Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Golf Ontario Announces Hall of Fame Inductees for 2024

Uxbridge – Golf Ontario is pleased to announce the 2024 inductees to the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.  Two incredibly deserving nominees; one in the Builder category and one in the Player category and one recipient of the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has been associated with a recognized Ontario media organization for major contributions to golf in Ontario.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the remarkable accomplishments of Anne, Ashley and Robert, and to share the occasion with members of our community. Their contributions and accomplishments to the sport of golf here in Ontario are each extraordinary in their own way. I look forward to celebrating Hall of Fame members, past and present, and the history and tradition of our great sport.” Said Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane.

2024 INDUCTEES

Builder Category

Anne Edgar Dodds-Hebron

Anne Edgar Dodds-Hebron, a steadfast figure in the Ontario golf community, will be inducted into the hall in the builder category; a testament to her decades of selfless service. Her impressive achievements span numerous facets of the golfing world.

An enthusiastic and avid golfer, Anne was a treasured and invaluable member of the golfing community. She belonged to four distinguished golf clubs — the Brampton Golf Club; the Mississauga Golf and Country Club; the Pinehurst Country Club; and Cherry Hill Club. Her love for the sport resonated deeply within these communities. 

Anne’s passion for sharing knowledge led her to teach accounting and the rules of golf for the Golf Management Programs at both Humber and Niagara Falls Community Colleges. Her commitment to education and volunteer golf culminated in an active role as a certified rules referee for the Golf Association of Ontario, Golf Canada, and other members of the golf community. Her invaluable contributions to rules education have empowered countless individuals, while her role as a National and provincial Rules Referee for three decades has ensured the smooth operation of local, provincial, and national professional and amateur competitions.

An illustrious career encompassing an array of accomplishments. As a competitive golfer, she clinched numerous championships, establishing herself as a formidable force on the fairways. Beyond her prowess on the course, Anne held director-level positions at both the provincial and national levels of amateur golf.  

Even in the face of health challenges and up until her passing, Anne remained unwavering in her support of golf in Ontario, serving as a mentor and embodying her passion for the sport.

Player Category

Ashley Chinner

Ashley Chinner enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Player Category. Chinner found success in both amateur and professional golf while also giving back to the sport.

Chinner was a strong enough athlete in his junior years to earn his way to Baker University in Kansas in 1984 where he earned a degree in Business Administration and competed on both the golf and soccer teams.

After graduating in 1987, Chinner turned professional by joining the PGA of Canada/Canadian Tour (PGA Tour Canada) in 1989. It was also the beginning of a playing journey that would take him to tournaments in over 25 countries over the next fourteen years. That included playing on the Canadian Tour (where he won the 1996 PGA Championship of Canada) and having status in 1993, 1996, 97 and 1999 on what is now the Korn Ferry Tour. A peak of his professional career came in 1998 at the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open where he tied for 13th and earned the coveted Rivermead Challenge Cup as the Low Canadian. In 2000, he would go on to win the PGA Assistants’ Championship of Canada, along with the Ontario Assistants Championship and finished in the Top 5 at the PGA of America Assistants Championship.

A founding member of the Coppinwood Golf Club, Ashley regained his amateur status and has been the Club Champion there a total of eight times, as well as winning three Senior Club Championship titles.

Seemingly a contender in every tournament in which he plays, Chinner has had success in tournaments across the province, winning the 2017 Ontario Champion of Champions, the 2021 Ontario Senior Men’s Amateur Championship, and the 2022 Ontario Men’s Mid-Master Championship.

Chinner is Senior Vice-President and Director of Golf for Signature Risk Partners, Inc. – which specializes in insurance program management for the golf industry. He also serves on the Golf Canada Governors Council and is considered by many to be a valuable golf industry resource.

He lives in Brooklin, Ontario with his wife Stephanie. They have three children: Trinity, Payton, and Breeana and is blessed with a 1 year old grandson: Grayson.

Lorne Rubenstein Media Award

Robert Thompson

A bestselling author, award-winning reporter, and much sought after communications consultant, Robert Thompson has been an influential journalist and marketer for nearly three decades. You might feel it is worth nothing that Robert is a fan of the Oxford comma, great longform journalism, fiction of John Irving, golf writer Michael Bamberger, and the collected works of David Bowie.

For more than a decade, Robert has worked as Managing Partner of Matchplay, a golf communications and marketing company, alongside business co-founder David Cowx. Matchplay’s team has clients all over the world, including Bandon Dunes, Cabot Links, Wynn Las Vegas, La Gorce, Chambers Bay, Pulpit Club, Tree Farm, and many more. In 2022, he worked with St. George’s on the RBC Canadian Open, advised Oakdale on its involvement with the tournament last year, as well as the upcoming event in 2026.

In 2017, Robert had the opportunity to take the role of President of the Golf Journalism Association of Canada, with a focus on the organization’s philanthropic work. He’s appeared on television a lot for a former print reporter (and much to the chagrin of his children), worked as a TV producer for multiple tournaments, and travelled the world with a bag of sticks on his back, chasing a little white ball. Robert has also won a number of awards for his journalism—including the Kenneth R. Wilson award for magazine writing (three times), as well as numerous Golf Journalism of Canada Awards. The author of seven books, all of which, in his estimation, are worth investigating, Robert has interviewed prime ministers and pop stars, sports legends, and economists. An unusual interview with Bill Gates in Toronto and playing golf in Barbados with pharma king and Ottawa Senators owner, the late Eugene Melnyk, stand apart.

His writing has appeared in the kinds of old-world media people used to pay attention to: the National Post, the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, Listed magazine, Canadian Business, Golf Digest, Golf World, and others too numerous to list. He was the golf columnist at the National Post for seven years, Senior Writer at SCOREGolf, and a columnist for more than a decade with Global Golf Post.

Robert lives in London, Ont., with his wife, the writer and editor Jennifer Hale, and his daughter, Sydney, and son, Liam. In his spare time, he coaches baseball and writes and records music with a longtime friend under the band name, Black Heart Machine.

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

About the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. Click Here for the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

For more information please contact:

Mallory Dayman, Director, Participation, Golf Ontario;

MDayman@gao.ca

Fundraising Grow Golf London Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Hall of Famers Tee Up to Support Important Initiatives to Grow Golf Across Ontario

Golf Ontario has launched a new “peer to peer” fundraising campaign to support strategic priorities of the organization as identified through the Golf Ontario Legacy Fund such as; growing the game for girls and women, youth development programs including First Tee and Youth on Course, as well as growing the game for golfers with a disability and the Indigenous golf community.

The 1000 Ball Challenge is a fun but challenging fundraiser providing individuals and teams (foursomes) a platform to raise important funds to support the game’s growth across Ontario. Challengers will commit to hitting 1000 golf balls in a day at a range or indoor simulator as an individual or collective team effort. Donors are invited to “buy a ball or balls” at $5.00 each. There is no limit on the number of balls a donor can buy or sponsor.

The organization is thrilled to include some very notable members of the Ontario golf community registered to participate and actively fundraising in this first year campaign. Thanks to our colleagues servicing the London Ontario region through our RSS program, three Hall of Famers were invited to join the cause, and have already raised some significant donations in support of their efforts. A short biography of the accomplishments of each individual is included below.

Warren Syehttps://1000ball.ca/warren-sye 

Warren Sye was the Ontario Amateur Champion in 1988, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996 and runner-up in 1989 and 1992.

Sye’s accomplishments include being named 2012 Ontario Senior Champion, 1983 and 1991 Ontario Champion of Champions and 1990 and 1994 Canadian Amateur Champion.

He, alongside three teammates, won the 1986 World Amateur Team Championship in Venezuela – Canada’s only win to date.

Warren Sye was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2016.

Rick Younghttps://1000ball.ca/rick-young 

Rick was inducted into the Ontario Golf HOF in 2023 following a 40-year career as one of the country’s trusted voices on the game and matters relating to the golf industry’s equipment and business sectors.   

Young is a six-time GJAC Writing Awards recipient and was recognized by Golf Ontario in 2009 for his contributions to the game. He has written two books – From Fifth to 59 to 2009: The 100 Year History of the Oxford Golf & Country Club and The 100 Year History of The Briars Golf Club

His work has appeared in numerous publications across Canada and the United States including SCOREGolf Magazine, MyGolfSpy, Toronto Star, Golf Business Canada, GreenMaster Magazine, Golf Canada Magazine, Pro Shop Magazine, Maclean’s, LINKS Magazine, Golf World, Golf Journal (USGA), Ontario Golf Magazine, GolfStyle, ClubLink Life, Fairways Magazine, London Free Press, the National Post and the Globe & Mail. He has also provided content for Golf Town, Matchplay Golf Marketing, RBC and the Province of New Brunswick.

Rick acted as the 2008-2011, 2021-2022 GJAC President, and he remains on the GJAC board as Immediate Past President and Vice-President of Outreach and Industry Relations.

Mary Ann Haywardhttps://1000ball.ca/mary-ann-hayward

Mary Ann was inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2006, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Quebec Golf Hall of Fame in 2011.

Mary Ann holds the Ontario record for most wins in a provincial championship and was the first Canadian to win the US Mid-Amateur title.

At the international level, Mary Ann has represented Canada eight times at the World Amateur Championship and 4 times at the Commonwealth Matches.

Her accomplishments include winning the 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2023 Canadian Women’s Senior Championship, the United States Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship 2005, Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2004 and Ontario Women’s Amateur Championship in 1983, 1990, 1995, 1996 and 1997.

Kelly Robertshttps://1000ball.ca/kelly-roberts

Inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2006, and a native of London, Kelly was the back-to-back Amateur Championship in the early 70’s. He won the 1969 Junior Championship, the 1971 Ontario School Boy Championship and the 1972 and 1973 Amateur Championships. Other highlights include the 1997 Mid-Am Championship and the 2003 Mixed Championship. 

Roberts is a former member of Golf Ontario’s Board and former Golf Canada Associate Governor. He has made his presence known in the golf community for nearly fifty years.

After contributing so much to the game for so many years, you would understand perhaps if Warren, Rick and Mary Ann had declined the opportunity to participate in this unique challenge, but their passion for the game continues to burn bright, and they share a collective desire to grow the game and ensure a healthy and sustainable future for golf in Ontario for years to come. They are truly committed to Shaping Lives Through Golf, and ensuring that golf is a game for all.

Please join us in celebrating these Hall of Famers, and consider contributing to their campaign, or even registering to participate yourself or through the creation of your own team!


About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial sports organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world.  From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.

Instagram/Twitter/Facebook: @TheGolfOntario

To stay informed on Golf Ontario’s championship play, events, and additional updates, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and like us on Facebook.

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

2023 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Class Inducted at Wooden Sticks Ceremony

Uxbridge, Ontario- With the 2023 Golf Ontario season getting underway, the association returned to a familiar location and time in the calendar, to play host to one of the most celebrated events of the season, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame ceremony. Held last night at Wooden Sticks Golf Club, following the annual Partner Golf Day, three new members were welcomed into the Hall of Fame, and the prestigious Lorne Rubenstein Media Award was presented in front of friends, family, industry partners and media numbering well over 120 strong.

The event was presided over by acclaimed Canadian sports presenter and commentator, Rod Black who returned to the celebration as the MC. While the evening was to be a celebration of the many accomplishments by each of the inductees and award winner, Black started the evening in a somewhat somber way by recognizing the loss within the community of 2017 Lorne Rubenstein recipient Ian Hutchinson, who passed away over the previous weekend. Ian’s contributions to the game for many years were well known, and in many ways he was also known to be connected to past inductees by way of his many nominations of colleagues across the sector.

The 2023 Hall Of Fame featured two individuals who were recipients of the Builder Category award which recognized their achievements in growing the sport. Bob Beauchemin and Garry McKay. Beauchemin, an individual who had an illustrious playing career himself, competing in various tours across North America, was recognized for his achievements in progressing the sport. His notable accomplishments were gaining his PGA Tour card in 1981, and his development and execution in numerous teaching programs for golfers of all ages. Garry McKay who was a former recipient of the Lorne Rubenstein Award in 2015, has been immersed within the Golf Ontario community for many years. His commitment to providing extensive coverage of the sport through journalism and various other forms of media was recognized and praised by all.

The late Audrey Bendick-Akins (1967- 2022) was inducted in the Players category for her numerous accomplishments throughout her career as a competitive golfer. An icon within the Windsor-Essex community, Bendick-Akins was a member of the Canadian National Women’s team (1986-88) and won gold at the 1987 Commonwealth games, a feat that has not been matched by another female Canadian golfer since.

The 2023 Lorne Rubenstein Media Award was presented to the founding member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC), Rick Young. Young is regarded as one of the pioneers of journalism within the sport as his career began in the early 1980s and is still prominent to this day. His notable pieces of work have been featured in the Globe and Mail, the National Post, Toronto Star and other notable sports media newspapers.

After the event had concluded, Golf Ontario CEO Kyle McFarlane shared his thoughts regarding the 2023 Hall Of Fame induction ceremony saying; “On behalf of Golf Ontario, I extend our warmest congratulations to Audrey’s family, Bob, Garry and Rick on this momentous occasion. Each has made a significant contribution to the sport of golf in Ontario, and we are thrilled to honor their achievements and impact on the game. The induction ceremony has been a wonderful celebration of their dedication, skill and passion for golf. Their extraordinary contributions will forever be a part of the rich history of golf in our province”.

About The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. To be considered for election to the Hall of Fame, the nominee must have made an EXTRAORDINARY provincial, national or international contribution to the game of golf in Ontario. These achievements may be in the form of golfing accomplishments, an illustrious golf related career or some other exceptional contribution to the sport. Nominees may be amateur golfers, playing/club professionals, course designers/managers, administrators and others.

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance, and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the most significant golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to Shaping Lives Through Golf.

For more information, please contact:

Greg Mitchell, Coordinator; Brand, Communications & Marketing Golf Ontario,

GMitchell@gao.ca

Photos available here.

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Golf Ontario Announces Hall of Fame Inductees for 2023

Golf Ontario is pleased to announce the 2023 inductees to the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ontario on May 2nd. There will be two inductees in the Builder category, one in the Player category, and one recipient of the Lorne Rubenstein Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has been associated with a recognized Ontario media organization for major contributions to golf in Ontario.

Newly appointed CEO Kyle McFarlane, no stranger to this important celebration shared his thoughts on the 2023 inductees saying, “The OGHF induction ceremony is such a special event to kick off the golf season in Ontario each year, and we are pleased to return to Wooden Sticks in early May to celebrate the occasion with members of our community. The contributions and accomplishments of Audrey, Bob, Garry and Rick to the sport of golf here in Ontario are each extraordinary in their own way. I look forward celebrating Hall of Fame members, past and present, and the history and tradition of our great sport.”

2023 INDUCTEES

Builder Category

Bob Beauchemin

Bob grew up in Victoria B.C. and enjoyed playing many sports including Baseball, Soccer, Hockey etc., but became “hooked on golf “at age 12. Within a few years he became a champion at the Junior, Amateur (at the Gorge Vale G.C.) and Collegiate (at the University of Oregon) levels, winning numerous events before turning Professional in 1975 to “follow the dream”.

Bob played numerous Tours around the world for the next 11 years, including the Canadian; Australian; NZ; Asian; South American Tours, as well as events in the US, winning The Windsor Charity Classic (Canadian Tour 1981) and The Vermont State Open (1984) as well as numerous other professional events. The culmination of his playing career came when he successfully qualified (earned his card) to become a member of the PGA TOUR in 1981.

In 1985 the members of The Canadian Tour’s Player Association elected Bob as President. After a year in this volunteer position, the Board of Directors asked him to become the first Executive Director and as the Tour developed he became the first commissioner after he incorporated The Canadian Tour in 1989. After 8 years of building the Canadian Tour to an internationally respected level, he then asked Dick Grimm to become his replacement in 1993.

Bob then pursued the educational side of golf by conducting clinics; exhibitions; golf schools; golf exercise programs; sport psychology programs, individual and group lessons. He wrote the “Educational Program” for the Canadian Tour and during his 25 years as a Professor and Director of Player Development for Humber College, he wrote the Professional Golf Management, Manual/Textbook for his classes.

Bob is enjoying his 24th year as The Director of Golf Instruction at the Oakdale G&CC. Apart from developing and executing the numerous teaching programs for the Juniors, Men and Women members, Bob, with the enthusiastic support of the Oakdale membership, also conducts a number of First Tee programs, designed as community outreach programs to help children learn life skills by learning to play golf.

Some major accomplishments are:

-Voted “Top 50 Canadian Golf Instructors” by The National post 2005

-Honoured as a “Life Member” by The Canadian Tour 2007

-Received the “Lori Kane, Community Leader Award” from Golf Canada 2022.

Builder Category

Garry McKay

Garry has been covering golf for The Hamilton Spectator since the mid 1970s and covered his first Canadian Open for Radio station CKOC in 1968.

He has also written articles for ScoreGolf, Golf Canada, Pro Shop, Ontario Golf, Hamilton Golf and for magazines in the United States and Germany.

He has served on the selection committee of the World Golf Hall of Fame, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, PGA of Canada Hall of Fame, and Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

He was a founding director of the Hamilton Halton Junior Golf Tour which began in 1984. He is currently on the board and works events doing, registration, scoring, spotting and even rules.

He was a founding director and currently sits on the board and is treasurer of the Golden Horseshoe Athlete of the Year award which choses the Athlete of the Year for the Hamilton-Halton area.

He was a founding director and is currently the chair of the Hamilton Sports Hall of Fame.

He was a past director of the Stanley Thompson Society and previously sat on Golf Canada’s Heritage Committee.

Garry was a founding director, a past president and past secretary/treasurer of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada and is currently on the board as an advisor.

In 2015 Garry was honoured with the Lorne Rubenstein Award by the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

He won the American Hockey League’s James H. Ellery Memorial Award for media coverage of the Hamilton Bulldogs in 2001-2002.

He won a Score award for golf coverage in 1981.

Garry is also a three-time winner of Gymnastics Ontario’s media award for coverage of gymnastics.

The Golf Journalists Association of Canada gave him their 2021 Dick Grimm Award for ‘significant lifetime achievements to Canadian Golf.’

Garry was also a recipient of Golf Canada’s Distinguished Service Award in 2022.

And his golf game has never improved.

Player Category

Audrey Bendick-Akins

The late Audrey Bendick-Akins (1967- 2022) of Windsor enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Player Category. She captured many titles provincially, nationally and internationally throughout her career and is truly the definition of not only a champion, but a hall of famer.

Audrey Bendick-Akins began her competitive career at the age of 8 under the mentorship of her father, John Bendick, and coach Nick Panasiuk of the formerly known Hydeaway Golf Course. She won her first tournament, the Little People’s Golf Championships, at age 8 and many others followed. A few years later she was awarded the Marlene Stewart Streit Golf Award (age 12), and the Burnett award (age 13). In 1980 she won the Canadian Junior Golf Championship as the youngest player to ever do so at age 13, followed by another victory in 1985 at age 18.

Bendick-Akins represented Ontario at the Canadian Junior Championships where she claimed victories from 1980-1982, received the Ontario Achievement Award for Sports three times, and was awarded Windsor’s Kinsman trophy which is presented to the Athlete of the Year (1983). Throughout her time as a junior she steadily ranked in the top ten within the country. Internationally, she won the Michigan Junior Girls Championship (1981 & 1982) and competed in the World Junior Golf Championships in San Diego, CA finishing second in the international division and 10th overall.

In 1986 and 1988 she claimed the Ontario Amateur title where her talent led her to representing Canada on the global scale. In 1986 she was a member of team Canada at the British Amateur Championships, in 1987 she went on to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand as a member of team Canada, and in 1988 she played in the World Amateur Golf Team Championship in Stockholm, Sweden where she was Canada’s lowest scorer.

From 1984-1989 Audrey accepted a full ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma where she majored in education. She served as captain of the golf team and had a standout career at OU where she remains the 4th ranked overall golfer in school history. She had multiple top ten finishes in the Big 8 conference, played herself into the top 40 of the NCAA individual rankings and was a medalist at many tournaments throughout her time as a Sooner. She excelled in school as she did in golf, being named a two time Academic All-American while at OU. After obtaining her Bachelor of Education degree she returned home to further her credentials with a Master’s in Education at the University of Windsor. Following her studies she became a golf professional teaching out of Tecumseh Golf Centre. She went on to compete in a few Futures Tour tournaments between 1990-1992. She retired a couple years later as she became a beloved mother and secondary school teacher. During her time in education she acted as the golf coach for both the girls and boys teams for over 13 years and volunteered at numerous local and provincial tournaments.

As a Windsor-Essex pioneer of golf, Audrey Bendick-Akins was inducted into the Windsor-Essex County Hall of Fame in 2001. Years later she made her return into the golf world, placing third in the Ontario Ladies Amateur while shooting the lowest gross score, and finishing fifth in the Canadian mid-am in 2015. She won multiple Michigan Mid-Amateur Championships (2016 and 2019), and she was nominated for the prestigious Windsor- Essex WESPY award in 2016 and 2017.

In February of 2020 Audrey was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer by the name of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia (CMML). She battled into remission on multiple occasions, however she continually relapsed; another form of the cancer, Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia (AML) ultimately claimed her life on November 24th, 2022.  During her battle she used the mental fortitude, resiliency and patience that she learned through the game of golf. In her sickness she wrote and published two books, Drive: How to Become an Elite Junior Golfer and Thrive – A Guide for Parents: How to Raise Elite Athletes, to encourage more youth to join and excel in the sport. She was incredibly honoured and appreciative of her induction into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

Lorne Rubenstein Award

Rick Young

A founding member of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (GJAC) Rick Young is one of the country’s trusted voices on the game and matters relating to the golf industry’s equipment and business sectors.     

Young’s 40 year career as a golf writer began in his hometown of Woodstock, Ontario on May 5, 1983 with his first column for the Daily Sentinel-Review. One of the newspaper’s longest tenured contributors his weekly column ran for 26 years.

An affiliation with Golf Ontario began in 1987 when Ken Mackenzie acquired Ontario Golf News and retained Young as a freelance writer to provide profiles and features. Since then his work has appeared in numerous publications across Canada and the United States including SCOREGolf Magazine, MyGolfSpy, Toronto Star, Golf Business Canada, GreenMaster Magazine, Golf Canada Magazine, Pro Shop Magazine, Maclean’s, LINKS Magazine, Golf World, Golf Journal (USGA), Ontario Golf Magazine, GolfStyle, ClubLink Life, Fairways Magazine, London Free Press, the National Post and the Globe & Mail. He has also provided content for Golf Town, Matchplay Golf Marketing, RBC and the Province of New Brunswick.   

Young has covered the Ryder Cup, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, Presidents Cup, U.S. Amateur, RBC Canadian Open, CP Women’s Open as well as multiple Canadian and provincial amateur events. This year marked his 24th PGA Merchandise Show.       

Recognizing his passion for golf equipment, Bob Weeks hired Young in 1999 to provide industry coverage as SCOREGolf’s equipment and business analyst. He continues in that role for the national publication and has been a panelist for SCOREGolf’s Top 100 and Top 59 public course rankings since inception. 

A past member of the Golf Writers Association of America, Young’s belief in a national association of golf media helped form the foundation for the first incarnation of the Golf Journalists Association of Canada (1995-2000). Resurrected in 2006 Young assumed duties on the GJAC Board of Directors as President (2008-2011) followed by a third term in 2021-2022. He remains on the GJAC board as Immediate Past President and Vice-President of Outreach and Industry Relations.

Young is a six-time GJAC Writing Awards recipient and was recognized by Golf Ontario in 2009 for his contributions to the game. He has written two books – From Fifth to 59 to 2009: The 100 Year History of the Oxford Golf & Country Club and the 100 Year History of The Briars Golf Club – and is a frequent guest on golf talk radio shows and podcasts. 

An advocate and supporter of municipal and public golf he was introduced to the game by his dad at the former Woodstock Golf Club when he was nine years old. He spent 41-years as a member of Craigowan Golf Club and now plays regularly at Tarandowah Golfers Club.   

A graduate of the Business program at Fanshawe College in London Ontario Young, his wife Carol, and their daughters, Kirsten and Madisen continue to live in Woodstock, Ontario while frequenting Miramichi, New Brunswick during the summer.      

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

About the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.

For more information please contact:

Nick Taylor, Chief Marketing & Development Officer, Golf Ontario;

NTaylor@gao.ca

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Welcomes One New Inductee and Three Media Award Winners

A night of sincere thanks and gratitude made up our second of two Ontario Golf Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this year, with tonight’s from Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ontario, where the hall resides. Catching up on winners due to the pandemic, Golf Ontario proudly announced the four award recipients this evening: one Hall of Fame inductee and three Lorne Rubenstein Media Award winners.

Rod Black, an on-air sports analyst for decades, emceed the festivities, which included a chilly round of golf, the ‘Golf Ontario’s Partner Cup,’ food and beverages, and finally, the wonderful ceremony. He summed the proceedings up by explaining how thankful we are to play the game and enjoy it immensely, like the thanks after a round, thanks to our playing partners and to the very game itself. All award winners tonight expressed that same message of thanks, evident in their speeches and in describing what the game has given them through the years.

Dave Gourlay

Our lone Hall of Fame inductee this evening, a post-humous induction, was Dave Gourlay, born and raised in Scotland. He joined the RAF in 1940 and spent part of his training in Canada. He immigrated to Canada in 1948, became involved in the golf industry at the Kapuskasing Golf Club, became Head Superintendent of Summit Golf Club in 1960 and then moved to The Thornhill Club in 1963, where he was Head Superintendent until his retirement in 1992.

Dave devoted himself to improving his profession. He was President of the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association (OGSA) in 1968, a founding member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and its President in 1973. He co-managed with Bob Heron the association’s magazine, GreenMaster, from 1973-1981. Together with Bob Heron, Jim Wyllie and Sid Puddicombe, they formed the Canadian TurfGrass Conference and Show. For his work, he received Distinguished Service Awards from the OGSA, CSGA and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

Dave was a much sought-after speaker at national and international conferences on turf management and golf course maintenance and a great mentor to many. His children accepted his award, who mentioned he loved chasing a little white ball until his final days.

Three esteemed members of the Ontario golf media were also honoured with the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, Tim O’Connor, Ted McIntyre and Scott MacLeod.

The Lorne Rubenstein Award is presented annually to an individual associated with a recognized Ontario media organization for “major contributions to golf in Ontario.” Lorne Rubenstein, one of Canada’s best golf journalists and authors, is a member of the Ontario and Canadian Golf Halls of Fame and received the Canadian Sports Media Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009. Each award recipient (not to be confused with an inductee) is presented with an award and is recognized on the Lorne Rubenstein Award plaque in the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

Tim O’Connor

Before Tim O’Connor began writing about our obsession with golf, he wrote about our fascination with music.

As a music fan, O’Connor wrote music reviews for the student newspapers at Catholic Central High School and Western University, both in London, Ontario. As music critic for The Canadian Press news agency, he interviewed icons such as David Bowie, Pink Floyd and U2. He also rediscovered his love for golf.

When former CP staffer John Gordon became editor-in-chief of SCOREGolf, he invited O’Connor to write for the magazine. Bolstered by some writing awards and encouraged by Gordon and Lorne Rubenstein, he plunged into life as a freelance golf writer in 1992.

He became a golf columnist for The Financial Post daily newspaper and editor of its Golf Update section, which provided opportunities for other freelance golf writers. He also wrote for magazines such as Golf Canada, Ontario Golf magazine, Golf Digest, GOLF, Golf World, LINKS, and Golfweek.

As a freelance golf reporter for CBC Radio, he covered tournaments such as the Masters, RBC Canadian Open, and the du Maurier Classic. In addition, he hosted a syndicated show for Telemedia Radio Network, and then a weekly show AM-Talk 640.

His fascination with Moe Norman culminated in the publication in late 1995 of his first book, The Feeling of Greatness: The Moe Norman Story. O’Connor also wrote a history of Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association and The Ladies’ Golf Club of Toronto. He co-wrote an instructional book based on Norman’s swing and edited a book on Ben Hogan’s swing.

He transitioned from media consulting for the golf industry to coaching golfers in 2014. He writes a blog on www.oconnorgolf.ca that focuses on golf’s mental, physical and spiritual aspects.

In 2015, he launched the Swing Thoughts podcast with Howard Glassman. By late 2022, the podcast was in its seventh year, having produced more than 210 episodes.

Ted McIntyre

One of Canada’s best-travelled golf writers has edited most of the nation’s leading golf publications, from GolfStyle and Ontario Golf Magazine to National Post Golf, ScoreGolf and Canadian Open supplements for Golf Canada. Based in Oakville, ON, and bearing an honours degree in political science from McMaster University, Ted is a nine-time Golf Journalists Association of Canada award winner, including a 2019 win for his most recent entry, a profile of Corey Conners.

Ted’s love of golf journalism began in the mid-1980s as sports editor of the local Glen Abbey community newspaper. His coverage of the Canadian Open was the most extensive in the paper’s history. The quality of his first-year Canadian Open coverage with the town paper, The Oakville Beaver, earned Ted a recommendation to ScoreGolf’s Bob Weeks. They soon hired Ted as the national magazine’s Senior Editor.

In that role, Ted helped reshape the ranking mechanism of Score’s Top 100 golf courses. He subsequently fashioned arguably the most transparent and bulletproof golf course ranking in the world as editor of Ontario Golf.

As the first editor of the reinvented Ontario Golf Magazine, Ted generated acclaim for his numerous cover profiles with many of Canada’s most treasured personalities, from Kurt Browning, Peter Mansbridge, astronaut Chris Hadfield and the late actor/singer Michael Burgess, to Donovan Bailey, Tom Cochrane and The Tragically Hip, and from Red Green and poker legend Daniel Negreanu to billionaire Robert Herjavek. (Burgess would later cite his OG profile as the best anyone had ever done on him).

As executive editor of GolfStyle, the most upscale golf publication ever created in Canada, Ted continued his award-winning ways as a travel and profile writer, while helping arrange multiple golf fashion shoots and exclusive profiles of a few other notables, including Sean Connery.

His video-filled travels have included the world’s most stunning resort in Fiji; the Venice-like canals of Mayakoba in Mexico; the PGA Tour’s most rambunctious tournament in Scottsdale, Arizona; the Canadian Rockies; wine and whisky cellars from California to Northern Ireland; as well as countless more of the most sublime destinations known to man.

As a blogger in recent years on his golf/travel/wine website, TheLushLife.ca, Ted’s writings have ranged from the business and legal hurdles posed by alcohol being smuggled onto golf courses to a deep dive into memories of 9/11, to his five-part series “The Bogeyman Trail,” which explored ghost stories at golf facilities across Canada.

Today he continues freelance golf writing and is currently co-authoring a book celebrating the 100th anniversary of Burlington Golf & Country Club.

Through it all, he has yet to record a single hole-in-one. McIntyre commented, “I’ve never had that hole-in-one, but I have this, and this will look better on my scorecard.

Scott MacLeod

Scott MacLeod is the Associate Publisher and Editorial Director for Ottawa-based Bauder Media Group

He began working with the company in 1996. He oversees and creates content for Flagstick Golf Magazine, Ontario Golf Digest and their associated digital and social media platforms.

At the age of 15, his first job in the golf industry was on a course maintenance crew in British Columbia. He has gone on to a career in golf spanning more than three decades and involvement in all areas of the game. It has included agronomy, pro shop operations, off-course retail, and a continuing role as a media member and golf teaching professional. He is a Class A member of the PGA of Canada and the Vice-President of Membership for the Golf Journalists Association of Canada. He has also served as a volunteer on various committees for Golf Ontario on a regional and provincial basis in the areas of player development and communications.

As a journalist, he has contributed thousands of stories and photography on all aspects of the golf industry for numerous outlets (magazines, newspapers, books, and websites) throughout Canada and North America, co-hosted two golf podcasts, and is a frequent expert guest for radio shows on CBC and TSN 1200. His work has spanned coverage of the game at many levels, from local and provincial events to the LPGA and PGA TOURs.

He is a graduate of programs at Loyalist College (Health & Recreation Studies), Wilfrid Laurier University (Certificate – Golf Operations) and the Golf Management Institute of Canada (Graduate Studies/Golf Operations Management).

Scott resides in Kingston, Ontario, with his wife, Michelle, and daughter, Ailsa, and is a long-time member of the Garrison Golf & Curling Club.

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

About the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association.

For more information, please contact:

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca


Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Mijovic, McCann, Mills and Genovese Inducted Into Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

An emotional night of laughs, tears and sentimental stories was long overdue after a two-year hiatus thanks to the pandemic. With that hopefully behind us, Golf Ontario was extremely pleased to announce the newest members inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.

JERMAIN FRANKLIN

The first of two induction ceremonies occurred tonight at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ontario, as part of the Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Ontario Open week. Jermain Franklin, an on-air TSN analyst, emceed the festivities through the wonderful evening that included a fantastic meal, beverages, and music.

Danny Mijovic

Danny Mijovic enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Professional Golfer category after 35 plus years as a golf professional.  Currently, the Director of Instruction at Kings Riding Golf Club and King Valley Golf Club since 2005, Danny Mijovic includes a number of milestones and accomplishments in his illustrious career from college through his amateur and professional playing years.

DANNY MIJOVIC

Mijovic is a four-time NAIA All-American and holds numerous course records worldwide.  His tour travels and participation include the Canadian Tour and the Asian, Australian, European, South American and Great Lakes Tours.

Some of Danny’s Professional Touring Career Highlights include being named Mexican Open Champion in 1984, Labatt’s Blue-Light Champion (Canadian Tour) and qualifying for the US Open in 1985, Ontario PGA Champion in 1987 and Ontario Senior PGA Champion in 2012.

At the amateur level, Danny also amassed a number of accolades highlighted by being a 1982 Willingdon Cup team member, the Number 1 ranked Amateur in 1983 and Canadian Amateur Champion, a top 5 US amateur ranking in 1984 while winning the Porter Cup and Mid Atlantic Amateur Championships.  Mijovic was a 2nd place finisher at the 1996 South American Masters with a course record 61 at Sao Paulo GC that broke a 40-year record held by Sam Snead. Danny was also Osprey Valley Classic Champion on the Great Lakes Tour in 2005 with another course record setting 61. 

At the collegiate level, where he still holds the status of being the only player to ever win all four National Championships, his highlights playing for Texas Wesleyan University include winning 9 individual tournaments, being named All-American 4 times and being inducted into the Texas Wesleyan and NAIA Halls of Fame.

It’s a tremendous honour, especially looking at the names that are on that list, many professionals, people in the industry that I look up to and people I have grown up with,” mentioned Mijovic after the ceremony. “I’m quite honoured, very humbled and grateful.”

Brian McCann

Brian has been one of the finest players in Canadian golf supported by his PGA of Canada Player of the Year Awards in 2011 and 2012 and PGA of Ontario Player of the Year awards in 2013, 2014 and 2015.

BRIAN MCCANN

He has won a total of 15 provincial championships as well as 5 national championships along with many others.  Prior to his professional career, Brian was the number #1 ranked amateur in the Province of Ontario in 1996 and 1997.

He played professionally on the Canadian Tour 1999-2003 and on the Nationwide Tour (Korn Ferry Tour) 2004-2006. He is the all-Time money leader on the Great Lakes Tour and as of now he is also 3rd on the PGA of Ontario’s all-time money list.  

Brian was a 1st Team Sun Belt Conference player three of the four years he attended Arkansas State University and was named to the 1st Team All Time Sun Belt Conference.

In 1993 he was named by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to the Rolex Junior Boys 3rd Team All-American. (Tiger Woods was on the 1st Team).

On the international stage, he represented Canada at the World Amateur Team Championship in 1996 in Manila, Philippines and at the Four Nations Cup in Kyoto, Japan, in 1997.  He represented Ontario at the International Amateur Team Matches in Lima, Peru, in 1996 and 1997, where his 2-man team finished 2nd and 1st.

In Junior golf, he won the 1991 Canadian Juvenile Championship and lost the overall Championship in a playoff.  He would have been the first player to win as a Juvenile golfer overall. Brian won his first junior tournament at age 11 and won over 30 junior tournaments in all.

Brian has become a great mentor to junior golfers and one of the country’s top coaches to golfers of all skill levels.  His professionalism and personality are what make him such a great ambassador for the game of golf and particularly golf in Ontario.

Lot of emotions, just reminiscing looking back and going wow that people recognized,” exclaimed McCann. Again I’m very honoured, very humbled to recognize how many great players that came before me that I had a chance of knowing and looking up to; being included with them is pretty cool.

Jon Mills

Jon Mills hails from Belleville, Ontario, where his home club affiliation was the Bay of Quinte Golf and Country Club from 1985-1997.

JON MILLS

Jon enters the Golf Ontario Hall of Fame after an outstanding amateur and professional career with many achievements at the Provincial, National and International levels.

While competing within Ontario, Jon’s winning ways started when he won the Junior Boys Championship in 1996, Junior Boys Champion of Champions that same year, and was also a member of the Ontario Junior Interprovincial Team. Five years later, in 2001, Jon’s accomplishments included winning the 2001 Ontario Men’s Amateur Championship as the #1 ranked amateur golfer in Ontario and being a member of the Willingdon Cup team.

A Three-time member of Golf Canada’s National Team in 1999, 2000 and 2001, Jon also had success on the International Stage, competing at the 1999 World Amateur Preview Championship, the Eisenhower Trophy in Berlin in 2000 and was a member of the Canadian 4 Nations Cup team which they won In 2001. Jon held the #1 ranking in Golf Canada in 2000 and won the Golf Canada National Order of Merit in 2001.

At the collegiate level, Jon was a Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year in 1998, All Mid-American Conference team member from 1998-2001, 1st team All-American in 2000 and 3rd team All-American in 2001. In 2002, Jon was a medalist at the NCAA Division 1 Central Regional. Jon’s accomplishments as a player saw him inducted into the Kent State Hall of Fame in 2007, the same year he was named Score Canadian Male Golfer of the year.

On the professional stage, Jon won the Manitoba MTS Classic in 2002 and the Canadian Tour Order of Merit. While competing in Independent Professional Tournaments, Jon won the Toledo Open and Western Pennsylvania Open. While on the Nationwide Tour, he won the 2005 CPGA Championship and the Boise Open in 2007. Jon’s PGA career included 70 PGA Tour Events with career winnings of over $576,000 and on the Web.com Tour and additional 184 events amassing winnings of over $1.2 Million. During this time, Jon qualified for three US Opens at Oakmont in 2007, Torrey Pines in 2008 (where he tied at 36), and Congressional in 2011.

Mills now uses his skills and expertise to shape the next generation of golfers. Currently the Head Coach of the Golf Team at Kent State University since 2019 after serving as Assistant Coach since 2016, he helped lead the team to 5 Collegiate Championships and the Mid-American Conference Title in 2016-2017 and in 2019, advanced to the NCAA Championship.

What does it feel like to be inducted into the golf Ontario Hall of Fame?

It’s obviously special to go in there and know my dad is in the Hall of Fame and that I’m in there now,” said Mills. “There’s a lot of great people who meant a lot to golf in Ontario and Canada; to be recognized in that group, I think it’s incredible.

Nick Genovese

Born August 22, 1928, in Dundas, Ontario, Nick Genovese’s accomplishments as a golfer are numerous and span over fifty years, including an incredible thirty championship titles in Ontario, Western Canada and Nationally. On the International stage, his accomplishments included an incredible six Consolation finals Championships between 1950 and 1965.

Nick’s son John Accepting the award

Genovese was named the Ontario Blind Golfer’s Champion an incredible twelve times from 1950 to 1974, Western Canadian Blind Golfer’s Champion in 1959 and 1964, and Canadian Blind Golfer’s Champion six times from 1952 to 1967 in his early years of competition.

Later in his playing career, he added to these twenty championship titles with Ontario Visually Impaired Golf (OVIG) being declared the Totally Blind Division Champion seven times between 1991 and 1998 as well as OVIG Totally Blind Senior Men’s Champion three times between 2001 and 2004.

In 2004, at the age of 75, Nick Genovese was named the Oldest Totally Blind Golfer in North America.

Beyond the aforementioned provincial, national and international accolades, not to be forgotten is the May 31st, 1952 celebration on National Golf Day where Nick was awarded a medal for “I beat Ben Hogan” at the Burlington Ontario Golf and Country Club.

Perhaps no surprise given his golfing prowess, Nick Genovese was a multi-sport athlete recruited by the Brooklyn Dodgers in early 1946.

Mr. Genovese lost his sight due to a welding accident on Friday, April 13th, 1946. He took up golf in 1950 and was devoted to encouraging other sightless individuals to pursue their dreams in sport, business and life.

Although well known for his accomplishments in golf, Nick was even more well known for his singing prowess, having won several Kiwanis, CBC and CNE competitions. A winner in “The Voices of Tomorrow” Contest sponsored by a Buffalo, N.Y., T.V. station, Nick represented Upper-New York State at the Chicagoland Music Festival at Soldiers Field, Chicago, accompanied by a 100-piece symphony orchestra, before 80,000 people.

Nick was a mentor and an inspiration to many, as well as a staple to the sport of golf for the visually impaired.

“The first thing I did was cry because I was so proud of him,” mentioned his son John who accepted on his behalf. “I wished that he could have been here himself to tell his stories because he had a lot of them and played for a long time. As a family, we worked hard to put this together because we had to find proof that dad won as many championships as we thought he won.”

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

About the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to recognizing extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association.

For more information, please contact:

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca


Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Golf Ontario Announces Hall of Fame Inductees After Two Year Pause

Uxbridge, ON – After a two year hiatus due to limitations on public gatherings associated with the pandemic, Golf Ontario is excited to announce the newest members headed to the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Given the lapse in events, there are a total of five inductees representing the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes. Inductions will take place during two separate ceremonies, the first taking place on July 24 at Woodington Lake Golf Club in Tottenham, Ontario as part of the Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Ontario Open week and the second October 17, at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge, Ontario. Three media contributors will also be awarded the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, which is presented annually to an individual who has been associated with a recognized Ontario media organization for major contributions to golf in Ontario. 

Mike Kelly, Golf Ontario CEO exclaimed “On behalf of our Hall of Fame committee members and chair Stu Hamilton, we are thrilled to once again celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of players, builders and media in Ontario golf and we are so excited to bring together our new and current members of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame for two special ceremonies.”

2020 INDUCTEES

Danny Mijovic

Danny Mijovic, enters the 2020 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame class in the Professional Golfer category after 35 plus years as a golf professional.

Mijovic attended Texas Wesleyan University where he was an individual medalist at nine collegiate tournaments and is the only player at any collegiate level to win an individual national championship in all four years. The four-time All-American won the 1983 Canadian Amateur Championship, the 1984 Mexican Open, the 1984 Porter Cup and the 1985 Labatt’s Blue-Light Championship.

Mijovic continues his career in golf as he currently works as ClubLink’s Director of Instruction at King’s Riding Golf Club and King Valley Golf Club.

Tim O’Connor

Receiving the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award for the 2020 class is writer and journalist, Tim O’Connor.

O’Connor has written for a wide variety of golf publications across North America including, The Financial Post, Golf Digest, GOLF, Golf World, LINKS, Golfweek, Golf Canada and Ontario Golf Magazine.

He covered huge events such as the Masters, U.S. Open, PGA Championship, duMaurier Classic, and the Canadian Open. Additionally, he also produced golf documentaries for the CBC Radio program The Inside Track and launched The Golf Show for the Telemedia Radio Network and AM-Talk640.

2021 INDUCTEES

Brian McCann

After a long and successful career in golf, Brian McCann will be inducted into the Golf Ontario Hall of Fame as a member of the 2021 class.

McCann was the PGA of Canada’s #1 ranked player in 2011 and 2012, as well as the PGA of Ontario’s player of the year in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Over the years, McCann has won 5 national championships and over 15 provincial championships.

McCann continues to stay active in the golf community as he is now the Head Professional at Centennial Park Golf Centre in Etobicoke, Ontario. 

Jon Mills

Jon Mills also enters the 2021 Golf Ontario Hall of Fame class after an outstanding amateur and professional career.

Mills was ranked the #1 Men’s Amateur Golfer in Ontario in 2001 and was the Score Canadian Male Golfer of the Year in 2007. In his professional career, Mills won the Manitoba MTS Classic and the Canadian Tour Order of Merit in 2002. He also won the Toledo Open, the Western Pennsylvania Open, and the Canadian Professional Golfers Championship in 2005.

Mills now uses his skills and expertise to shape the next generation of golfers as head coach at Kent State University, a place where he once won 5 division 1 NCAA tournaments.

Ted McIntyre

For 2021, Ted McIntyre will receive the honour of accepting the Lorne Rubenstein Media award.

McIntyre is a long-time golf writer and editor. He has worked in the golf industry for over 26 years, writing for media outlets such as GolfStyle Magazine, Ontario Golf Magazine, and The Travelling Golfer.

We are delighted to present Ted with this award, as it is well deserving due to his contributions and involvement in the game of golf.

2022 INDUCTEES

David Stewart Menzies Gourlay

Dave Gourlay receives the honour of entering the Golf Ontario Hall of Fame posthumously due to his influence and contributions to the game of golf.

Gourlay was a founding member of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association (CGSA) and the president of the association in 1973. He was named Superintendent of the year in 1982 and won the John B. Steele Award (CGSA’s highest honour) in 1997.

Gourlay was a great mentor to many and his impact spans many generations.

Nick Genovese

After a 54-year career in the golf industry, the late Nick Genovese will enter the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2022.

Genovese won the Canadian Blind Golf Championships in 1952, 1953, 1954, 1957, 1963, and 1967, along with 21 provincial championships. He was also named the oldest blind golfer in North America in 2004, at the age of 75.

Nick was a mentor and an inspiration to many, as well as a staple to the sport of golf for the visually impaired.

Scott MacLeod

The recipient of the Lorne Rubenstein Media award for the year 2022, is Associate Publisher of Flagstick Golf Magazine Scott MacLeod.

MacLeod has worked with Flagstick Golf Magazine and Ontario Golf News and has dedicated over 25 years of hard work to the game of golf. He has been a journalist/writer writing articles for Flagstick as far back as 1996. MacLeoad is a “Class A” Professional with the PGA of Canada and continues to demonstrate his love for the game through his work.

An active and respected member of the Golf Journalist Association of Canada, MacLeod is well deserving of this award.

About Golf Ontario

Golf Ontario is Ontario’s Provincial Sport Organization focused on enhancing participation, elevating performance and supporting the passion of golfers in Ontario. With over 100,000 individual members and 500 member clubs, Golf Ontario is one of the largest golf associations in the world. From rating courses and keeping the integral rules of the game intact, to growing the game at the grassroots level and hosting the best amateur tournaments in Canada, Golf Ontario is a passionate group dedicated to shaping lives through Golf.

About the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.

For more information please contact:

Peter MacKellar, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Golf Ontario;
PMacKellar@gao.ca

Adam (AJ) Abraham, Assistant, Marketing Communications, Golf Ontario;
AAbraham@gao.ca


Golf Ontario Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Wooden Sticks GC

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Welcomes 2017 Inductees

UXBRIDGE— The annual Ontario Golf Hall of Fame ceremony was held on May 3, from Wooden Sticks Golf Course in Uxbridge. This year, four deserving inductees entered the Hall and one member of the Ontario golf media was honoured with the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award.

“I wish to extend my congratulations and those of Golf Ontario’s board members, staff and volunteers to this truly deserving group of inductees,” said Golf Ontario President John Gallinger as he welcomed those in attendance. “Whether as a Builder, Amateur or Professional, all of tonight’s inductees have shown extraordinary contributions to the game at the provincial, national or international levels.”

The evening began with the presentation of the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award, an award that recognizes major contributions to golf in Ontario and is named after Ontario Golf Hall of Famer and one of Canada’s best known golf journalists: Lorne Rubenstein. This year the award was given to Ian Hutchinson. Hutchinson’s career has spanned over 35 years and seen him cover a variety of sports. However, he eventually specialized in golf and it is because of those contributions he was named the 2017 Lorne Rubenstein Media Award winner.

“What a prestigious award to win. I said to Lorne that he set the bar for us, not only in standards of writing but in the way he conducts himself. He is always willing to talk and help out his colleagues,” said Hutchinson. “I looked at the past winners of this award and what a great lineup of golf writers to be joining!”

The first inductee to join the Hall was Oakville’s James Fraser. Fraser entered the Hall in the Builder category after an impressive career that saw him involved in numerous areas within the sport. Fraser held multiple roles around rules but also served associations provincially (in both Ontario and Quebec) along with nationally.

Fraser told the crowd about how he grew up with the game of golf and that once he started to attend events, he became interested in the rules side. Fraser followed that passion into the Hall of Fame career that he now possesses.

Port Carling ‘s Thomas McBroom also entered the Hall in the Builder category. McBroom, a well-known golf course architect has designed more than 60 courses in Canada and even more internationally. Many of his designs have been recognized on top lists nationally and internationally.

“I am obviously thrilled to be here tonight and to have so many good friends and good clients here,” said McBroom. “I thank you all for your support of the years. I have had a great career in golf and am happy to have been part of a great period where golf expanded.”

Entering in the Professional category was Sandford’s Ken Tarling. Tarling, who turned pro in 1982 captured 21 provincial titles, two national championships, a Canadian Tour win and 12 international victories in eight different countries.

Tarling thanked those in attendance for their involvement in his career and told them about how he became a professional. “Originally I wanted to be a head professional because I thought that was the life. It wasn’t until a Golf Ontario (Ontario Golf Association) camp where Ontario Golf Hall of Famer Sam Young said to me ‘I think you should try to become a tour player.’ He saw something in me and that changed my entire outlook.”

The final inductee of the evening was Stacey (West) Mahoney. Now living in Cary, North Carolina, Mahoney entered the Hall in the Amateur category. Mahoney had a tremendous junior career, which saw her win three Ontario Junior Girls’ titles, three Canadian Junior Girls Championships and the 1979 Canadian Ladies’ Amateur Championship in addition to the numerous team honours she received.

“I have been really lucky. I have been to every province in Canada, probably half of the states in the U.S., England, Australia and Fiji in my golf career on provincial and national teams,” said Mahoney.

With that the 2017 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame ceremony concluded and the inductees officially joined the other members of the Hall.

Golf Ontario would like to congratulate all of the inductees and thank all those who attended, including Golf Ontario partners who make events like the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame possible. Also, a big thank you to Wooden Sticks for their continued support in hosting the ceremony and housing the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Thanks as well to TSN’s Mark Zecchino for emceeing the event.

ABOUT THE ONTARIO GOLF HALL OF FAME

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. There are 79 members of the Hall of Fame.

Golf Ontario Ontario Golf Hall of Fame

Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Announced

UXBRIDGE — Golf Ontario is pleased to announce this year’s four new members of the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. James Fraser, Thomas McBroom, Ken Tarling and Stacey (West) Mahoney will become the 76th, 77th, 78th and 79th members of the Hall at the official induction ceremony on May 3, 2017 at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge. In addition, Ian Hutchinson will be receiving the Lorne Rubenstein Award, which is presented annually to accredited members of the Ontario media for “major contributions to golf.”

2017 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Inductees

James Fraser

Oakville resident James Fraser, 79, enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Builder category. Originally born in Montreal, QC, Fraser, has been working in the golf industry since the early 1960s at the club, provincial and national levels serving in numerous roles. While many of his roles have revolved around Rules, Fraser has also served as Governor (RCGA, Canadian Seniors’ Golf Association) and Director (Beaconsfield GC, Toronto Golf Club, Quebec Golf Association, Canadian Golf Foundation, Stanley Thompson Society and RCGA). In 2007 he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award by Golf Ontario (Golf Association of Ontario), the RCGA Distinguished Service Award and International Association of Golf Administrators Distinguished Service Award. He is an honorary member of Beaconsfield GC, Quebec Golf Association, the International Association of Golf Administrators, and the Golf Journalists Association of Canada.

Thomas McBroom

Port Carling resident Thomas McBroom is known as one of Canada’s most respected golf course designers and enters the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in the Builder category. The majority of his work in his 25-year career has been in Ontario, yet McBroom has designed more than 60 courses across the country and even more internationally. Golf Digest has named six of his designs Best New Canadian Course and one (Memphremagog) as one of the Top 100 in the world. Two of his European courses have even cracked Europe’s Top 100. In addition, SCORE Golf Magazine has named 14 of his courses among the Top-100 in Canada. Today, McBroom, 64 and a member at both St. George’s and Oviinbyrd, is still active and while he has designs in North America, Europe and the Caribbean, he has set his sights on expanding with courses in China.

Ken Tarling

Entering the Hall in the Professional Golfer category is Sandford’s Ken Tarling. Originally from Saskatoon, Tarling turned pro in 1982. Throughout his career, Tarling captured 21 provincial titles, two national (2001 PGA of Canada Club Professional Championship and 2011 PGA of Canada Senior’s Championship), one Canadian Tour win and 12 international victories in eight countries. Now at the age of 58, Tarling is competing on the European Senior Tour. Tarling has also served as the President of the Canadian Tour, been on the PGA of Canada Board of Directors and taught at Humber College in the Professional Golf Management program. In 2012, he received an Honorary Life Membership with the Canadian Tour.

Stacey (West) Mahoney

While now a resident of Cary, North Carolina, Stacey (West) Mahoney, 58, carved a name for herself in Ontario as a junior golfer. She was a three time winner of the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship (1975, 76, 77) a feat she replicated at the National level with the Canadian Junior Girls Championship (1974, 76, 77). After her junior career, Mahoney also captured the Canadian Ladies’ Amateur Championship in 1979. She found success as Low Amateur at the Peter Jackson Classic (Canadian Women’s Open) in 1977 and 1980. Mahoney also represented and captured many team honours during her career. She enters the Hall in the Amateur Golfer category.

Ian Hutchinson – Lorne Rubenstein Award

Ian Hutchinson is a veteran Canadian golf writer whose career began as a sports writer in 1978 before he began specializing in golf. His history in the game includes an extensive background with Canadian golf trade publications. Hutchinson is also a regular contributor to publications and websites in Canada and the United States. In 2008, Hutchinson started Golf News Now as a way of offering the industry immediate access to breaking news and new product introductions and to offer a central meeting place for information through links to company, association and media websites.

ABOUT THE ONTARIO GOLF HALL OF FAME

The Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is dedicated to the recognition of extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in the game of golf in Ontario. Founded in 2000 by the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association, the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame is housed at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.

Golf Ontario John Gordon Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Patty Howard

Gordon, Howard, Mills inducted into Ontario Golf Hall of Fame; Johns receives Media Award

UXBRIDGE— It was a night to honour the best in Ontario golf as Golf Ontario, along with Wooden Sticks Golf Course, hosted the 16th annual Ontario Golf Hall of Fame ceremony on May 4.

This year, three inductees joined the list of who’s who in Ontario golf as journalist John Gordon, professional/teaching pro Patty Howard and former Golf Association of Ontario Executive Director Dave Mills joined the Hall as the 73rd, 74th, and 75th members. In addition, journalist Bill ‘Skip’ Johns was honoured with the Lorne Rubinstein Media Award.

The event began with emcee Mark Zecchino, from TSN, welcoming all guests who packed the reception room at Wooden Sticks in Uxbridge.

Golf Ontario President Chris Osborne took to the stage next to congratulate all of the individuals being honoured. “We acknowledge all of tonight’s inductees’ contributions and accomplishments in the great game of golf, and through this induction ceremony wish to perpetuate the memory of their place in golf history.”

First up was the Lorne Rubenstein Media Award. Presenting the award was none other than Rubenstein himself who was honoured to give the award to his peer Bill ‘Skip’ Johns. Johns, a journalist for close to 60 years, brought smiles and laugher to the crowd as he did his best “athlete” acceptance speech before thanking all who made the award possible for him.

The first inductee to be honoured was John Gordon. Gordon, a golf journalist for more than 30 years, was involved in many aspects of the golf industry. In addition to his contributions in print, radio, television and online journalism, Gordon also held roles with Golf Canada, the Ontario Golf Association (now Golf Ontario), the NGCOA and Clublink. Gordon also helped to form the Professional Golf Management Program at Georgian College and is a published author of eight books.

During his speech, Gordon spoke about his passion to make the game more accessible and affordable, but emphasized to people to have faith in the game and to stop and admire it for what it currently is.

Next, Patty Howard joined the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Howard was a multiple-time winner as a professional and went on to become a successful teaching pro. She held numerous positions in the industry, many of which were a first for females. Her accomplishments helped to pave the way for women in golf today.

Howard talked about her passion for the game and how it continues to burn even to this day. “People don’t remember what you did but rather how you made them feel,” said Howard. It was evident from the guests, including the coach bus of supporters that accompanied Howard, that she had made an impact on many people.

Last but not least, former Golf Association of Ontario (Golf Ontario) Executive Director Dave Mills took his place in the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Mills, who started out as a volunteer on the Ontario Golf Association Board of Directors, went on to become the association’s Executive Director and led the organization out of a period of financial instability. He spearheaded a merger with the Ontario Ladies’ Golf Association to create one of the largest golf associations in the world. To this day Mills continues to be involved with the association as a volunteer.

Mills took the opportunity to talk about his favorite memories with the association including his numerous trips to championships with junior teams and mischief the players would find themselves in.

With that another Ontario Golf Hall of Fame ceremony came to a close. Golf Ontario would like to congratulate all of the inductees and award winner and thank everyone who made the event possible. A big thanks goes to Wooden Sticks for hosting the event and for all who attended the special evening.