Wildwinds GC (2019)

Event #8 – Ontario Hickory Tour Event #3 — Woodstock ON — July 26, 2019

The third event of the 2019 Ontario Hickory Tour was played at Wildwinds GC in Fergus, Ontario on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Despite some worrying weather forecasts leading up to the event (first predicting a lot of rain, then predicting extreme temperatures and thunder), we in fact enjoyed the day with excellent conditions – bright and warm, but with some cloud and wind to keep things from getting stiflingly hot. Attendance at this event was very good. Despite several players having to drop out due to personal circumstances, we had 33 players tee off, and 31 posted scores for the full 18 holes.

We were joined for the day by Rob Leth of Global TV News, Toronto, and his cameraman Ben. They did a nice little feature which was broadcast on Global TV and can be viewed on the web here. 

At Wildwinds, we were graciously hosted, and enjoyed another course in fine condition, despite this year’s very wet weather. The course was ideally suited to our hickory play, with pre-1900 players, ladies, and those over 75 years of age playing from advance tees marked with our new pink flags for a length of around 4,000 yards, and the remaining Post-1900 players hitting from the red tees for 4,618 yards. Par for the course was 70, with three par 5s.

Winner for the day in the Bobby Jones (Post-1900) Division, was Zack Cameron, a young man who works at Wildwinds, who played with a set of GHSC loaner clubs. Runner-up in the Bobby Jones Division was Peter Baldasso, a Wildwinds member, also playing with loaner hickories. Top GHSC Post-1900 player for the day was Gerald Achtymichuk, with a round of 78 and 46.5 Modified Stableford points; next, in fourth place, was Jim Holland with a round of 79 and 45.5 points. Rick Harper was the winner for the day in the Old Tom Morris (Pre-1900) Division, with a round of 88 and 46.7 points. Note that points for players in each Division are calculated separately, based on the average hole stroke scores of all players in that Division.

Although an organized meal was not included in the event, many of the players enjoyed eating and drinking in the clubhouse after playing.

Thanks to our photographer for the day, Frank Collis, who has done wonderful work for us at so many events.