CARNDUFF - Mike Fowler enjoys golf so much that he has two golf memberships. One is in his hometown of Carnduff, the other is near his cottage at Kenosee Lake.
Fowler’s interest in the game started when he was about six, mainly because it gave him a chance to hang out with his father and grandfather, who were both avid golfers. Before long, he fell in love with the game and its many challenges.
He has golfed at some impressive courses, including one in Hawaii and another at Banff Springs in Alberta. He enjoys golfing with his wife Kim, although that doesn’t happen nearly as much as he’d like. Fowler says she is a good, patient golfer but the busyness of life prevents her from golfing as much as she or he would like.
By his own admission, he is an average player with a 10 handicap. He has experienced the thrill of a hole-in-one while golfing in Carnduff. He was golfing at the Oilmen’s Golf Tournament in 2014 and a prize of $5,000 was up for grabs to anyone getting an ace. Fowler went home that night quite a bit richer but had he been able to save that shot for the following day, he would have walked away with $50,000. As exciting as the moment was, it would have been even better had it come a day later.
Fowler’s interest in golf was instrumental in the organization of the annual Oilmen’s Tournament. It began in 2008 and has been ongoing ever since.
Although Fowler’s love of golf remains strong, his time for it has diminished over the past few years. Currently, he gets out once a week on men’s night, golfing with his buddies on a team known as The Nasty Boys. He has yet to use his membership at Kenosee this year.
Perhaps you’re wondering why. Well, just as the busyness of life keeps his wife off the course, Fowler is experiencing that too. He is the director of operations with the Day Group of companies and is the general manager of one of those companies, Eagle Sky Ventures. He also serves his hometown as a council member.
Unlike his dad, he has never been able to pass his passion for the game on to his children Avry, Owen and Adley. That means that he has to hang out with them in places other than the golf course. As a result, his kids’ interests are increasingly becoming his interests. Avry dances and plays the piano, Owen plays baseball and was a member of the U15 team that won the provincial championship in Carnduff a few weeks ago, and Adley also dances. Fowler is now doing less of the ‘golf thing’ and more of the ‘dad thing’, attending recitals and games with his wife, supporting and encouraging his children as they pursue their developing interests.
Fowler enjoys his job and serving his community. He loves his family. Although he would like to spend more time pursuing his golf, he’s keeping it all in perspective.
