A graduate of the ‘University of Bunkowsky’
NHL PLAYER, GOLF COURSE OWNER, DAVE CREIGHTON
Dave Creighton’s first love was hockey. That was evident by just looking at his long career in the sport.
When his playing and coaching days were done, however, he didn’t let any grass grow under his feet. Actually, you could argue he did because Creighton and his family and business associates at one time or another owned 12 golf courses in Southern Ontario and Florida.
Creighton, who died last month at his home in Florida, was still a majority owner of Chippewa Creek in Mount Hope.
The Creightons and two other families bought Chippewa Creek from the original owner and designer, Ralph Hyslop, in 1994. Creighton worked with architect Rene Muylaert on designing and building the course’s third nine.
“Even after he moved to Florida he would fly up a couple of times a year, spend a couple of days here, go out on the course and make suggestions for changes here and there, and generally put his stamp of approval on the way things were going,” says Dan Hicks, director of golf at Chippewa Creek.
“He hasn’t been up the last five years or so after his health started deteriorating but he would still call from time to time.”
A native of Port Arthur, Ont., Creighton played 615 NHL games with Boston, Toronto, Chicago and the New York Rangers. In a remarkable career, he also played more than 600 games in the AHL with Hershey, Rochester, Buffalo, Baltimore and Providence.
Even during his hockey career, Creighton was preparing for a second career in golf by working summers in the pro shop at Larry Bunkowsky’s Burlington Springs.
“My dad met Dave through hockey and he was looking for something to do in the off season,” said Bunkowsky’s daughter, Debby O’Brien, who is now co-owner and operator of The Springs, following the passing of her father in 2012.
“Dave probably worked here four or five years, and he used to call it the University of Bunkowsky.”
The Creightons lived in Burlington for about six years before setting up shop in Welland, where they purchased Riverview along with former Hamilton Red Wingers owner Nick Durbano.
“He was hands-on in running Riverview but after that he kind of backed off,” says Creighton’s son, Dave.
“My dad had a really good knack for finding a good deal and knowing how to make money. He was very successful in almost anything he ever touched. Every golf course he would buy he would operate for a while, and then somebody would come along and buy the place.”
Eventually, the Creightons, their extended family members and their partners started buying and selling golf courses in Florida.
That included, among others, the Disney course Celebrations in Orlando and, finally, Fox Hollow in Trinity, near Tampa.
“We’ve done U.S. Open qualifying, U.S. Amateur qualifying, Valspar qualifying — it’s a very demanding course,” said Creighton, “and he shot 38 on the front nine the final time he played, four years ago at the age of 83, and he was ill at the time.” WHOLE-IN-ONE: Aces in the area include 14-year-old Robert Scobie with a seven-iron on the 89yard eighth hole at Willow Valley, and Ray Vansickle on the 102-yard second hole of the Lakes nine at Flamborough Hills with an eight iron. … Here are the Chippewa Creek club championship results: men, Dan Gagliardi; senior men, Don Marshall; super senior men, Don Hunter; senior women, Nancy Winn; super senior women, Helen Cochrane.
Garry McKay is an award-winning golf journalist and former sportswriter with The Hamilton Spectator. Garrymckay1@rogers.com