HOLE 72
About
My name is Julian Dobko and I am a Canadian Golf Instructor out of Vancouver, BC. I started playing golf when I was 9 years old. By 14, I won the Junior Club Championship at Sunset Ranch in Kelowna, from then on I was hooked. I won my club championship 2 more times when I was 16 and 17. At 18 I took a year off to travel the world, by the time I got home I realized how much I missed the game. In 2011, I decided to join the Canadian Golf Teachers Federation and gained the ability to teach golf professionally. Having enjoyed golf for so many years, I wanted to give back and help others enjoy it too.
I have now found another way to give back, through Hole 72. Hole 72 is a charitable organization that I created to raise funds and awareness towards mental health. Why is it called Hole 72? Because in just one day I play 72 holes of golf (thats 4 games back to back, the equivalent of a PGA golf event) as a way for people to support me in my journey to reach my funding goal. Since I started the company in 2014, I have travelled to 3 different countries to play; Iceland, United States and New Zealand. Collectively, $5000 was raised, 140 holes were pared, 24 holes were birdied, 2 were eagled, and 155 kilometres were walked. This year we are bringing it back home and playing in Vancouver, Canada. My goal is to reach $10,000 with the help of all of you!
Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.
In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness.
Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures.
By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness.
Events
My team of three (one of my best friends and avid golfer, Dustin Regimbal, my father and our trusted caddie, Joe Dobko, and myself) tee up at 4:00am at Kings Links Golf Course. This course is my favourite course in the greater Vancouver area as it has a similar feel to a traditional, Scottish, windy seaside. We are very excited to be playing local and having our friends, family and the wonderful staff at Kings Links support us.
Kings Links Golf Course, Delta, BC
JUL
2019
29
The 3rd annual Hole 72 event has been completed. We are so grateful to the Howick Golf Club and for the warm embrace we felt from the people of New Zealand. The weather was hotter than we have ever experienced, but we managed to walk over 43 km, par 35 holes, birdie 14, and eagle 1.
Auckland, New Zealand
JAN
2016
25
Anchorage is complete! And what a wonderful experience it was for the Hole 72 team. We walked a total of 50km during our 17 hour adventure and raised $2200 towards Mental Health programs at the CMHABC. We also managed to break a new record with 26 birdies and 1 eagle! Special thanks to Jake Riordan, Dustin Regimbal, Kim Brooks and Shauna Kormendy for your outstanding support on this trip! Finishing our 72nd hole under the midnight sun was something amazingly euphoric
Anchorage Golf Course, Alaska USA
JUN
2015
22
Our first Hole 72 charity event was truly an amazing day. My father, Joe Dobko surprised me and met me in Iceland the day I landed. He ended up being my golf partner for the day which was greatly appreciated for the company alone. We were able to battle the wind and rain and finished our marathon in just under 16 hours. We walked 34 km, parred 29 holes and birdied 3. A very special thanks to the people at the Kidjaberg golf club for allowing us to play on their beautiful course, and for the warm embrace the whole staff gave us as we walked down our 72nd hole.
Selfoss, Iceland
JUN
2014
22
This year, all of our proceeds will be going to support one of our favourite charities, Heads Up Guys. This team of clinicians, researchers, and mental health advocates have brought together their expertise to create a resource to support men in their fight against depression. They offer tips, tools, information about professional services, and stories of success.
Help us raise our goal of $10,000