The second day of the 2024 Open Ontario Hickory Golf Championship was as exciting as the first. Everyone played better, except for me, shooting lower scores. Regardless of how I played, it was a great event! Everyone enjoyed themselves, friends were made, and prizes were doled out. This event has turned into a must attend hickory event on my calendar; if you are a hickory player, then you should think about joining us next year!

First, congratulations to Ben Plaunt from Edmonton, Alberta for winning this year’s Championship. As I stated in yesterday’s article, Ben is a long hitting, smooth putting player who dominated the course. He was always longest off the tee and hit some high approach shots that suck to the green like glue. Ben is a deserving champion and it was a pleasure playing with him for the two days of the Championship. Congratulations!

The rest of our group was Hugh Cameron (who finished second) and Tom Johnson, Tallmadge, Ohio, USA. Players were true gentlemen and I enjoyed looping Whirlpool when them. Golf is always better when your foursome is fun, entertaining and respectful. That describes our group for sure on the last day.

My round did not go so well. I will not recount the woes I experienced, but lets say that my short game went to visit someone on a different course. Additionally, I forgot how to putt….I hope to this skill sometime between now and next season. 🙂 Because I was playing poorly I tried to stay out of the other three players way. I did not want to detract from their play be any expression of frustration or whining. I just enjoyed my round and smiled.

Whirlpool was an awesome course. “Whirlpool Golf Course stands as one of Canada’s most esteemed public golf destinations, boasting a rich history dating back to its opening in 1951. Crafted by the legendary architect Stanley Thompson, Whirlpool represents the culmination of his illustrious career, embodying the essence of his masterful course designs.” (Whirlpool Golf Course)

What enhanced my experience at the Hickory Championship was the staff at the golf course. The proshop staff was pleasant and knowledgeable about the course. I want to send out a huge thanks to Andrew Mcquillan, Superintendent Golf Course Whirlpool, for an outstanding job on maintaining the golf course. Your team are friendly, hardworking and knew when to stop work when golfers approached. Overall, the all the staff at Whirlpool should be commended for their professionalism and friendly demeanour. It makes the world of difference to our golfing experience.

The 2024 Open Ontario Hickory Golf Championship is in the books. It was an amazing event and all the organizers from the Golf Historical Society should be proud. This is a must attend event and I am looking forward to next year already. Thanks for the wonderful time!

On a side note: if you are interested in trying some hickory shafted golf clubs, head over to the Golf Historical Society’s website for more information. There are many events that us hickory players attend and would love to see you give these amazing clubs a try.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!