DeGrazia, Jones playing 72 holes in one day for Wilderness Discovery

THUNDER BAY – During his days in college, Evan DeGrazia got used to playing 36 holes a day.

By the time he turned pro and was attempting to make it on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Canada, one round a day was more than enough – with plenty of practice on the range too.

On Tuesday, he and his playing partner, Jeff Jones, decided to attempt to play four full rounds of golf, inviting a different twosome to join them on each 18-hole trek at White Water Golf Course, in an effort to try to raise $40,000 for Wilderness Discovery Centre.

“It’s going to be a lot of golf, but I’m going to try to take a little amount of swings as possible, to try to play really well. So far, we’re off to a good start, and at least we have a golf cart today, something we didn’t get when we were playing professionally or collegiately,” DeGrazia said.

“We’ve got water, we’ve got food, so it’s going to be a good day.”

Jones is president of Jones Insurance and president of the board of directors at Wilderness Discovery, he said it was a great chance to combine two of his favourite passions and to give back to the community at the same time.

The cause, the duo both said, is worth the effort.

Wilderness Discovery is a barrier-free camp that makes it easier for people with disabilities to enjoy the best of what Northwestern Ontario’s outdoors has to offer, a fully wheelchair accessible campground situated about 80 kilometres west of Thunder Bay on Shebandowan Lake.

It can also be made available to veterans and their families and other non-profit groups, when vacancies arise.

“Essentially It’s a facility out at Shebandowan Lake that gives people with disabilities a chance to enjoy the summer that we sometimes take for granted as able-bodied. We really want individuals to go out and feel the experience – going swimming or fishing off the dock,” Jones said.

“We’re going to have an accessible pontoon boat. It’s a really special place.”

The plan is to hold the event annually, he added.

“We wanted to do something a little bit different than a golf tournament. We wanted to do a marathon … We’re almost 18 holes in. It’s been going really well so far,” Jones said.

“We have different playing partners joining us for 18, over four rounds, and each playing partner will sponsor to play with us.”

Halfway Motors is also providing $25 a hole and $100 for every hole on which Jones beats De Grazia, a four-time AON District Open champion, who also won back-to-back Better Ball Pro-Am titles with his father, John, at his side.