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games in Antigonish, N.S. By Mark Halsall Peter Thiessen (above, far right) and Matthew Watters (below) will represent Manitoba at the upcoming Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games in Nova Scotia. 04 GOLF GUIDE 2018 w w w. c a r m a n g o l f a n d c u r l i n g c l u b . c o m | 1 . 2 0 4 . 7 4 5 . 2 3 6 6 scotswoodlinks.com 888-600-GOLF(4653) 18 HOLES IN ELM CREEK, MB 1/2 hour SW of Winnipeg on HWY 2 Featuring our brand new 9,000 square-foot clubhouse LOTS FOR SALE

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