Ron Giggey

In a professional golf career that has spanned more than thirty years, Ron Giggey has no plans to retire. This season he has taken up the position of director of golf at The Eagles Glenn, one of PEI’s newest golf experiences, located in Cavendish. This Graham Cooke designed championship course will open for play in July. “ I’m looking forward to working in a resort setting again,” admits Giggey, who had a 23-year career as head professional at Brudenell. “ I like meeting and serving golfers in that type of atmosphere.”

Born in 1945 in Charlottetown, Ron attended school there and like most kids was interested in all sports. “My dad introduced me to golf when I was about nine. He was an avid golfer and would take me to caddy for him at Belvedere. When he started letting me hit a few shots, I really got the bug. My brother, Bill got into golf in a similar way.”

“We had some good players to look up to at Belvedere back then, including long-time club pro Cecil Dowling. He gave us lessons every Saturday morning. I also looked up top amateurs like Art MacKenzie and Merlin MacKenzie and Harry Simmonds. They were good golfers and we all wished someday we could play like them.”

When he was sixteen, Ron got his first hole-in-one at Belvedere. “When you see the ball roll into the hole on a 196 yard par 3, you really get excited,” he exclaimed. “The hole was the old number two, along Kensington Road which is now out of play. It was a very difficult par three and you could probably count on your fingers the number of holes-in –one that were made there. I sank a three wood shot. The greens keeper was mowing the green at the time and back then they didn’t stop work for players. I walked up to the green and picked the ball out the hole and the greens keeper was still mowing. I don’t know whether he saw the shot or not !”  Ron has recorded two more holes-in-one since that time.

Giggey’s amateur career gained momentum when he won back-to-back Belvedere Junior Championships. Then in 1963 he enjoyed one of the best playing years of his life, when he won the New Brunswick – PEI Amateur Championship. (At that time PEI and New Brunswick amateurs were members of the same association.) “It’s a win I’m very proud of,” beamed Ron, “mainly because at 18 years of age, I was still a junior.” The event was held in Edmundston, N.B. “Later that year I finished fourth to also make the junior team. So in 1963 I was a member of both the Willingdon Cup Team and the Junior Team. That was a highlight that you just wish would continue, and it did for a few years.”

Around this time Ron began working at the Belvedere pro shop and his game started  to slip since he didn’t get to play tournaments as much. “If anyone was going to get away to competitions it would be Cecil or assistant pro John Irwin.” When Irwin moved to Lingan in Sydney, N.S., as head professional, Giggey moved up to be assistant pro. “That was my start at being devoted to golf,” remembered Giggey, “and I’m really glad that I chose this career.” He worked for Dowling three years and then, in 1974, had the opportunity to take on the position of head professional at Brudenell. “That’s where I learned a lot about the business,” he said, “I made many lasting friendships with members and guests we had each summer.” While at Brudenell, Ron experienced playing host to a Canadian Tour event from 1988 to 1993. “I enjoyed the resort atmosphere and meeting new people everyday.” Giggey stayed at Brudenell for 23 years.

In 1997 he returned to Belvedere, for four years. “When I was an assistant, I always thought that someday I might be back. Back to where my roots were, and where I started to play,” he recalled.

This season Ron has moved to a new golf course in the Cavendish area. The Eagles Glenn is a Graham Cooke designed course, owned by island businessmen, that will open in mid July. “The philosophy of the owners is to offer a high-end course at a fair price,” advised Giggey. “Its going to be nice to get back to a resort type operation. I feel I can be very beneficial here because of my long experience at this type of facility. ” Green fee rates at The Eagles Glenn will be $65.00, plus tax. Golf cars will be $30.00. After 3:30 pm the rate will be only $45.00, including a golf car. Taylor Made rental clubs will be featured.

Ron played in the CBC par-27 competition on two different occasions back in the 1970’s. The competition, held in the Edmonton area, consisted of each player hitting three balls from the tee, three from about 50 yards short of the green and three balls from a green side bunker. You then finished out each ball for a total par of 27. The first year he finished second. “In the final round I shot 9 straight pars and got beat by two strokes by Frank Jenkins from Ontario. “My prize was a leather pouch full of silver dollars, which I carried with me on my return home. When I put it through the scanner at airport security I went around to the other side and I couldn’t find it. I started to panic, but soon a security guard called out, “Is this what you’re looking for ?” The competition was fun, but even more enjoyable was to see the show replayed on national television later in the year.

Ron and wife Edith reside in Stratford, PEI, with son Trevor 18. Daughter Deanne and husband Mark live in New Haven, PEI and daughter Cara is a primary school teacher in the Dominican Republic.