Article by Steve Bezanson

For Kathy Powers, an afternoon round of golf with a good friend and a cold beer are worth far more than all the trophies she has accumulated and accolades she has received during her illustrious career. While most elite athletes seem to crave the spotlight, Powers is much more comfortable hanging out with her buddies or shooting the breeze at the 19th hole. Some might find it strange that a person who has captured 14 Nova Scotia amateur women’s golf titles detests the limelight. Yet that’s a true measure of Powers’ down-home, country values. “I am a small-town git, sai Powers, a Lunenburg native now living in Halifax. “I wouldn’t want to live in a small town anymore, but I love Lunenburg dearly and I go visit my mom all the time. Halifax is big enough for me and I wouldn’t want to go any bigger than Halifax. “I like my roots, I don’t like to go on vacation, I like my work and being home. I don’t like the attention. I don’t like the flash. I like to win but I don’t like people talking about it.” Straightforward and to the point. Never one to mince words. That’s typical of how she plays golf and approaches life. “Being elected to the Hall of Fame is a great honour. It’s nice to be recognized and nice for my family but I’d be just as happy if someone sent me a video telling me what it was all about. To truly understand Powers, let’ go back to when, growing up ir Lunenburg, she was a jock who could have gone far in any sport she chose. “In Lunenburg, you either played all the sports or you played none. In high school, I played basketball, volleyball, badminton, track and field, soccer, hockey, whatever was going.” However, it was golf that captivated Powers. “Mom and dad both played and I caddied for them,” she said. “When we got to the back holes, I was allowed to hit some shots and that’s how I got hooked.” For Powers, it was love at first swing. “Oh, my God, yes. Number one, I enjoyed spending time with my parents. Whatever they did, I wanted to do. I enjoyed all sports, but golf was what I worked hardest at.” From the first time she teed it up, Powers hit the ball a ton. “I was long and natural from Day 1. I’m very good at watching and mimicking. I’d watch the good male golfers and I would swing like them and that’s how I learned. I never really had a lot of lessons.” “…I like to wine, but I don’t like people talking about it.” Kathy has won two junior and 14 amateur titles in Nova Scotia, been on provincial teams 14 times, three junior and 11 amateur, and taken countless club, field day and other titles. “Not a chance (would I change history),” Powers said. “I went to California for six weeks on the mini tour as an amateur because everyone said you’ve got to try it. I played well and I could have made money. But I didn’t like being that far away from home.” Now general manager of golf stores in Halifax, Dartmouth and Moncton, Powers, 48, plays sparingly. But she could resurface as a senior. “When I turn 50, I might get back at it again. I wouldn’t mind winning the junior, the amateur and the senior, just to say that I’ve done it.” Powers.