By Ryan Dahlman
Swift Current
At the age of 14, Swift Current native Nancy Harvey discovered she loved golf.

“I used to play 36 holes and hit about 1,000 balls a day,” explained Harvey about her time at Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Course.

Once Harvey discovered the sport, she couldn’t put the clubs down. She knew immediately she would need to have golf be a major part of her life. It has paid off for her in a huge way.

Harvey carved out quite a career in the sport. She was a Ladies’ Professional Golf Association Tour player from 1989 through until 2008, she is the leader of a prominent local charity along with another southwest Saskatchewan sport legend Marc Habscheid, is a teacher of the sport on the world stage and now is a member of the inaugural class of inductees for the Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame.

“I am quite thrilled; I never expected it,” explained Harvey who called from the Gold Coast, near Brisbane, Australia as she is teaching prospective young golfers in the land down under. Calling it a pinnacle (no pun intended) in her career, she added, “I’m really quite elated.”

The announcement was officially made July 22 by Saskatchewan Golf Association Executive Director Daniel Rauckman. He indicated Harvey was an obvious choice
for the new hall of fame.

“It been a 20-year career; she has the best professional player resumé in Saskatchewan history,” explained Rauckman from his Saskatoon office. “She is a past champion in the amateur ranks and is a role model for (future) Saskatchewan hopefuls.”

Also included in the inaugural inductees were golfing stalwarts such as Regina’s Joanne Goulet and Saskatoon’s Gerry Street. As well, the list includes Gayle Borthwick, Barbara Danaher, Margarey Elliot, Pat Fletcher, Frank Fowler, Wilf Homenuik, Philip Lederhouse, Dr. Robert Reid. Tom Ross, and Jim Scissons in the player category. In the builder’s section, Hubert Cooke,
Dr. Jack Leddy and Peter Semko were nominated. Keith Rever will be inducted in both the player and builder categories.

The induction ceremony will take place Sept. 18 at the Willows Golf and Country Club in Saskatoon.

Rauckman explained there is 100 years of history of golf in Saskatchewan and the committee wanted to ensure those who have achieved major success and helped build what golf is today in the province be recognized.

Rauckman added the idea of a specific Saskatchewan Golf Hall of Fame has been around for a long time but it wasn’t until a couple of years ago did specific planning come about.

Harvey is glad it did. She is thrilled to be named.

Besides teaching young golfers, Harvey is playing on the up-and-coming Legends Tour for the LPGA. She was named to the World Team which will battle American golfers in New Hampshire in September.

Of course for Harvey, a cause near and dear to her heart is the fundraising Subway,
Harvey/Habscheid Battle of the Sports event which is coming up August 6 at Swift Current’s Elmwood Golf Course. It starts at 1 p.m.

The event helps the Harvey/Habscheid Foundation which provides financial help for the Great Plains Sundogs Athletics Scholarship Program.

“We feel great in what we do. We’ve been trying to help kids stay involved in athletics,” explained Harvey. “That feels good. We all need breaks to be successful. It’s all sort of that what goes around comes around, somebody somewhere helps you out.”

Harvey heaped praise on the foundation’s administration as well as the Elmwood Golf Course staff. Harvey has a soft spot for the Elmwood Course as  not only is she thankful for the staff there, but that’s also where she got her start in golf.

It’s been quite a ride for her, but she won’t go as far as to describe herself as a Saskatchewan pioneer in the sport.

“(Pioneer) — I can’t say that. I followed my dream and my passion,” explained Harvey. “I was lucky to do that. I just hope someone can say that if ‘(Harvey) did it, I can too.’”