Jackson’s Tournament takes over Shelburne Golf & Country Club

August 26, 2016 · 0 Comments

By Brian Lockhart

He looks like a regular young boy and acts like a kid his age, and he certainly is a talented golfer for a nine year old.

However, Jackson Ferguson has undergone nine surgeries at The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto.

At four months old, he was diagnosed with Hydrocephalus – an abnormal build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles inside the brain.

He celebrated one year surgery free on March 24, 2016.

Jackson’s mom, Tammy Trimble, decided to organize a golf tournament in support of research for this condition. The tournament was christened Jackson’s Hope Fore Hydrocephalus.

This year’s tournament is the 8th annual event and was held at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club.

To date, the tournament has raised $43,000 for SickKids and a $11,000 for The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association of Ontario.

“Jackson was diagnosed at four months with hydrocephalus so I decided to do a charity event.” explained Ms. Trimble. “We opted for golf because Jackson enjoys golf. The doctors still aren’t sure why Jackson’s case happened the way it has and why he’s had to have this many surgeries, but he takes every one of them like a champ. He’s generally a pretty happy, healthy kid who enjoys life.”

The funds raised are directed to SickKids for hydrocephalus research as well as The Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Association which helps families who need help when a child is in hospital.

Jackson also takes part in the tournament having played on the links for the past five years.

His home course is right at the Shelburne Golf Club having been taught by professional golfer Sam Young.

“I like teeing off. That’s my favourite part,” Jackson said of why likes playing golf.

Jackson led off the tournament by teeing off in front of a pretty big crowd in attendance and added he hoped to score “better than my Dad,” at the end of the 18 holes.

The fact that Jackson has a shunt in his brain to drain excess fluid doesn’t bother him at all.

“I can grow up with it normally,” he said before hopping on a golf cart and heading out to play a round of golf.

The tournament registered 108 golfers this year with more signed up for the dinner segment of the tournament.