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The Westmounter
his game. From May to June he played a lot before With the NHL still figuring out when the next season
the NHL started back again in July. While Garrett will resume and what the schedule will look like, Rank is
was disappointed that he was not chosen as one of happy to have some extra time home this fall and early
the officials to referee the playoffs, it allowed him to winter. During his stints in quarantine this summer
compete in a few more tournaments, including the after each of his tournaments, besides working out,
Sunnehanna Amateur in Johnstown, Pa., the Western doing yoga and watching Netflix, he picked up a new
Amateur in Carmel, Ind. and the U.S. Amateur in hobby. “I recently took up darts,” Garrett says. “I’m
Bandon Dunes, Oregon. In September, he added a getting half decent and would like to enter a Thursday
Korn Ferry Tour event to his schedule—teeing it up at night league to see how I stack up! I can throw some
the Evans Scholars Invitational outside Chicago. 180s (the highest score with three darts). It’s been a fun
thing to do in my garage.”
Was Garrett nervous crossing the border to compete?
“I never felt uneasy or scared,” he says. “There are just And, this winter at Westmount, in between darts, and
more people down there and they were a little looser practicing his swing into the net he has installed in his
with the masks. But, I was smart. I minded my own garage, Garrett might even give curling a try. He loves
business, wore a mask and constantly washed hands.” Westmount and feels lucky to have the chance to play
at one of the best courses in Canada with an incredible
While he failed to make the weekend at all these membership.
events, Garrett was happy with his play. “I missed every
cut right on the number,” he says. “I played really good “I try to sign up as single when I see a hole in the
golf … I never shot worse than 73, but I also never tee sheet,” Garrett concludes. “I hope it’s a positive
shot better than 71. It’s just really competitive at that experience for Members to watch me play. I try to
meet garrett rank level – one to two shots makes the difference between give them a few tips on how to improve their game.
Westmount is a place I dreamed of playing at, and one
contending and going home.”
day joining, as a kid. I’m so happy to be out here. The
NHL REFEREE & WORLD RANKED AMATEUR GOLFER BY DAVID MCPHERSON
course is always in great shape and a really good test.
It prepares me for the tournaments I play. I just love
being out here.”
It’s the first day of October. The The Elmira, ON native, who Westmount bestowed
leaves on the course are bursting with an Athletic Endowment Scholarship two years RANKING RANK
with color. Garrett Rank just finished ago, splits his time between calling offsides, icings • Attended the University of Waterloo on a golf and
and penalties for a living and chasing the white
playing 18 holes on this fabulous ball—competing in amateur golf events across North hockey scholarship;
fall morning. Over a cappuccino at America. Garrett currently sits 37th in the World • Runner-up at the 2012 U.S. Mid-Amateur;
the bar–sitting socially distanced Amateur Golf Rankings. • Member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team
until 2014;
of course– we chat about life as Garrett started 2020 working full-time on the ice. He • Three-time Canadian Mid-Amateur (2014-2016);
a National Hockey League (NHL) usually plays golf between five and ten times during • Winner 2019 Western Amateur.
referee, his love of Westmount the hockey season. This past January, he snuck in a
few extra tee times while officiating in Phoenix. Then,
and competing in amateur golf in March, the pandemic hit games were cancelled. NHL referee Rank living an inspired life
events during a global pandemic. Suddenly, the 32-year-old had extra time to work on Len Redkoles/Getty Images through golf and hockey
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