By Michael Gorman
THE VANGUARD
NovaNewsNow.com
As they approached the first tee at the Clare Golf Club it was clear Ned and Doreene Shelley were already having a great time.
The former Yarmouth residents were back in Yarmouth last week for the first time since moving away about 12 years ago. But this wasn’t just any homecoming; the Shelleys were in town for their son, Jody’s golf tournament.
The Jody Shelley Golf Fore Health tournament raised $39,000 over two days last week for the Yarmouth Hospital Foundation, bringing the total amount raised to $174,000.
Unfortunately for the NHL tough guy, he wasn’t able to enjoy the trip with his parents. Shelley’s wife went into labor the day he was to make the trip to Yarmouth and so as his parents and friends enjoyed a leisurely round of golf, Shelley was on daddy detail with his new daughter.
Although they missed getting to share the trip with their son, the Shelleys, now based in Edmonton, said they were thrilled to be back in the place they called home for seven years.
“The people are still the same down-to-Earth, humble people,” said Doreene. “Yarmouth will always be special to us and to our four kids.”
The chance to visit their old stomping grounds, including their former home on Grand Street, and see old friends was especially meaningful, said Ned.
And while they’ve heard nothing but good things about the annual golf tournament from their son, both Ned and Doreene said everything is as good as their son described.
“This is the first year we could attend, which is great,” said Ned. “Jody has built so many (friendships) and I guess we’ve built so many (friendships) in Yarmouth and (all) of Nova Scotia, actually . . . They keep (following) Jody and to see something like this it really shows how much they appreciate the atmosphere and Jody.”
This has turned out to be a summer Jody Shelley will likely never forget.
Besides welcoming his second child into the world, Shelley recently signed a three-year, $3.3-million deal with the Stanley Cup finalist Philadelphia Flyers, a team with as tough and rugged a persona as Shelley.
Although he couldn’t be there in person, a number of his friends made the trip to the event including Ryane Clowe, a forward for the San Jose Sharks and a former teammate of Shelley’s.
Clowe, like Shelley, has roots in Newfoundland and it was clear his group was enjoying themselves during their first trip to southwest Nova Scotia even without their host.
During a break in the day, Clowe said he was happy to be able to support his friend’s event.
“I’ve known Jod for a couple of years and we’ve become pretty close,” he said. “I have a golf tournament back in Newfoundland, so he came out last year and I promised him I’d come to his this year.”
As she waited to hit on number three, Doreene Shelley had high praise for the tournament organizers and volunteers who help make her son’s event come to life each year.
“Jody always described it as a first-class act and certainly we can witness that today.”
