Today, I played my first round of golf of the 2026 golf season. It happens to coincide with World Hickory Golf Day. It usually happens that this momentous day happens around the start of my golf season every year. Sometimes, it is sooner and others later. I thought I would bring my hickory sticks to my old haunt of Osprey Links Golf Course. As the course open this weekend, the course was in good shape and our loop around the front nine was extremely enjoyable. Celebrating World Hickory Golf Day in Callander / North Bay was the first for me and next year I think I will try to expand the number of players.
Continue readingGolf Season Is Almost Here!
Many of the local golf courses open tomorrow, Friday May 1st. It is an exciting day for my game as I can finally shake off the cobwebs and hit the links with a huge smile on my face. Every year about this time many golfers in northern climes prepare for a short golf season that lasts between six and seven months. During this preparation, many players go through a well practiced routine that enables them to hit the links ready, able and willing to loop the links. Right now we are still in the single digits for temperatures, but a few layers and I will be ready to play. There is so much to look forward too that helps build my anticipation for playing my most favourite sport.
Continue readingWORLD HICKORY GOLF DAY Is Coming
WORLD HICKORY GOLF DAY is just around the corner. On May 3, 2026, the Golf Historical Society of Canada will be hosting the World Hickory Golf Day at Cambridge Golf Course. This is an annual event and it is designed to celebrate playing golf with hickory sticks and to introduce players to using wooden shafted golf clubs. I have played this event for many years and I am planning to celebrate this event by playing with my hickory sticks. I year’s past, this is the first round of golf of the year and what a great way to celebrate.
The following is more information about this must attend event if you are in the Cambridge, Ontario, area:
I hope you can make it!
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
Want Lower Golf Scores? Here Is How!
The goal of most golfers is to shoot the lowest score possible when playing. If that is not your goal, then you probably do not keep score and loop the links for the shear joy of being in nature. For those rare individuals, this post is not for you. It is focused all golfers, at any level, who are trying to refine their game to go to the next level. If you are a beginner or a player with a handicap higher than 10, then the three tips presented today will help lower scores without changing your swing.
Continue readingThoughts on the Third Day at the Masters
To be fair, I did not watch any of the Masters yesterday. I was off having fun doing life stuff. I was a bit taken aback with the result from moving day and I was not surprised either. Augusta National is a tough track and Rory McIlroy did not have his best game according to the results on the leaderboard. That is the nature of professional sports. I was surprised at the lower scores that propelled players to the top of the leaderboard. Specifically, Cameron Young and Scottie Scheffler shooting 65 and Russel Henley and Patrick Cantlay shooting 66. I mentioned yesterday that low scores like these were needed to make a run at the top of the leaderboard. Right now, Cameron Young is the only score that made a significant difference.
With 9 players within 5 strokes of the top players, anything thing can happen today. The walk down the 18th hole could be any of the top players as they all vie for the green jacket. So, who will come out on top, will I still think Rory McIlroy will come through in the end. He is has the game if it shows up. Again, staying in play off the tee will be his greatest challenge. The rest, just need to play solid golf. The lower down the leader board, the more chances you need to take in order to make a run. It is going to be fun to watch for sure.
In case you missed Rory’s rollercoaster ride, here is a quick recap:
I looking forward to watching today’s action. Anything can and will happen. I hope you have time to catch the action today at Augusta National.
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 