Kent ‘Cookie’ Gilchrist Wins Northwest Golf Media Association Distinguished Service Award
From Left, British Columbia Golf Executive Director Kris Jonasson, Retired Vancouver Province Editor, Reporter And Columnist And 2015 NWGMA Distinguished Service Award Recipient Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist And NWGMA President Tom Cade - Image Credit Alfie Lau
by Alfie Lau
It almost seemed like a roast when retired Vancouver Province editor, reporter and columnist Kent “Cookie” Gilchrist was named the 2015 recipient of the Northwest Golf Media Association Distinguished Service Award.
Kris Jonasson, executive director of the British Columbia Golf Association, nominated Gilchrist for the award and presented him to the 50-plus people who attended the NWGMA Awards Luncheon at Tacoma Golf & Country Club on Oct. 8.
Jonasson said that he would often run into Gilchrist in his trademark thongs (sandals), shorts and golf shirt, which seems counterintuitive to his role as editor, a management position which often involves dressing for success to impress the people he’d be leading.
“The whole concept of him even going into an office is beyond me,” joked Jonasson, who added that he put way more stock into the way Gilchrist always treated people fairly and honestly, and even if he was “to rip somebody” in a story, it was always done with good research, good forethought and sound arguments.
Gilchrist, who retired from The Province in 2011, then moved with his wife to Newfoundland for their next adventure before moving back to the Lower Mainland, where they currently live in New Westminster.
Jonasson was also able to tell the great story of Gilchrist taking his wife to South America, where “Cookie” found himself without the proper papers and having to be deported from Argentina back to Newfoundland.
It was also with great love that the Vancouver Sun’s Brad Ziemer, who couldn’t attend the luncheon because he was on assignment in Calgary covering the Vancouver Canucks, wrote a congratulatory letter read by NWGMA President Tom Cade.
“Cookie took me under his wing and he was so well respected by the golf community in BC,” wrote Ziemer. “Our best times were covering the Greater Vancouver Open. It was a highlight of our summer every year.”
Ziemer also threw a couple barbs Cookie’s way, noting how they were covering an event at Swan-e-Set Bay, where they were ensconced in an upper-level media room complete with full-length sofa. “While I was busy transcribing interviews, Cookie was making full use of the sofa,” said Ziemer.
Ziemer also said that they were covering another tournament, hunched over their computers, trying to bleed out a deadline story, when Gilchrist looked over and said: “Brad, this is a great job ....except for the writing part.”
Jonasson and Ziemer, along with every other journalist who crossed Gilchrist’s way, are proud to call him a friend and several journalists made the four-hour long journey from Vancouver to see Gilchrist receive his just dues and recognition.
Gilchrist is the third BC member to receive this award, following in the footsteps of Arv Olson of the Vancouver Sun in 2012 and Michael Riste of the British Columbia Golf House in 2013.
Steve Kealy, longtime superintendent of Seattle’s Broadmoor Golf Club, received the Local Legend Award, based on his 25 years of service and his involvement in getting The First Green Foundation up and running in Washington. Since 2000, Kealy has hosted more than 100 field trips to Broadmoor to teach the kids hand-on environmental education on the golf course.
The First Green Foundation is endeavouring to bring this program to British Columbia golf courses and Jonasson commended Kealy on his work getting the program up to such a successful level.
The NWGMA is looking for members to assume officers positions for the 2015-16 year. Interested parties can contact Tom Cade or Managing Director Anni Shelley. For more information, please go to www.nwgma.org.