Bill Briscoe has been a volunteer within Saskatchewan’s amateur sport system for over four decades.
Since first taking on his role as President of the Maple Creek Golf Club in the early 1980s, Bill has continued to support the sport he fell in love with in 1976.
In 1991, he got involved with Golf Saskatchewan and served three consecutive terms on the Board of Directors. During that time, Bill was heavily involved with the junior golf development program, nurturing the future of golf in Saskatchewan.
Following a 10-year hiatus, Bill reconnected with Golf Saskatchewan in 2009, when he re-certified in the rules of golf and commenced volunteering as a rule official at provincial golf championships.
In 2017, Bill and his wife, Marilyn, retired and began volunteering alongside each other with Golf Saskatchewan, which is when Marilyn also became instrumental in rule officiating.
Sask Sport spoke with Bill about what has kept him volunteering for so many years and the experience of volunteering as a couple. Here is what he had to share:
Who first got you involved in volunteering?
“When I was stationed in North Battleford, a neighbour came over for the evening and mentioned that he started going golfing but was going by himself, so he asked me to go with him. I borrowed his wife’s clubs and went golfing. After those first nine holes in North Battleford that day, I was totally hooked on the sport.”
What has kept you returning as a volunteer for so many years?
“The growth and development of the local sport itself. The growth of golf in Saskatchewan and personal growth from working with great people and learning. I strive to do better personally and learn what I can about the rules.”
What is your favorite part of volunteering as a couple?
“I was working full time and Marilyn was as well, before we retired in 2017, which gave us an opportunity to travel the province together, rather than me just going to tournaments while she stayed home to work. We enjoy being able to learn and grow together — we very diligently sit around the table at various times of the year and study the rules together, talk about scenarios and just enjoy being together, working as a dual team.”
What has impacted you the most as volunteers?
“At tournaments, being able to help players evolve in some capacity on the course while rules officiating. Watching the juniors from the time that they were hardly able to hold the club right, to graduating at 18 and going off on scholarships has been really amazing. I think too, when you work at a tournament and meet the parents of the junior golfers and then the following year end up in a different area of the province and renew acquaintances year after year. Both of us have grown over the years and experiencing the togetherness, it’s nice belonging to a community.”
What you say to inspire the next generation of volunteers?
“That’s the million-dollar question. Numbers are declining and people who were starting out rule officiating when I did back in the day are not around anymore. I think that getting volunteers out in general — and I know for rule officiating in golf — is more difficult. I don’t know what the answer is other than get out and have fun in a social environment where you can meet new friends. Whatever activity you’re involved in, numbers are dwindling and we’re looking for people [to volunteer]. I’ve always maintained the concept that it is personal growth, as well as outwardly. But also, I ask the question: ‘If not you, then who? If I don’t step up and do it, then who else is going to?’ And that is why I believe we [Marilyn and I] enjoy being as involved as we are.”