‘The Wally’ inaugural golf tournament remembers Keith Walton

There’s a new plaque on the first hole of the Grandview Golf Club that was placed on a large rock moved to the location just a few weeks ago in memory of Keith Walton.

Walton was the first superintendent at the Grandview course. He died suddenly of a heart attack nearly a year ago leaving his wife Jo and four children Luke, Kyle, Jessica, and Kayla.

On Friday, September 21, 148 golfers made their way past that plaque just before they crossed a bridge to play the first hole at the first Keith Walton Memorial Golf Tournament, dubbed The Wally. His wife Jo was there too and was overwhelmed by the turnout and support for her late husband. She said she wasn’t sure how she would react to the day or seeing the memorial plaque .

“I made sure I had done a preview of the plaque because I didn’t want it to be a strong emotion for me today,” she said as she greeted her many friends and supporters at the dinner later in the Pavilion. “So I saw it twice before today. I saw it with my children for the first time today and I can’t help feel how amazing it is. It’s not a huge feeling so much of sorrow and sadness but such a feeling of wow, and the strength of the community of Grandview, Huntsville and Port Sydney.”

The Port Sydney Lions Club organized the tournament in memory of Walton who was a club member and known to most as Wally.

Jason Fitzgerald, club member, said they are hopeful of raising between $20,000 and $30,000 which will go to an education bursary in Keith’s name, to Lions projects, and to help with his children’s future education.

“We are such a tight group down there,” said Fitzgerald. “We were like brothers and we miss him every day. He did so much for the community. He was always involved and he would get the lazy Lions to pull their weight and was always out there willing to help.”

A plaque in memory of Keith Walton sits near the first hole at the Mark O’Meara course at Grandview.

There were 148 players in the tournament at the Mark O’Meara course and another 32 on the smaller Grandview course. Many of the competitors helped staff on their arrival get the bags on the carts. It became a real volunteer fun day.

That said, many of the players spoke to the respect and love they had for Walton.

“It was like a celebration of life,” said Grandview Men’s captain Wes Posthumus. “I think he would have wanted us all to have a blast and that’s what we did in his back yard. It was just a wonderful tribute to a wonderful man.”

Patrick Craig said Walton was a special person who loved what he did. “He was a perfectionist at his job, he took pride in his job and I’ve only written one letter to Clublink ever, and it said what a great job he was doing.

“The plaque was beautiful and I left a golf ball and a beer can there today and I signed it. It was a beautiful sentiment.”

It was a windy day and at one point Grandview lost power for about three hours. That led Raffi Occhiuzzi, who worked at Grandview with Keith for six years and is now the general manager at the Barrie Country Club, to say maybe that wasn’t an accident.

“I think he was upset he wasn’t playing,” he joked. “I think he was irritated that everyone was having a good time, unless he is having a good time wherever he is.”

Jo Walton (left) with Kyle Burke

One of the prizes did remain in the Walton family. Kyle Burke won the men’s longest drive contest and Jo Walton made the presentation to him. Kyle is married to Keith Walton’s niece Shannon.

The results of the tournament though were really secondary to the celebration. It was a scramble format and was won by the team of Chris Flanagan, West Posthumus, Patrick Craig and James McKeon. They posted a 58.

The mixed winners were Rick Birkhimer, Andy Atkins, Donna Atkins and Juan Calina with a 67.

The low score on the Inn Course was a 27 recorded by Wyatt Williamson, Steve Burton, Chris Petterson and Scott Wood.

Everyone walked away with a good feeling of being part of the first Wally tournament and looking forward to the next one in 2019.

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