The Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie wrapped up its year with a swing and a smile this past Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the annual Rotary Club Golf Tournament.
Under immaculate skies, members and friends of Rotary gathered for a nine-hole scramble, preceded by a heartfelt supper at the Portage Golf Club.
The evening began with a poignant farewell for the club's foreign exchange student from Belgium, Theo Heijmans, as members shared memories and celebrated his time in Portage.
After the supper, golf carts zipped onto the course for the tournament, a scramble-style game where teams strategically played from the best shot.
Fellowship on the fairway
Preston Meier, Public Relations Director for the Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie, expressed his delight with the event, noting it marked a joyful close to the Rotary year.
"This is almost the end of our year," Meier explains. "So the last event we have is just kind of an internal kind of a club golf tournament, per se." He highlighted the strong turnout, with approximately 30 members, friends of Rotary, and guests participating.
"It's just been a great night," Meier added, emphasizing the spirit of camaraderie. "Regardless of what it is, it's all about Rotary. It's all about fellowship, and it's all about getting together and having a lot of fun."
Champions crowned
The highly anticipated trophy, passed down from one winning team to the next each year, found a new home with the foursome featuring Rotary member Joe Masi and former city manager Nathan Peto.
Masi, a member of the victorious team, clearly relished the triumph.
"It feels great to hold this prestigious cup," Masi declared, somewhat humorously, holding the coveted prize. "It's quite an honour to have this among all these great golfers that we beat."
When asked to compare himself to golf legend Tiger Woods, Masi humbly deferred, joking it was in fact, "Nathan Peto," who swung higher than them both.
Preston Meier echoed the sentiment of good sportsmanship, saying, "Nathan's a great guy. He's been a club member for a long time. Had his whole family out here, and you know what? Everybody had just had a really good time. It's not about the quality of the golf, it's about the quality of the people."
The tournament truly encapsulated the Rotary Club's mission, blending community engagement with lighthearted enjoyment.
As the sun set on the course, the resounding success of the event underscored another year of dedicated service and strong fellowship for the Rotary Club of Portage la Prairie.
