SSHoF logoDon Campbell

Builder (2003)

Golf, Hockey

Don Campbell Don Campbell has served at the Riverside Country Club, for 47 years, including 27 as executive director, and for his long-time devotion to the game of golf, he received the distinguished service award from the Royal Canadian Golf Association in 2002.

Don was born in Saskatoon and as soon as he was mobile, he was drawn to sports. He played first base for the Saskatoon Moores, who won the city junior baseball championship three years in a row and captured the Saskatchewan junior title in 1953.

He was a standout goalie with the Saskatoon Wesleys, both with the juvenile team, which won the provincial championship in 1951, and then the junior team, 1952 through 1954, where he was the team's most valuable player each year. Don turned professional, played a season as backup goalie with Toronto Maple Leafs and later played with Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, Pittsburgh Hornets, New Westminster Royals, Springfield Indians and Greensboro Generals.

He returned to Saskatoon to join the Quakers of the Saskatchewan Senior League, they were invited in a tour of Europe in 1962-63, and he was voted the team's most valuable player on the tour.

Don became deeply involved in golf, the Riverside Country Club became his second home, and he helped organize and run many important tournaments. At Riverside, he was knee deep in course management, which included at least three major overhauls of the layout and course conditions. Among the tournaments at Riverside were the Canadian men's amateur of 1964, the Canadian seniors of 1980, the Canadian men's amateur in 1985, the Canadian women's in 1986, the Canadian junior in 1991 and the Canadian mid-amateur in 1995.

He was a charter member of the Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association in 1960, was known as an innovator in the culture of fine turf, and is currently executive director of the association. He served on the board of directors of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association from 1972 until 1976.

Don was honored as a life member of the Riverside Country Club in 1995, a life member of the Saskatchewan Golf Association in 1996 and recognized by the Royal Canadian Golf Association in 2002.

Don suffered a heart attack and required bypass surgery in 1989, soon launched the Open Heart charitable golf tournament and has been a major volunteer with the Vipond Golf Classic, both of which are still running. Don and Marie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in March 2003.