With more than five decades of commitment to golf in New Brunswick, Astle will be recognized during Golf Canada’s 2023 Annual General Meeting
(Golf Canada) – Golf Canada is pleased to announce that Judy Astle of New Brunswick has been named the 2022 Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year.
“Golf Canada could not operate its tournaments, events, or initiatives without volunteers, and we are very proud to recognize Judy Astle for her deep and continued contribution to golf,” said Golf Canada President Liz Hoffman. “Judy has supported golf in New Brunswick in countless ways, all with a big smile on her face, and she has continued to have an impact on the advancement of the sport in New Brunswick and beyond.”
The Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award is named in recognition of Toronto native Bruce Mitchell who, in 2017-18, was the first Canadian to serve as captain of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews (R&A). Born in Victoria and raised in Edmonton, the former President of the Toronto Golf Club and R&A member since 1988 was just the ninth internationally-appointed captain of the R&A, one of the most prestigious volunteer positions in the world of golf. Duties as captain included representing the R&A as a global ambassador and aiding in the R&A’s effort to develop golf around the world.
Now in its 17th year, candidates for the Bruce Mitchell Volunteer of the Year Award are put forth to Golf Canada for consideration by the respective provincial golf associations in acknowledgment of significant contributions to the game of golf in their community.
JUDY ASTLE
Judy Astle has dedicated countless hours, days, and weeks of her time to serve a variety of positions within the Province of New Brunswick over the past 50 years.
She has been a volunteer rules official, board member with the New Brunswick Golf Association (and formerly the New Brunswick Ladies Golf Association), the director of junior development, and most recently, the president of Golf New Brunswick.
She has impacted the lives of thousands of people in New Brunswick and beyond as a teacher, coach, mentor, organizer, and official and executive member. Judy has also been a full-time paramedic since 1995 and while she’s juggled her teaching, coaching, family, and volunteer commitments she continues to balance all that with her Ambulance New Brunswick shifts. On top of that, she’s also a rules official for all provincial tournaments and Golf Canada and PGA of Canada national events.
Beyond Judy’s efforts at local, provincial, and national levels, plus her responsibilities as association president, paramedic, mother, and grandmother, Judy has a perfect attendance record at Golf NB events for over six years where she’s served as either a rules chair or official.
The Astle, N.B. resident helped guide Golf NB as its president through the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and shut-down of almost all events and activities plus the re-introduction of programs as golf was deemed a safe thing to participate in. During the final stages of her extended term as President of Golf NB, Judy launched ‘Golf Fore Everyone’ – the mantra behind the association’s new strategic plan for the next three years, along with a new brand identity. Beyond golf, Judy’s community contributions include a 37-year teaching career as well as nearly 25 years as a paramedic. A recipient of both the Order of New Brunswick and the Queen’s Platinum Jubiliee, Judy (along with her late husband) is most proud of their four children, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.