Heather Wilbur’s Legacy Lives On

All some athletes need is an opportunity and a dream.

The game of golf was a family affair for the Wilbur’s. The fifteen-minute trek to Catamount Rd and Country Meadows Golf Course was always a special one. Country Meadows Golf Course provided the perfect backdrop for Heather Wilbur to learn and fall in love with the game of golf.

Under the watchful eye of owner and longtime golf professional Doug Sullivan, Heather Wilbur began to learn the game igniting a dream which to this day continues to inspire young golfers all over the province of New Brunswick.

The course and Sullivan’s philosophy provided so many young aspiring golfers from this region an opportunity to learn and play the game free from scrutiny and pressure present at other courses. There were no restrictions on young junior golfers at Country Meadows. Kids that teed it up at the Meadows were free to explore, create and play the game which only strengthened and deepened their love and passion for the game.

Country Meadows Golf Course became Heather Wilbur’s “field of dreams.” It’s hard to imagine that we lost Heather Wilbur to cancer 20 years ago.

It’s hard to capture Heather’s impact and what she meant for the game of golf and to the people in our province and country.

Photo Credit Daniel St Louis

It’s difficult to describe Heather to people that may not have known her on a personal level or her trailblazing and monumental accomplishments in the sport she loved. Heather’s journey in the game of golf started at the tender age of six. It didn’t take very long for the little girl with the big smile and big swing to make an impression. Her early success in the game didn’t jade her perspective or change her personality, if anything it grounded her even more.

One would automatically assume that she was a natural, there’s no question she had God given talent, but she honed her skills practicing and playing for hours on end at “The Meadows”.

Her dedication to the game was unrelenting. Her persistence and perseverance were truly unmatched. Heather Wilbur’s personality, class, dignity and character matched her talent and ability, which is an incredibly rare characteristic amongst athletes. Wilbur embodied the true spirit of the game.

All of the hours, all of the ups and downs and difficult life lessons that come from playing competitively at a young age never affected the smile on her face. Her passion and love for golf and life shone bright every time she teed it up.

By the time Heather was 11 years of age she was competing on the North American stage at the UCT Championships which were held in Chicago, Illinois. Life under a spotlight can have its share of challenges, especially for a young woman trying to forge her own unique path in the game of golf.

The spotlight can expose the slightest of perceived imperfections. Heather understood the spotlight and the attention that came with her success throughout her career. She handled the pressure to perform, high expectations and others’ perceptions with the same grace and dignity in which she approached the game.

Heather had an unparalleled love and passion for the game. She was always approachable and made a concerted effort to connect with all of the members and competitors on a personal level. Heather was a friend to everyone. She inspired, she always went out of her way to lift people up, she saw the best in everyone. Her smile and personality always lite up the clubhouse, golf course and every tournament.

The little girl who lugged her golf bag up the hill to the first tee at the Meadows never forgot the meaning of hard work and dedication. At that time, it was hard pressed to determine what was bigger, her smile or the golf bag.

A young girl with a larger-than-life smile and dream to play professional golf never lost sight of the impact she could have on others and the sport by just being herself.

Golf is a way of life for so many New Brunswicker’s and Maritimers. In this region it’s always a short and intense season.

We all have our own unique stories in the game. From subtle beginnings to memorable Championship experiences, golf becomes more than just a game; it shapes our lives. That’s what makes Heather’s journey and story is so special.  Heather Wilbur realized from a very young age she would have to make sacrifices in order to live out her dreams. Dreams can’t be accomplished without hard work and dedication. Heather was all heart and soul.

The penetrating sound of a well hit driver, would pierce through the morning fog at the top of Country Meadows driving range. By the time others would start reporting for work at 6:30 am, Heather would be almost finished her first five-gallon pale consisting of 500 range balls of the day.

There was no off-season in those days. Heather would hit balls nonstop into the old, tattered net in the frigid but friendly and cozy confines of the Meadows clubhouse. You see no one worked harder or longer at their game than Heather. As soon as it was humanly possible to be outside hitting balls, she would appear on the range.

 In the spring of the year, Heather would have bandages on every joint of her hands. Don’t worry her grip pressure was just fine, she was just ramping up her practice regime and routine for the upcoming season. The calluses may have been bloody, but the smile and attitude never wavered.

The landscape of golf during the early to mid 90’s were completely different than they are today. US College Golf scholarships were difficult to come by, especially for someone from this region. Heather took an unconventional path to professional golf. The road less travelled is usually the most rewarding in the end. There’s no question, Heather always believed that anything is possible and that your postal code shouldn’t matter when it comes to golfing dreams. Her patience and resiliency was undoubtedly tested during that time period when college opportunities didn’t come to fruition. Heather dug in even more and focused on getting better each and every day.

A day in the life of Heather Wilbur in the mid to late 90’s entailed, 500 balls in the morning, a full day of work on the course, another 500 golf balls right after work and 18 holes to end the day. Heather would play with a ton of members during that time ranging from Greg Jones, Leanne Richardson, Sandy Comeau, Sue Sullivan and countless others. You see it didn’t matter; Heather would play the game she loved with everyone. The most usual after work foursome at that time would consist of Doug Sullivan, Jeff Russell, Craig Eagles and Heather and they would often be hitting their final tee shots in the dark coming up the 18^th hole.

Of course, Heather’s ball would be in the middle of fairway. Heather’s competitive spirit was ferocious, but you would never see it. The only thing you would observe was her smile and amazingly consistent, repetitive silky-smooth swing.

Her ball striking prowess was the stuff of legend. Her swing was smooth, powerful and effortless. Her ability to think her way around the course, her creativity and ability to hit solid precise shots under pressure were definitely her strongest attributes. On the rare occasion that she was in trouble Heather always stayed patient. “You are only as good as your next shot” was definitely firmly entrenched in her psyche. Heather had the ability to make any shot look easy and effortless, a characteristic of true ball striking icons.

By the late 90’s Heather was ready to take her game to the next level and show people she belonged in the professional ranks. In 1999, Heather wrote the following before making the decision to turn pro.

“It is my dream to one day compete as a professional golfer on the LPGA tour. I have every confidence that I can compete at this level and by the year 2002, my goal is to be playing with the lady professional golfers in the world.”

“I believe golf, steeped with tradition and excellence, is a game which really tests character. Every golfer yearns for that chance to have the perfect game, to shine in the presence of one’s fellow competitors and to master the golf course. It is my life’s work to meet this challenge.”

From 2000 to 2002, Heather was a professional on the Futures Tour (now the Epson Tour), the international development tour for women competing for a place on the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Tour.

In 2000 she jumped into the Future Tour’s top thirty after only five events. Heather qualified for the 2001 US Women’s Open by winning a qualifying tournament by a two-stroke margin, becoming the first New Brunswick golfer to compete in the LPGA’s most coveted tournament. During the autumn of 2002 after returning from a tournament in Mexico, she was diagnosed with Acute Myelogenic Leukemia (AML). While battling the illness, Doug Sullivan, her life-long coach and Heather discussed creating a scholarship fund to help other young golfers achieve their dreams. Two decades later, The Heather Wilbur Scholarships continue to assist young golfers in their academic pursuits.

The Futures Tour established the Heather Wilbur Spirit Award in October 2003. This player award, voted on by tour members each year, is awarded to the player who best exemplifies dedication, courage, perseverance, love of the game and spirit toward achieving goals as a professional golfer. Heather was named as the first recipient of the award in October 2003, prior to her death.

Heather’s legacy continues to grow the game and inspire. If her life had not been cut short, the sky was the limit to her potential, there’s no question she would have made it on and played on the LPGA Tour. To date “The Heather Wilbur Scholarship” has been awarded to 55 junior golfers in her name. This year marks the 20^th year of the scholarship. A total of $65,500 has been awarded. This money was all raised by the friends of Heather.

Heather Wilbur’s legacy lives on as she will now be enshrined forever in the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame.

Heather Wilbur’s Junior and Amateur Career Highlights

1987 (Age 11) UCT Atlantic Champion, Fifth place at North American UCT Championships in Chicago 1988 (Age 12) UCT Atlantic Champion Fourth place at North American UCT Championships in Chicago. 1990 NB Midget Champion, NB Junior Team (Age 14) 1994 Canadian Team Champion with Team NB, 19^th overall at the Canadian Junior Championships 1995 NB Junior Champion, NB Amateur Champion, NB Player of the Year 1996 NS Amateur Champion, NB Mixed Champion, NB Player of the Year 1997 NB Amateur Champion, NS Amateur Champion, NB Mixed Champion, NB Player of the Year, NB Female Athlete of the Year, Canadian Team Championships 3^rd place finish with Team NB 1998 NB Amateur Champion, NS Amateur Champion, Low Amateur at the DuMaurier Series Atlantic