GHSC News Item: October 3, 2023 – Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship (2023) Reported by: George Supol, GHSC Hickory Ambassador.

On Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1, 2023, GHSC ran the first official Ontario Open Hickory Golf Championship at Whirpool GC (Saturday) and Sawmill GC (Sunday). A total of 41 players attended, including 28 two-day players and 13 one-day players. Of the two-day players, there were 4 U.S. players and 1 player who made the trip from Alberta. Last year’s Fall Classic was the precursor to the new Championship

This year, the weather was fantastic on both days, and the two courses were in excellent shape. Players were placed into their respective divisions—Open (age 54 and younger), Senior (age 55-69), Legends (age 70+) and Ladies. Two-day players competed for the overall championship and silver and bronze gross and net divisional medals. One-day players also competed for separate gross and net silver and bronze divisional medals plus some picture prizes. All players were eligible to compete for closest-to-the-pin prizes on the days they played.

The overall 2023 Ontario Open Hickory Golf Champion was Rick Woeckener of Garretsville, Ohio. Rick shot an impressive gross score of -1 (142) over the two days. He has previously won several key hickory events, including two U.S. Hickory Opens and three Midpines Championships.

In total, the Tournament Organizing Committee handed out the following 28 prizes—1 large silver, 6 silver medals, 10 bronze medals, 3 picture prizes, 6 closest-to-the-pin prizes, 1 best-shot prize (to Pat Potter), and 1 draw prize. The new Championship trophy was also presented to Rick Woeckener and it’s already out for engraving!

Click on the link provided to the left to see the full Scoring Results and Prizes.

Thanks to all the players who participated and made this event fun and competitive. Thanks also to the family members who attended and supported their players. The camaraderie at the courses and at the dinner was truly special and from what this Reporter observed, everyone had a great time.

Thanks to Kelly Leonard for his donation of a beautiful baffing spoon won by Vaughn Perusse. Vaughn’s prize was drawn by Roxy, a Sawmill staff member from the Club’s restaurant-bar.

Thanks also go to St. Andrew’s Fish and Chips in Toronto for their meal coupons and also to Gary Melanson, a hickory player from New Brunswick, for his gift of 90 hand-made, hardwood divot repair tools which were handed out two to each player. The tools came in varying shapes and sizes so players could pick the ones that they liked, from our new trophy upon arrival. They remind me of Harry Potter wands!

Players also received nice GHSC Championship bag tags and custom GHSC poker chip ball markers, designed by Allan Lew and Vaughn Perusse. Thanks to Bob West for securing the wonderful silver and bronze medals from Scotland, presented to both gross and net prize winners. 

Pictures of the KL club, bag tag, ball marker, divot tools and the medals are included along with player pics below.

A very special thanks also goes to Barbara Allan, from Golf Canada, for her work calculating our player handicaps in accordance with the World Golf Handicapping Rules. Players are encouraged to submit their scores for both days for either existing or for first-time hickory handicaps. Players who need their scores reconfirmed by hole may request them by sending an email to the Tournament Organizers at webmaster@gmail.com.

For next year, the Ontario Open Organizing Committee has already set two additional goals: i) increasing the total number of attending players, including seeking additional representation from both Western Canada and the U.S.; and ii) increasing representation of both local juniors and ladies. The Committee also intends to prepare an online player survey for the recent Ontario Open Championship.

Sawmill pics below were taken by Frank Collis, GHSC Member and Photographer. Click on an image below to see its larger version. A few pics are a little fuzzy and we apologize for that. Late note: Allan Lew’s four additional pics from Whirlpool were also added near the end. Finally, three Ontario Open prizes (2 medals and one pic prize) were presented at Dundas Valley by Lorne Emery/Allan Lew, to the following winners—Chris Cade, John Madeiros and Peter Van Beurden. These three DV pics were taken by George Supol and have also been added below.