Aurel J. Parenteau Memorial Golf Tournament Held on July 3rd

Aurel (AJ) Parenteau hosted a golf tournament on his July 3rd birthday for 23 years from 1995 to 2017. Aurel passed away in December of 2017. His daughter Patti organized a memorial golf tournament in his honor on what would have been Aurel’s 90th birthday. Fifty-six golfers enjoyed a wonderful day of golf and socializing in the manner that AJ would have certainly approved. Prior to the start of golf, everyone gathered and sang a joyous Happy Birthday to Aurel.

Among the many friends and family in attendance was his wife, Gloria. All five of Aurel’s children (Mike, Patti, Tom, Steve, and Joe) as well as friends and family from near and far participated in the birthday scramble. AJ played in his birthday tournament up until 2013 on his 85th birthday, during which he never won it. In keeping with that tradition, none of his children were on the winning team in 2018.

Aurel’s history with the Oak Lake Golf Course is extensive. In addition to his birthday scrambles for 23 years from 1995 to 2017, he and Gloria organized Monday golf scrambles for many area friends and family for 15 years from 2000 to 2014. AJ was also involved with the Blaster’s Masters golf tournament that is affiliated with the Blast to Brooks every fall. He did this for 24 years from 1991-2014. One of his finest individual performances on the course was a hole-in-one on #9.

Aurel’s legacy at the Oak Lake Golf Course in Erskine is memorialized with a sitting bench that is located near the first tee. The inscription on the bench is “In Loving Memory of AJ Parenteau.” The bench was given by AJ’s nieces and nephews Marc E. (Connie), Greg (Donna), Jill (Tim), Pamela (Michael), and Gary (Danielle) (Marc Parenteau’s children and their spouses). Next time you find yourself at the Oak Lake Golf Course, take a seat on this bench and remember AJ. Perhaps you played in one of Aurel’s golf scrambles. It’ll be a good memory.