TRUEdotDESIGN’s women-only golf tournament makes splashy return

Maybe all a woman really needs is just a little more Fore-Play, as in the Fore-Play for Charity golf tournament presented yesterday by TRUEdotDESIGN at The Marshes Golf Club in Kanata.

The female golfers were all smiles and laughter coming off the course, having just participated in the business networking golf tournament for women in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) and development, with Scotiabank stepping up as headlining sponsor.  It turned out to be a fabulous summer day for the golf tournament, which sold out just like that [snapping fingers] after a lengthy pandemic-related pause.

The event, now in its sixth year, was held in support of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF). It supports people living with cancer, along with their caregivers and family members, by providing community-based cancer care, resources and programs.

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The ORCF is in the process of changing its name to The Ottawa Cancer Foundation as part of its rebranding. Present from the non-profit organization were its new CEO, Deborah Lehmann, and its vice president of philanthropy, Paula Muldoon. One of their loyal supporters, Matt Jacques, commercial realtor with Royal LePage Performance Realty, helped out by emceeing the dinner.

And while the golf tournament is for women only, men are encouraged to attend the tailgate party and dinner. The event gets considerable support from businessmen through sponsorship.

Back at the clubhouse was one of Ottawa’s darlings of the local music scene, the Dueling Pianos. Listening to Dave Kalil and Tyler Kealey tickle the ivories and belt out tunes we all know and love, while accompanied by guitarist Todd Huckabone, was the perfect way to cap off the afternoon.

 This summer’s hot Barbie trend was highly visible that day. There were golfers from WSA Light Energy Design dressed as the pink-loving iconic fashion doll. They even had a rosy-hued golf cart. Barbie’s counterpart Ken was there, too.

Voted “best dressed foursome” were the women in spa attire. The group included Lori Henderson, commercial relationship manager at Scotiabank, and Joanne Kudakiewicz, the latter of whom told OBJ.social she couldn’t have asked for a better day.

“It was the most fun I’ve had at a golf tournament,” said Kudakiewicz, who’s also a volunteer board member with the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation.

Surprises awaited golfers at each of the sponsored nine holes, including ice cream from The Merry Dairy and a relaxing outdoor lounge with cigars and wine tasting. A trophy was later handed out to “best hole sponsor”. It went to Cleland Jardine Engineering for its giant foam party. 

“Everyone really went above and beyond,” Christie Shayler, director of communications at TRUEdotDESIGN, said of their sponsors and golfers’ creative efforts. “It was spectacular.”

Making the event highly enjoyable is the goal, said TRUEdotDesign president and founder Shelley True. “We’re in marketing,” pointed out True, who’s also one of the finalists for a WBN’s Businesswoman of the Year Award.

The golf tournament tries to introduce women to the sport of golf in a way that encourages them to continue playing, with or without offerings of ice cream and foam parties.

“I used to joke that it was not hard for me to win longest drive or closest to the pin at any golf tournament,” said True. “I typically won because no other women were golfing.”

She saw this as such a missed opportunity for other women. Many business deals happen on the course, said True, who runs an agency that works with clients in the architectural, real estate, construction and home renovation sectors. “This tournament is really to help women not be intimidated by the game and to actually get out there and do business and network with each other.

Added True: “Women need to stand beside one another, not in front or behind.”

True and Shayler organized the event with some help from Henderson and Jennifer Cross, who’s the business development manager of sponsor Marant Construction. She’s also the founder of the new City BuildHERS series, which is about bringing businesswomen together from the AEC and development industries.

caroline@obj.ca