The Canadian Open Hickory Championships has become one of North America’s ‘Major’s’ incorporating vintage hickory golf clubs dating from the 1800’s to 1935. Ron Lyons, the founder of the tournament eighteen years ago, has quickly become on of the world’s aficionados on the history of the game. Preserving the world’s largest collection of power golf carts, golf tees and an impressive collection of vintage golf clubs, books and paraphernalia. “We have tried to preserve and promote the history of the game and honour it’s Legends”.
His passion for honouring the game led to his development of Edmonton’s Legends Golf Course. Three well planned nine-hole courses; The Traditions, Old Hickory and Champions uniquely designed to enlighten golfers on the traditions and pioneers of the game.
Following two days of friendly competition Canada vs. USA Ryder Cup format, won for the first time in 15 years by the Americans, a causal awards banquet was held at the clubhouse.
In attendance was this year’s honoree for the ‘Legends of Alberta Golf’ award, Debbie Amirault.
Debbie, in 2011 became the first woman President of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. Following thirty years at Edmonton’s prestigious Royal Mayfair Golf and Country Club she left to take on the recently constructed Les Furber design, The Quarry. “ I am honoured to accept this award, as I love the history of golf and the architecture”.
She joins other award recipients on the “Ring of Honour”, such as Ernie Afaganis well know CBC sports broadcaster and the ‘voice’ of the Canadian Open from 1961-1986; The late Betty Stanhope-Cole one of Canada’s most prolific amateur golfers, five times Canadian representative in International events and winner of sixty tournaments in her illustrious career and the awards first recipient Alex Olynyk, builder and founder and first head professional of Edmonton’s Windermere Golf and Country Club whose students included 1954 Canadian Open Champion, Pat Fletcher and Canadian Amateur Champion, Rob MacMillan. A ‘Life Member of the CPGA’ whose favorite saying, “The person who wins at the game isn’t the one with the lowest score, it’s the person who enjoys the game the most” a fitting comment for everyone who participated in this memorable event.
Michael Cunningham
Golf Writer
