Golfing buddies renew friendly rivalry on familiar turf
Patrick Farrell and Michael McBride have played the Star Amateur’s host course for 50-plus years.
MARK ZWOLINSKI There’s a definite mix of competition and friendship at the Toronto Star Amateur golf tournament, and veteran golfers Patrick Farrell and Michael McBride are embodying it this week at the Markland Wood club — where the tourney is celebrating its 20th year.
Farrell and McBride, both 50year-plus members at Markland, continued their friendly rivalry on day one of the threeday event, which played out on another scorching late-summer day in the city.
Farrell, 63, doesn’t dispute that McBride is one of the golfers to beat. He has seen McBride win 18 club championships at Markland over the years.
“I’ve won (the club championship) once, but he’s won it 18 times — he’s the king,” Farrell says with a laugh. “But that one championship came in 1978 and I’ll have that one forever.”
The 61-year-old McBride, a Toronto-based lawyer, kindly interjects and contends that “king” label is “overrated.”
“The club championship is on Labour Day every year, and I guess it just happens to be the weekend I get hot every year,” he says.
Farrell carded an openinground 80, while McBride shot 76. Both feel improvements can be made, and McBride notes he has some catching up to do after playing partner Brad McConnell turned in a terrific 73.
For both Farrell and McBride, though, the camaraderie at the Star tourney is just as important.
“We all grew up on the golf course — it’s like a small town,” McBride says.
He also mentions Markland’s Ken Duggan, the club pro for 30-plus years. It’s not often that golfers remain members of the same club for 50 years and pros stay put for 30.
“Golf is an extremely valuable sport tool … you can learn a lot about people in four hours on a golf course,” says Farrell, who owns a trucking company and whose dad, also named Patrick, was a founding member at Markland. “I’m lucky enough to be blessed with three daughters (Stephanie, Jennifer and Patricia). I’m the fourth (Patrick in the family) and my wife and I named our youngest Patricia, so the name keeps going.”
Some 64 golfers are competing until Wednesday in men’s, women’s and senior divisions.