London, ON - Western Mustangs Men's Golf Coach, Jim Waite, has been announced winner of the 2024 - 14th annual - London Ontario Heart Award.
Original article credit/source: Jeffrey Reed/LondonOntarioGolf.com. Full article about Jim Waite, courtesy of London Ontario Sports.com and Jeffrey Reed can be found here: Feature: Waite A Winner In Sports And In Life | London Ontario Sports
Established in 2011, the Heart Award is presented to an outstanding member of the Southwestern Ontario golf community who unselfishly gives back to golf while growing the game. Each February, the Heart Award recipient, as chosen by the selection committee, honours those within the categories of golf professionals/instructors, golf mentors, golf course owners/operators, golf course architects/designers and members of the media. 2003 Masters Tournament winner Mike Weir captured the award in 2014. Waite wins in the category of Golf Mentors.
Waite is known internationally for his curling achievements, most notably for coaching 27 Canadian World Championship teams and for his four consecutive appearances at the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 when Canadian men produced two Gold and two Silver medals. In fact, Waite's golf resume is equally admirable and includes the title of head golf coach of the Western Mustangs men's golf squad since 1991. He's the longest-standing OUA golf coach, and one of the longest-running varsity coaches within any U SPORTS program.
"But what is equally commendable is Jim's effort to grow the game of golf, and to give back to golf as a mentor and volunteer," said LondonOntarioGolf.com publisher and editor Jeffrey Reed. "His golf CV at Western includes five OUA Coach of the Year awards and seven OUA championships, yet for 34 years Western golfers have praised Jim for his humility, unselfishness and genuine interest in bettering his athletes on and off the golf course.
"Jim's volunteerism is not only showcased at Western University, but also at his home course St. Thomas Golf and Country Club where he has been active in ensuring the success of the historic Early Bird Tournament and other notable club and Ontario events. Jim was chair of both the 100th anniversary Ontario Women's Amateur championship in 2015, and the 2018 Ontario Men's Amateur championship," Reed said. "There is no bigger supporter of the game of golf in Southwestern Ontario, nor anyone more passionate about the game and the people who golf. LondonOntarioGolf.com is honoured to present Jim with the 2024 Heart Award." Reed added.
An outstanding amateur golfer with two Early Bird Tournament wins in 1966 and 1971, Waite competed and won those events with the likes of golf greats Gary Cowan and Nick Weslock – both Canadian Golf Hall of Fame inductees – in the field. But with lesser performances at the Ontario and Canadian amateur championships, he then turned his attention to coaching – a suitable move, given the fact he enjoyed a long, successful career as a local public school teacher and principal. He retired in 1998, prior to competing that year as coach with Team Mike Harris at the Nagano, Japan Olympic Games where Canada won a Silver medal.
Winner of several amateur tournaments across Ontario, Waite is a five-time Men's Club Champion at St. Thomas G&CC which celebrates its 125th anniversary this year.
"I am thrilled and honoured to receive the 14th annual Heart Award, given the fact there are so many great names (including Weir and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member Patty Howard) already engraved on that trophy," said Waite. "The Heart Award really encompasses all of Southwestern Ontario golf. When I consider what previous winners like Weir and Howard – and so many others – have accomplished, it's a real honour to be included amongst that list. The way I see it is, I have always tried to promote a team approach at all the events I've been a part of, and it has always been the success of the entire program at Western, and at St. Thomas G&CC, which have mattered the most."
Congratulations to Coach Waite!
