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It’s not easy to become a professional golfer when you live in Canada, especially Brantford, Ontario. We face harsh winters and short golf seasons, both not ideal for golfers. So how does a Brantford kid grow up to become a recognizable name and face on the PGA Tour? Well, it starts with a keen interest that grows to be a passion, and then a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance. Here is a look at one of the City of Brantford’s 2019 Tourism Ambassadors, David Hearn.
David Hearn, 39, is a father, husband and a professional golfer on the PGA Tour. He grew up in Brantford, starting school at Centennial Public School and finishing at Cedarland Public School. He attended high school at North Park Collegiate, and then went on to the University of Wyoming for four years before turning pro in 2001. He divides his time between houses in Delray Beach, Florida the majority of the year, and Brantford during the summer months. Hearn, along with his wife, Heather, and their three children, love coming home: “Brantford will always be home. The people are welcoming and supportive. We enjoy so much about Brantford, like using the bike trails and being outside in the summertime. It just feels like home to me and my family.”
Hearn is a very accomplished athlete. On his long list of achievements, earning a spot on the 2016 Canadian Olympic Team [in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil] is right up at the top. He has also represented Canada at the World Cup of Golf in 2014 and 2016, and has been a 2-time runner-up on the PGA Tour. He placed 3rd at the 2015 RBC Canadian Open.
There have been many people along the way to help inspire Hearn and his professional pursuits. “However, it started with a strong family support to recognize that this is what I wanted to do and support me however they could along the way,” Hearn says. “Like most golfers, my father introduced me to the game.”
“[Playing golf professionally] was something I think I always knew I would do. I played junior golf to get good enough for a scholarship. Then I played college golf to get good enough to turn professional. I have always just tried to get better every year.”
Hearn recalls that his first rounds of golf were at Pike Lake, near his family’s summer property and joined the Brantford Golf & Country Club (BGCC) as a member when he was around fourteen years old. “The BGCC was great because they allowed unattached junior members to play and it really helped me improve as a player. There have been a lot of great golfers develop at BGCC and it is not a coincidence. The quality of the BGCC course brings out the best in players.”
The Club hosts over a hundred events annually, including: golf tournaments, weddings, galas, business meetings and conventions, and weekly service club meetings. The picturesque course and clubhouse overlooking the Grand River and Brant Park is the 4th oldest golf club in North America and has been ranked 22nd in the list of Top Canadian Classic Courses by GolfWeek and 79th in Top 100 Courses in Canada by SCOREGolf.
In addition to his outstanding athletic achievements, Hearn is also well known for his local charitable giving, particularly with the Alzheimer Society of Canada. For the past six years, David Hearn has held the David Hearn Golf Classic (now The David Hearn Foundation Charity Classic) in support of The Alzheimer Society, leveraging the event as a fundraising and awareness tool. Last year, the event raised approximately $160,000 to be split evenly between the national and local chapter.
“I started the David Hearn Foundation in 2015. We support the Alzheimer’s Society of Brant, Haldimand-Norfolk, Hamilton, and Halton branches and the Alzheimer’s Society of Canada. I am very proud of what we have accomplished and the continued support we have received locally and nationally.” Through its partnership with The Alzheimer Society of Canada, The David Hearn Foundation will aim to increase awareness, improve care for those in need and enhance the quality of life for those affected by the disease, while also empowering Canadians to take action and create positive change.
Hearn discovered his passion for golf at a young age and was able to develop those skills right here in Brantford. When asked what piece of advice he would give to young people in Brantford with big goals, Hearn said, “First would be to dream big. Have big goals and dreams. Then think of a plan to get there. But the most important part is to put in the hard work and have the patience when things don’t fall in place right away. Try to get a little better every year. It takes time.”
“[When I think of Brantford], I think of many good memories of growing up and going to school in Brantford. Brantford is a hardworking town full of good people.”
Tourism Brantford invites you to cheer on David Hearn at the 2019 RBC Canadian Open on June 6-9, 2019.
To learn more about David Hearn, visit his website davidhearn.ca
To keep up with David Hearn on social media, follow him on Twitter @HearnDavid.
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