CORNWALL, Ontario – The Cornwall Open celebrated its 60th anniversary this year from July 30 to Aug. 1 at the Cornwall Golf and Country Club. Club General Manager Sylvain Lacelle said that they went all out this year to make the event bigger than ever.
“The greens haven’t been in this good condition in 40 years,” Lacelle said. “We are renowned for our greens. People come from all over to play on them and this year we wanted to go over the top.”
The Open covered every category of golfer, young and old and for the first time this year, there was a Ladies Division.
Entry into the open was $60 per player, but Lacelle said that all spectators were welcome free of charge. Lacelle wanted the public to be able to come and celebrate the anniversary of this tournament and enjoy the golf. On Sunday night there was live entertainment on the patio provided by the Scotty J Trio.
On Monday, on the last day of the Open, spectators were able to see the Pro competitors take to the course. There were 40 competitors competing for $11, 000. Some participants included Chris Barber, Graham Gunn, Bob Flaro and Scott Johnson.
Moe Bellefeuille, Head Pro at the Cornwall Golf and Country Club said that the Pros had to bring their “A” game.
“The greens are fast,” he said. “We wanted to make it tough for the boys on Monday.”
Before he passed away, long time club member Ken Robertson wrote a letter to Lacelle where he shared memories of the First Open.
“Club Pro Robert Dean suggested holding a Pro-Am Tournament, but warned us that this could succeed only if it was better than the others in the area,” the letter reads. “This warning became a challenge and the idea was accepted with enthusiasm.”
In his letter, Robertson wrote how the first open was played on a nine hole course, because that is what the Club had back then. The participants had to go around the course twice.
Both the Cornwall Golf and Country Club and the Cornwall Open have grown a lot since then.
If you could not make the Cornwall Open this year, then keep in mind that 2016 is also the 120th anniversary of the Club itself. The Cornwall Golf and Country Club will be celebrating its 120th anniversary on Oct. 28.
