Brent Mackay
39 Years Old
Class of 2020
“Whether it’s on the mountain or in the community, my main goal is to always stoke-out the younger generation, and inspire them to follow their dreams. And push their limits to get to the next level.”
Meet Brent Mackay, the General Manager of RotaryLinks Golf @ Wood Buffalo. As a community volunteer, Fort McMurray Rotarian and proud family man, MacKay works hard for the region and has been leading the RotaryLinks team in seasonal operations since its grand opening in the summer of 2018.
The $20M community project was undertaken by the Rotary Club with its first steps taken way back in 2005. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo contributed $6.6M of funding to get the course across the finish line with the remainder made up of the clubs contributions and a $4M loan from the Fort McMurray Baseball Trusts. Now a 9-hole facility with the full 18-hole master plan set to open to the public as early as late in the 2022 season.
When asked how he got into a career in golf management, Brent reflects on keeping the family tradition going.
“I grew up playing golf at a young age at the municipal course my grandparents operated in Northern Ontario. I was exposed to the sport very early on as my father and other relatives played at a high level and spent many summer days walking 36-45 holes, as well as caddying for my father and relatives in tournaments,” he said.
His passion for the game waned for a while in high school and later in university while he focused and planned on pursuing a career in chemical engineering. Following, it was a chance meeting with a friend that guided him towards the greens and encouraged him towards studying in a Professional Golf Management Program in Victoria, B.C.
“Throughout high school, I played very little as I was playing hockey and other sports at the time. I did not realize that the program existed, and after looking into it, I transferred my studies,” Brent explained.
When he’s not working or volunteering, he enjoys his time with his partner Carey. He is a dotting stepdad to her two teenagers, and the pair stay busy as the kids are very active in their school music program and various other youth sports, but he tries to golf or ski when he has the chance.