It is now called the Denis Brown Memorial Golf Club.
“Denis was a tremendous individual. He had a lot of insight,” said Bonnie Langille, manager of the lifestyles and volunteers department at the Sunset Community in Pugwash. “He was instrumental in helping us create the large vocational programs we have here today, including Sunset Industries.”
Brown was the Chief Executive Officer at the Sunset Community for 19 years before retiring in 1993.
Born in Wallace Bay in 1933, Brown served in the armed forces for 28 years before joining the Sunset Community.
While in the military Brown served in peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and in Europe with NATO. Brown passed away in July of 2016 at the age of 83.
“He really removed a lot of the barriers and built a lot bridges for individuals here to become a full part of the local community,” said Langille. “He not only had an impact here but right across the province.”
Clients at the Sunset residential and rehabilitation centre were out with golf discs in hand to take part in the opening of the Denis Brown Memorial Golf Club, which is located on grounds adjacent to the centre.
“There’s been a disc golf course in Pugwash for nine years,” said Ben Smith, a professional disc golf player who built the course in Pugwash. “Dennis Brown provided the land for us, and we’ve had thousands and thousands of people come out an play here.”
Smith said most of the people who have played on the course aren’t from Pugwash but have come from throughout the Maritimes, Canada, and further afield.
“We had one of the world’s best disc golfers come here and play our whole course,” said Smith.
Smith approached Julie Matheson, chief executive officer of the Sunset Community, about a year ago with the idea of dedicating the nine-hole course in Brown’s name.
“I want to especially thank Julie,” said Smith. “She was delighted to make it all happen.”
A large sign saying ‘the Sunset Community welcomes you to the Denis Brown Memorial Disc Golf Course’ stands at the corner of the course, which lies upon beautifully manicured, gently rolling hills.
“It’s really excellent to see that sign up there and to know this is here,” said Smith.
Langille agrees.
“It was wonderful because Denis had done so much and is always held in the highest regard here,” said Langille. “It’s a good feeling to know his name is there.”
