Past Rogers Charity Classic champions team up to give kids a golf clinic
Ken Tanigawa has fond memories of the Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club.
He won the Rogers Charity Classic last year.
Tanigawa is back to defend his title and says Calgary is a special place.
'It feels great; I always loved coming here,' said the 57-year-old.
'Even take away the win last year, it's a fun spot. It's a great town, great spot and great people and great fans. For me as a golfer, to be able to win last year was a thrill.'
Ken Duke won the Rogers Charity Classic in 2023.
He says his game hasn't been great this year, but he is coming off a seventh-place finish in Seattle and is hopeful to get back into the winners circle at Canyon Meadows.
'I've had a rough start to the year, but it seems like it's going back,' said the 56-year-old.
'I had a good week last week, and obviously when you come to a place like this, you have good memories, and sometimes everything rolls over into good thoughts.'
Giving back
Both Tanigawa and Duke are big believers in giving back to the sport.
On Tuesday, they teamed up to hold a golf clinic for nearly 70 kids on the range at Canyon Meadows.
Duke says it's important not to push kids too hard when they're just getting into the game.
'Just let them have fun,' said Duke.
'Even on the putting green, make the two-foot putt. They don't want to try to make the 40-foot putt. Just make the two-foot putts and see the ball go in the hole.
'That's what it's all about, and a lot of kids don't do that enough. Just to get them out here is a big part. … Most of them are doing something at home or something. We want to get them out here and engage in what's going on.'
Tanigawa says it's important to do clinics like this to get kids interested in the game.
'To keep the game going,' he said.
'It's really important because if you can give back a little bit and even if one kid decides to keep going and playing, that's one more kid that plays, so it's a win for everybody when that happens.'
Kids loved it
For the kids, it was a special day to hear what a couple of past champions had to say.
They got to ask questions and they got a few tips on the range.
Cshallaya Whitney, 10, says one tip stood out.
'To keep your head on where you want it to go and to keep your eyes on the ball,' she said.
'If you don't keep your eyes on the ball—you're just moving your head around or just looking over there when you're about to swing it—then it will probably end up as a bad swing.'
The Pro-Ams for the Rogers Charity Classic are Wednesday and Thursday.
They tee it up for real on Friday in the three-day event.
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