Friends and Family gathered at Gorge Vale Golf Club on Sunday, February 18th, 2024 to congratulate Shirley on her 90th birthday (Actually February 19th). Lots of stories were told by friends and Shirley herself, leading to lots of laughs and reminiscences of the ‘good ole days’.
1948 was the beginning of a long and stellar golfing career. A youngster of just 14, Shirley Nasheim (Naysmith, nee Fry) joined the Gorge Vale Golf Club along with her good friend and Hall of Famer, Dorothy Wilks (DeGirolamo nee Herbertson) for a mere $10 per year. Parents and Club Management felt it was much easier to let them have the run of the course rather than chasing the two back under the fence every day, as their homes were at the end of the 10th green In 1996, Gorge Vale Club presented Shirley with an Honourary Membership. At that time, Shirley’s 63 years at her Club ranked second in years of membership for active players.
At 18, Shirley won the BC Junior Championship in its inaugural year of 1952 and was guest of honour at the 2010 BC Juniors when played at Gorge Vale some 58 years later. Many Club Championships were to follow, 19 in all, plus 5 District Amateur Championships (Medalist twice) and District Senior Champion in 1987, runner-up in 1984 and 1989. On the Provincial side, Shirley was runner-up at the 1959 BC Amateur and Medalist in 1960, 1962 and 1963, representing the Province at Nationals; twice as a Junior and four times on the BC Amateur Team. As the 1952 Junior Champion, Shirley was invited to the Canadian Amateur in Edmonton that year. When one of the BC Team members failed to show, Shirley was elevated to the Team.
Vancouver Island events were no stranger to Shirley’s prowess on the golf course, competing against some of the best amateurs on the Island. The Mid-Island (Nanaimo) was first won in 1954 followed by 8 consecutive years from 1959 – 1966; Sunnydale “Tillicum Trophy (Courtenay) 1969, 1971, & 1978; North Island (Comox) Tournament 1972 & 1973; Cowichan, 1966, 1967, 1970 and 1971. Of all the tournaments, Shirley is most proud of the BC Parent & Child tournament which she won with her Mother, Margaret Fry, in 1962. This was the first Mother/Daughter combination to win a competition previously dominated by Fathers/Sons. The trophy is now retired to the BC Golf Museum.
Almost every Saturday afternoon you will find Shirley meeting old friends at Gorge Vale hoisting a beverage and discussing world events, golf or otherwise, or if you happen to visit Country Grocer in Esquimalt in early November, Shirley will be holding court at the front door encouraging you to fill her Poppy Fund jar on behalf of the Esquimalt Legion.
Congratulations Shirley for all the thrills you have given us over the years…..long may you reign
