The great Hank Snow had a number one hit with I’ve Been Everywhere as he named off in rapid succession several North American cities.
While he might not have hit as many cities as Hank did, CPGA member Gord Brayton has plenty of air miles logged during his time as a golf professional.
“I’m a bit of a gypsy,” admitted the teaching pro currently based out of River Bend Golf and Recreation area in Red Deer.
This is Brayton’s second go round at River Bend after spending about six years as the head professional at the Yellowknife Golf Club.
“It is a sand golf course and people come from all over the world to play it. It’s on their bucket list,” he said.
The course was established in 1948 built completely by volunteers and it’s the only game in town when it comes to golf.
You carry a turf mat with you to hit from the fairway and there are astro turf tee boxes and greens, he said.
“You are also in an area where there is plenty of fishing and you can catch a 25 pound lake trout,” Brayton added.
He met his current wife up in Yellowknife and she is still up there working for the government but is expecting to retire next year.
Before getting all that northern exposure however Brayton left a job running a golf resort in Saskatchewan to take on a teaching position in China at the Masters Golf course, about an hour and a half north of Hong Kong.
It was an eye-opening experience for Brayton and a fellow professional from Toronto as they spent the day teaching the game of golf to people he refers to as some of the richest in the world.
“At that time, in 2005, golf was only 20 years old in China,” he said. “They designed beautiful golf courses, very tough courses. They took the North American golf courses and basically copied them.”
But coming back to this part of the world, in particular Red Deer, has been very good for him in his own estimation.
“It’s a great golf course, great practice facility and it’s sort of like coming home because I know most of the members,” he said.
As far as settling down once his wife retires Brayton was non-committal.
“There may be more travel.”
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