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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-24, Page 38Editor Gerard Creces 519-524-2164 gsssports@bowesnet.com Deadline: Fridays at 2:00 p.m. 3'1 Wednesday, August 24, 2011 • Signal -Star 37 1 goderichsignalstar.com Get all of your news, sports and more Serving Goderich and surrounding area itland Country Club celebrates 90 years of history es itland Country the land it occu- a. long and cele- story, and as the ares for its 90th :tournament and i n this weekend, o looking back on des of golf and oderich. played as early as g the river, but it til the summer of the club opened everend David St. Andrew's Scot - edited for laying ginal course, the which was on • the ck of land where e now. where the course has served many - from the Chip returned, to the ds each year, to a strict to a military • und. Salt mining rail station could •.nnd alongthe edge. As proof of past, the ghostly f a distillery can en north of the • lock. ding board mem- of the Scottish, ied menthem- dges, politicians, en and many of es can still be oderich today;. ooney, Saunders, ns. When Cana- - rs.returned from Scotland during brought back an on for the sport the air force was t in the 40's, serv- uld be found on and the trophies. • along the lower the course was. built over many original bottom 27 show a series nd ponds where re today. In the western stretch would become holes 8 and 9. Women from the start took a keen interest in the club and the sport, and the ladies' social events and fun- draisers were and still are very much instrumental in the club's development. Joyce Shack, President of the Maitland Board of Direc- tors, joined the club in 1979. She said the women of Mait- land play a very important stewardship role. "We have a group of hard- working ladies who feel responsible for the club and don't mind supporting it," she said. "Men do their thing more quietly. It's probably easier for therm to have a tournament than a bake sale." Each year the women of Maitland pick a project, whether it be repainting the club houseto new chairs, and Shack noted their yearly bridge -party also helps to reach their annual goals. This year will see come changes to the Maitland. At the board's annual meeting last month they decided to dispense with the shares of the club, sold for $50 since it's inception. To most members, she said, it doesn't really matter if they have shares on .the board or not. "Most people want to play golf," she said. "Not worry about the business of golf." Part of the reason for get- ting rid of shares, Shack explained, is that the board is seeking Trillium funding for repairs to the club house and curling club roof. "Our prime goal was to make ourselves eligible for some funding," she said: "We've done that and now we're proceeding with our (grant) application" As for the list of local champions, none were as successful on the Maitland links than Tony Bedard,. Tony racked up 16 holes In one over his lifetime of golfing - five of which were on hole number 5. The club's storied history has been affectionately summed up in Ninety Years: A History of the Maitland Country Club 1921-2010, by Ray Bedard Tony's son. "1 took 'my dad over. to St Andrew's for his 75th birth- day," Bedard recalls. "On the plane over he just started telling me stories of the Maitland in the 40s and 50s.rr Bedard said the most interestingfact for him was that the clubhouse is on exactly the same spot as Samuel Platt's original salt mine, as well as how many high-profile golfers made stops at the Maitland. "I have, a history there" he said. "It's where I grew up as a kid:` Many tournaments have been added over the years, as well as a rejuvenated jun- ior program led by course Pro Dave Bedour.. Bill Hanly has been a member for 40 years, and helping with the junior pro- gram for. 15, getting started with dear, departed friend, Tony Bedard. "1 enjoy it with the kids, and it just became natural, he said of his involvement. "I enjoy it very much. Made a lot of good friends playing golf." Hanly has also seen a few changes to thecourse, including the installation of the #1 green, and the mov- ing of 06 to its current loca- tion,.as well as many trees planted. A former club champion himself in 1978, Hanly also shot a hole -in - one on #7. Of course, no matter what changes have happened to the course or the grounds over the years, at the core of it all lay a love of the game, the people and the camaraderie. As Hanly put it: "I'm just one of a whole lot of good people at the Maitland. " Some Maitland facts: • The club formally opened July 6, 1921, and Canadian Amateur champ, Frank Thompson, was the officiator. • Golfers familiar with the course will know that the original first green is to the left of today's hole 6, used now as a practice green. • One hundred shares of $50 were sold in the first year of the club. • Canadian gotf legend Moe Norman was the Maitland Invitational champion of 1952. • The Department of Transportation purchased land from the Maitland CC in ate buikl the Sanford Bridge. • In 1925, a full golf, tennis and social membership cost a whopping $30, and a one - day visitors pass was $1. • By 1947 little had changes — membershte were $15 for ladies and $25 for men. A day pass was still $1. - with files from Ninety Years: A History of the Maitland Country Club 1921-2010, til► Ray Bedard Robarts breaks age, personal bests on the links Ashley Gravett Richard Robarts has been involved with numerous sporting events in his lifetime, but the 81 -year-old didn't take up golf until the year 2008. He felt it was a sport for old men, something he never considered playing until well past retirement. Richard joined the range in 2008, when he found golf clubs in the back of his garage col- lecting dust. From there, he hit balls continu- ously until he had the courage to take on the Baby Boomer Par 3 course at Goderich Sun- set. Owner Gary Gravett caught him one day playing with range balls on the course. When told he wasn't allowed to use range balls. Richard replied he had no idea. The following summer, the Gravetts con- vinced him to join the par 3 course, and Richard started working with teaching pro- fessional John Waite. John helped him with his swing and the rules of golf. Richard improved immensely throughout that season and at the start of the 2010. year was ready to take on the Sunset championship course. Richard continued to work with John and take playing lessons on the Sunset course to improve every aspect of his game, be it slistitt game, rules or club selection. Richard con- tinues to set milestones when it comes to the course and when the hope of breaking 100 was too easy, he moved on to 95. Richard was able to break 95 with ease. With the help of John Waite, Richard's goals seemed so easy he went with the biggest goal of all - break- inghisage. Richard is now 81 years old and has br()- ken his age. What makes his story so unique and wonderful is that Richard wasn't happy with just breaking 81. He wanted to break 80. He has been so close all season with just a few tough holes that put him above 80. It's the strategic golf that has helped him out in times of need and on August 4, Richard hit his biggest golf milestone yet. He crushed his goal of breaking 80 by shooting a 74. After 15 holes of play he was even par. The Gravetts and John Waite are beyond excited for Richard shooting such a perfect round. We wish him the best in his next chapter of golf even though his 74 will be dif- ficult to beat.