A warm farewell to Glen Abbey – Article



[ad_1]

  Chronicler Image

If this is actually the last time the RBC Canadian Open is played on the fairways of the course that Jack has built, he will be coming out with a lot of good memories, the last one in date being Sunday's win of the world's # 1 golfer Dustin Johnson

Golf Canada's future plans do not include Glen Abbey at the moment. He intends to move the tournament to older classic courses in southwestern Ontario. Hamilton G & CC is next and, if business is finalized, it will be followed by Mississaugua G & CC and St. George & G & CC

The governing body will keep Glen Abbey's door just a fraction in case he needs a last minute house. on the road, assuming, of course, that the course has not been converted into homes as the ClubLink owner wishes.

Chances are, however, that it is that; that the course designed by Jack Nicklaus, once built to be the permanent home of the RBC Canadian Open, bid farewell.

Glen Abbey served as a wonderful host. It is well built to be seen with lots of mounds of spectators and the famous Nicklaus hub system that allows fans to see a lot of action without going too far.

But it has also become a little dated and does not present as many challenges as once done. The 17th hole is a good example. When the course was open, it was difficult to avoid the fairway bunkers on the left side of the hole. Now they are rarely in play, golfers taking a line above a tree on the right and finding themselves in front of the green. Three years ago, Jason Day had 28 yards for his second shot at 421 yards

The 16th and 18th holes, by 5 on the home straight, provided good results but are also ready for selection . When David Frost won the Canadian title in 1993, his second shot in the 18th was with a five-wood. Johnson said Saturday that he hit a nine-iron for his second shot there. On Sunday, it was a corner.

Like all the courses on the PGA Tour, some loved Glen Abbey, others not so much. Curtis Strange, twice winner, was, unsurprisingly, a big fan. Tom Watson, who played two Opens at the Abbey, was not great on the course

Despite all this, the Abbey was the scene of a wonderful theater over the years. years.

Norman Greg held Nicklaus and Nick Price (who made his first start in PGA Tour) won in 1984 with an excellent closing sequence. Winner in 2000, Tiger Woods hit one of his most famous shots, a six-iron bunker. Vijay Singh broke the heart of a nation by defeating Mike Weir in 2004

. scene of some weird moments. In 1983, while he was playing a frustrating third round, Andy Bean left a birdie putt at the 15th short hole. Rather than just banging in, he leaned over, turned his putter and hit the ball using the end of his club like a pool cue. Later, he learned that his move was a violation of the rules that cost him two more shots and he signed for a 77.

On Sunday, Bean came out and caught fire, flaming the abbey at a 62 race record (a record that exists) and failed to enter into an overtime with the final champion John Cook and Johnny Miller by – you guessed it – two shots.

In 2009, the same 15-hole par-3 was the stage of a few remarkable shots as four different players made holes in one, each winning a new car. The fourth of these, by Leif Olson, took a strange route as he caromed another player's ball and found himself at the bottom of the cup.

There are other ways in which the abbey played a role in Canadian golf. It is there that many of Canada's best players have seen professional golf. As a child, Mike Weir went to a junior clinic during an Open and in the end he was eager to catch some of the balls used by the players.

Teenager, Mackenzie Hughes caddied in the pro-am and finished in Weir's group. He said that he was the worst caddy for his amateur golfer since he spent most of the day after Weir and asked him questions after interrogation.

Glen Abbey also played a role in the development of Canadian golf. Golf Canada, then the Royal Canadian Golf Association, sold the course in 1998 for $ 40 million, money that has been used over the years to fund a variety of programs and, on occasion, , maintain governance during the lean years.

Millions of this sale sit in the bank, collecting interest. We do not know where Canadian golf would be without some of these funds.

Regardless of the course's opinion, Glen Abbey has been a constant in Canadian golf. For better or for worse, he has always been there, always provided a house and a stage.

Whatever its next chapter, whether it continues to function as a golf course or that it becomes a developed field, many memories will live on.

[ad_2]
Source link