Every year, men’s teams from two of the longest-established nine-hole clubs in Ontario tee it up in a friendly interclub tourney that gives the winner bragging rights after a hard-fought 27-hole tournament.
The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club and the Toronto Hunt Club have a long history of competition and last Saturday it was NOTL’s turn to play host to their big city counterparts.
As so often happens in competitive sports, it came down to the final “out” before a winner could be declared.
NOTL led all day, capturing the first nine-holes of best ball 3.5 points to 2.5.
The home team matched that result in the second nine and held a 7-5 lead heading to the final round. But it was far from over as 12 points were at stake over the last nine holes.
And because the Hunt Club had won the cup in 2025 at home, the visitors only needed 12 points to retain the championship. NOTL needed at least 12.5.
As the head-to-head singles competition over the last nine holes wound down, all eyes were on the final NOTL duo of Patrick Craig and Brian McKillop. They only needed a half-point to secure victory.
McKillop came through big time, winning his singles match. That allowed NOTL to split the final round matches 6-6 and score a 13-11 overall win.
While the competition is intense, it’s all in good fun and the day wraps up with a celebratory dinner.
The other members of NOTL’s winning team were Rob Chubey, Paul Dickson, Joe Doria, Tom Elltoft, A.J. Harlond, Stephen Jenkins, Evan McCaughey, Darren Smith, John Sobil and Ricky Watson.
Meanwhile, after rain and smoky skies combined over the previous five weeks to cancel the Thursday’s men’s league, things finally got back on track last week.
Craig Tunnicliff’s 1-over 37 won low gross honours while Al Kavanagh was second, also firing a 37.
Quinton Spagnol had the best net score with 32, one better than Rick Schulz’s 33.
The weekly putting contest has stymied players most of this summer and the jackpot kept growing over the past 11 weeks.
It hit $1,375 last Thursday and the always steady Paul Wilson rolled in a 25-footer to take home the prize money.
Other winners on the day were: Paul Dickson (longest putt made on #5), Ron Planche (longest drive on #2 and closest to the pin on #9), Marty Nixon (closest to the pin on #4).
In the Monday business women’s league, Tracey Peters continued her steady play this season, carding a 44 to win low gross.
Other winners were: Angelique Magi (longest drive on #1), Bridgette Bassie (closest to the 150 marker on #2), Mary Beccario (closest to the pin on #4), Lori Beak (sank the longest putt on #7) and Holly Anderson (closest to the pin in two shots on #9).
Monday night’s torrential rains flooded parts of the course, rendering it unplayable on Tuesday. That forced cancellation of the men’s Woofs league and the women’s nine- and 18-hole leagues.
