Golfing history was made in 1919 and today, with Mr. John Gordon’s new book on the History of the Midland Golf & Country Club Our First 100 Years 1919 - 2019.
I urge everyone to buy a hard copy of this superb historical account of Midlands storied club.
Here, follows my humble journalistic effort several years ago when I heard it was to be published by Mr. John Gordon. If you are a Midland and area historian, citizen or interested in golf, this book must be on your shelf!
We read in the “ Constitution and By-Laws of The Midland Golf and Country Club “, 1919, that, “ The links of the Club are located on parts of Lots Numbers one hundred and nine ( 109 ) and ONE HUNDRED AND TEN (110 ) in the First Concession of the Township of Tiny, in the County of Simcoe, comprising a total of ( 140 ) acres."
The writer, whom we do not know, goes on to tell us that, “This property is on the old military road, leading from Barrie to Penetanguishene, known as the Penetang road, and it is at the juncture of this road with the road leading to Midland. The property is almost equally distant from the two towns, and from the Club House verandahs, Midland Harbour is in view and also part of Penetanguishene."
Note that “ Midland Harbour is in view ...”
One suspects that there must have been very few trees between the clubhouse verandah and the harbour as that view is obstructed by considerable growth today.
The property, the writer states, forming the links, was purchased in July and August in 1917, and work was commenced on the course in the Spring of 1918.
The formal opening of the Club took place on Saturday, May 31st, 1919.
The founder and first President of the Club, Mr. James Playfair, of Midland, drove the first ball from number one tee, and afterwards the course was opened by a four-ball match, in which the Amateur Champion of Canada, Mr. G.S. Lyon and Lieut. Wilfred James, of the Lambton Club, played Mr. B.L. Anderson, Hon. Secretary of The Royal Canadian Golf Association, and Mr. Seymour Lyon.
The match resulted, the writer goes on to state, in a win for Messrs. Anderson and Seymour Lyon 3 and 1.
The scores:
Mr. George S. Lyon........ Out 41, In 42 - 83
Mr. W. C. James............. Out 43, In 44 - 87
Mr. B. L. Anderson.......... Out 41, In 44 - 85
Mr. Seymour Lyon...........Out 45, In 40 - 85
Officers 1919:
Hon.- President, - Sir Geo. B. Hunter
President, - - - James Playfair
Vice-President, - - D.S. Pratt
Hon, Sec’y - Treasurer, - J. W. Benson
Directors:
Joseph M. Syer. F.W. Grant
A. E. Copeland. D. L. White
J. B. Hanly. W. F. Beck
D. H. Clark. W. S. Benson
W. Finlayson. F. C. Preston
Manley Chew. E. F. Burke
Captain --- F. W. Grant.
René Hackstetter, Jan 26, 2016.
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