The Niagara-on-the-Lake Golf Club played host to a special guest last week, when former German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited for dinner.

Merkel and her family were on a private holiday to Niagara and the German embassy had arranged in advance with NOTL’s Klaus Reif for her to visit the Reif Estate Winery for a tour and tasting.

She arrived at the winery right after a visit to Niagara Falls, said club co-owner Eva Kessel.

“With her hair still damp from the mist, she was gracious, genuine and completely unconcerned about appearances,” Kessel said in the club newsletter.

At the golf club, “she was captivated by the beauty of the property.”

During her political career, Merkel was known for shunning a lavish lifestyle, living in a small apartment and doing her own grocery shopping.

Because Merkel, 72, was on a family vacation (along with a security detail), her visit wasn’t publicized in advance, Kessel said.

Meanwhile, on the course this past week, not much golf was played. Flooding due to the heavy weekend rains kept the course closed from Sunday through Tuesday.

Only last Thursday’s men’s league managed to complete play and it featured a stellar round by Mark Derbyshire.

The 70-year-old, who won 30 club championships in a row starting in 1976, carded a 2-under 34, with birdies on holes 2, 3 and 8, and a bogey on #5.

While he won’t be playing in the annual club championship tournament this weekend, he will be there Sunday to hand out some of the hardware.

Jim Meszaros also had a great round, winning second low gross with 37 and closest to the pin on #9, while Greg Fedoryn and Derbyshire both had low net scores of 30.

Other top shooters were: Matt Hurlburt (longest drive on #1), Paul Loucks (closest to the pin on #4) and John Reynolds (longest putt made on #8).

Jeff Jacques eagled the par-5 fifth hole, cashing in big time as her earned a $110 gross skin and $285 net skin. Other gross skins: Al Kavanagh (birdie #1) and Ricky Watson (birdie #4). Net skin: Derek Merza (#3).