Local golf star, Dawn Coe-Jones had to miss her most recent moment in the spotlight.
Coe-Jones was inducted into the B.C. Sports Hall of Fame on Sept.19, but was unable to attend the ceremony due to an unfortunate injury.
“I fell and broke my wrist when I was home in Honeymoon Bay on Aug. 9, and had surgery on the 20th,” said Coe-Jones. “My doctor said not to travel, so I was unable to attend, which was a huge bummer for me.”
Coe-Jones was named to the Canadian Golf Hall of fame 10 years ago. But joining a list of athletes that reaches out of her field of expertise is a different kind of exciting.
“I’m very honoured and humbled to be included in an all-sports hall of fame. I’m in the Canadian and B.C. Golf Hall of Fame, but to be included with other athletes and other business people within B.C. sports was quite a thrill for me,” said Coe-Jones. “A lot of the other athletes that were inducted, and those in the past, I followed their careers — so it was quite a thrill for me to be included in that group.”
Though Coe-Jones was unable to attend the induction ceremony, she had friends who did, and sent emails and photos as things were happening, “but it certainly didn’t replace being there,” said Coe-Jones.
Coe-Jones still plays in the Legends tour, which is for golfers over 45, but due to her recent injury, she will be missing a large portion of this year’s events.
“Unfortunately for me the brunt of the schedule is in September and October so I’m missing out on six back-to-back events. So I guess I’m going to be watching from the sideline, and working on therapy to get back into it,” said Coe-Jones.
“Hopefully I’ll get back and play competitively again, but there’s no guarantee. The doctor is optimistic that I’ll be able to get back and play.”
Coe-Jones said the same positive philosophy that fueled her successful carrier applies to her current situation.
“There’re ebbs and flows, and peaks and valleys in anything you do. You try to get out of the valley as quick as you can, and ride the high when it’s going,” said Coe-Jones. “I think basically I just tried to have fun while I was out there, and enjoy myself.”
The doctor told Coe-Jones that she could start chipping and putting after six weeks, and possibly start hitting balls again in three months.
“Hopefully by the new year I will be back hitting balls, and having no problems and issues.”
Coe-Jones, who spends most of her time in Florida, still tries to make it to Honeymoon Bay in the summer each year where she has a small cabin, and she also likes to attend her junior tournament, which she hosts each year at March Meadow golf course where she started her carrier.
“I’d like to thank everybody in Lake Cowichan that has supported me over the years. I played 25 years on tour, and I’ve been a professional for 30 years now,” said Coe-Jones. “Being from a small town you get a lot of encouragement and support, so thanks to anybody out there who’s ever cheered for me.”