JOHN Snowden’s influence on the golf course extends beyond the win-loss column.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mortlake resident is planning to retire from the Western District Golf Association, having spent the best part of 35 years helping the region’s junior players.
His legacy will remain for years to come with the next generation to play for a shield struck in his honour.
Western District and South Western teenagers will vie for the inaugural Snowden-Symons Shield in Colac on Sunday.
The award also recognises Steve Symons, a 17-time club champion spread across East Geelong, Anglesea, Curlewis and Woodlands clubs.
Snowden, 78, admitted his feats on the course paled in comparison to Symons.
It’s his impact at an organisational level which has resonated throughout the south-west.
“I have been president, captain, secretary (at Mortlake) – the only thing I have never been is champion because I was never good enough,” he joked.
“I got down to about a 16 handicap at one stage.
“We have our annual meeting at Mortlake next Tuesday and I’ve said I’ll go back in as president and just concentrate around here now, not so much on the district.
“I have enjoyed my time but I think it’s time to pass the baton on and let someone else have a go. I have made a lot of friends right around Australia because I have been right around Australia with juniors.”
Snowden, a father-of-three who has lived in Mortlake since 1973, said he’d loved his time on the Western District committee.
“I was elected to the executive of the Corangamite District Golf Association (as it was known then) in 1980 and I have been involved ever since at district level,” he said.
“The secretary before me was Kevin Horne and he was there for 25 years and he lost his eyesight and I said I’d take over for 12 months until they found a secretary but I was there for another 26 years.
“I was involved with a lot of good juniors – Craig Spence from Colac, who is running part of this day at Colac, and I was chairman of the junior committee when Marc Leishman was a junior at Corangamite. I still keep in touch with Marc when he’s home.”
Snowden will miss the first Snowden-Symons Shield but has entrusted someone special in his place.
“Unfortunately I can’t be there because I am manager of the Victorian team that is playing South Australia at Mount Gambier this weekend,” he said. “I have my son Darren going to (Colac to) represent me when they do the presentations.”