Creating a herringbone path to Canada’s Hall of Fame
OAKVILLE — Arthur Vernon Macan and Gail Graham were formally inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame this week at a gala luncheon at Glen Abbey Golf Club during the RBC Canadian Open.
Most golfers east of the Alberta-B.C. border have probably never heard of Macan, who designed golf courses in the Pacific Northwest early in the 20th century.
On this side of the country, legendary Stanley Thompson is the golf course architect that we all know.
You can make a pretty good case, however, that every time you tee it up on your favourite golf course, whoever designed it, A.V. Macan was involved.
That’s because Macan pioneered, in North America, the use of a subterranean drainage system called a herringbone. It was so far ahead of its time that it’s still in use today.
“Working in the Pacific Northwest you’re dealing with water,” says Ontariobased golf course architect, Jeff Mingay, who nominated Macan.
“He was the first person to use subsurface pipe under greens in what’s known as a herringbone design to further enhance drainage.”
Mingay said that system is still in use today, with different materials.
Macan, by all accounts, was an amazing person. After losing a leg in the First World War battle of Vimy Ridge he went on to design outstanding courses like Shaughnessy, Marine Drive, University Golf Club, Richmond Country Club, and Royal Colwood.
Macan also renovated some well-known clubs including Vancouver GC, Victoria GC, Capilano G&CC and Point Grey.
And he continued to play golf competitively despite having only one leg.
Graham had an outstanding amateur career before turning professional.
She won once on the Symetra Tour before making it to the LPGA Tour where she won twice including a one-stroke win over Karrie Webb in the Alpine Australian Ladies Masters.
Graham has also been heavily involved in the LPGA Tour organization where she served on LPGA executive committee, was president of the LPGA tournament owners association and is currently president of the Legends Tour.
Whole-in-one: John Orlebar made it three in a row when he won the bantam division of the Hamilton-Halton Junior Golf Tour this past week at Southbrook.
Jamie Zucker was the junior boys’ winner while Skylar Kew won her second junior girls’ tournament.
The sixth annual Canadian Hard of Hearing Tournament will be played Saturday, Sept. 15 at Oak Gables. The entry fee is $90. To enter go to www.chha-Hamilton.ca, call 289-208-4423 or email robwdiehl@gmail.com Aces in the area include: Vaughn Barnes on the 122-yard eighth hole at Willow Valley with a pitching wedge; Beth Begin on the 122-yard fourth hole of the White Eagle nine at Chippewa Creek with a pitching wedge.
Burlington Springs had a pair of singletons recently. Their semi-retired teaching professional Wayne Sisson aced the 17th hole with a four hybrid, and Kirsten Gibson aced the 12th hole.