HSC News Item: August 23, 2023 – Jeff & Vaughn’s Excellent Adventure (2023) Reported by: Vaughn Perusse, GHSC Hickory Ambassador

This month’s adventure gathered together GHSC members—Lorne, Bill, Allan, Bob and Chris—for a one-week trip to the 2023 Canadian Hickory Open in Edmonton Alberta.

For the 24th year, Ron Lyons and his business partner Edwin Chan, together with the assistance of Chris Ream and many others once again hosted the Canadian National Hickory Open at the challenging Legends Golf and Country Club. Several of us arrived earlier in the week to play Jasper Park Lodge, an incredible Stanley Thompson course in the Rockies. This has to be, hands down, one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world! 

We began our tournament week with some practice rounds at Goose Hummock and The Ranch. Here we met many of the participants of the forthcoming event as well as some very large and hungry mosquitoes. Both venues were fun to play and we soon began to sense the hospitality being generously offered to us. 

The Canadian Hickory Open brings together participants from across Canada and the USA. The mutual love for all things hickory golf and the history of the game is evident throughout the week. Edmonton, specifically The Legends Golf and Country Club is a “Hickory Hotbed.”  The community celebrates the history of golf in an hospitable and practical manner. The event focuses on our mutual appreciation for the challenge of hickory golf and camaraderie. 

The itinerary allows for scrambles (2 and 4 person) as well as individual play. The welcome and the hospitality we experienced were unrivalled. We enjoyed visits to view private collections of clubs, golf curiosities, power golf cars (85+ in Ron’s Museum located at the course) , libraries, anything you might possibly imagine. 

We also enjoyed many off-course get-togethers. Thanks Ron and Chris! The final banquet (love that Alberta Beef!) was amazing. We were very fortunate to participate this year. Ron and his team have demonstrated a commitment to both the celebration of hickory golf and the overall history of golf. As their annual event approaches its Silver Anniversary in 2024, we congratulate them and inform them that this type of warm welcome necessitates a repeat visit! Thank you so much for everything!

Below are some pics from our fantastic visit. Click on an image to see a larger version.