‘Big Oak’ has fans among Weston golfers

Tree of the Week is a feature that showcases some of the biggest and most beautiful trees in the GTA, as told to Megan Ogilvie. Here, Bill Weeks tells us about the centuries-old oak standing tall on his favourite golf course. I am a member of the Weston Golf and Country Club in Etobicoke. The other members and I are very proud of the big bur oak that grows right beside the tee of the15th hole. Not surprisingly, the hole is called “The Big Oak.”

On June 23, 1990, the oak was designated a heritage tree under the Ontario Heritage Act. At that time, experts said the tree was approximately 300 years old; it measured about 27 metres tall with a circumference of about 4.35 metres. It has since added a further 15 cm to its circumference.

Earlier this year, we had a visit from a specialist of the United States Golf Association who remarked that this tree was well older than the average bur oak. Perhaps this is due to it growing so close to the tee, where it has benefited from all the watering and fertilizing over the years.

I’ve been playing at this golf club since1976. The “Big Oak” is directly on the path from the 14th green to the 15th tee, so I come by it every time I play. I see it all the time, but it’s such a magnificent tree that I acknowledge it every time I go by. I say to myself, “That is such a great tree.”

Afew years ago, a large branch broke off the oak, and I salvaged a slice that I had nicely finished. There are too many rings on it to count, but it makes a very nice addition to my coffee table.

It would be most interesting if this magnificent tree was able to tell us all the things it has seen and heard during its life. The Star wants to hear about the most significant trees in your neighbourhood. Send an email to

mogilvie@thestar.ca with a photo of your tree and the following information: tree type (species), trunk circumference (measured at chest height), location of the tree and a short explanation for why this tree deserves recognition.