Muskoka Golf in Pursuit of the Sturgeon’s Head Trophy

When Tom first walked into my residence room at Queen’s University in 1983 wearing garish orange coveralls, my good Woodstonian friend Chris and I wondered who this person was. The jovial stranger wanted to know if we were interested in going to the Golden Gaels football game. Sure, why not? It is, at times like these, you wonder what role such a serendipitous meeting will mean to you in the future. Great things it turned out.

For the past 18 years Tom “the Chief” has hosted a golf tournament in the beautiful Muskoka Lakes about two and half hours north of Toronto. The golf we have played has been fantastic and these gems include: Taboo, Deerhurst Highlands, Lake Joseph, Bigwin Island, Muskoka Bay, Windermere and Muskoka Lakes. For those who know this well known Canadian cottage country these are wonderful tracks.

This year we returned to Barrie’s National Pines and I had my first crack at beautiful Rocky Crest. In the tournament, every putt needs to be holed and stress is ratcheted. Newbies have to adjust since they are used to raking two foot gimmes. But a shake of the head is a strong signal that rules must be obeyed or the Commish (me) will come sweeping in for a forceful conversation. It is always interesting to hear that those who shoot 88 at posh and other private clubs can shoot 110 here.

We all have heard about “there is golf and then there is competitive golf”. And even more so when you want bragging rights with the lads. No one wants to lose to their good friends but scores somehow soar. Small twitching hands during tester putts and lazily guided drives into the woods or off the Canadian Shield cause many pretenders to fall by the wayside with slumped shoulders. Another year will pass without them holding the tacky Sturgeon’s Head Trophy.

As a charter member of Tom’s tournament and the inaugural winner after a putt-off I have cherished memories of this tournament. Yes, the golf is very important. But the guys know it is the camaraderie that trumps, like a Jack of Spades when this suit is called. Doctors, lawyers and businessmen all participate and everyone is treated as equals. We are kids again with our old Oil Thigh chants from the days wearing the tri-colour at Queen’s. A few outsiders from this close-knit University are welcomed but we do get in our wonderful gibes. They roll their eyes but find it in their hearts to smile.

Steak dinners are scarfed, scotch is indulged, boat rides are enjoyed and laughs roll endlessly like Muskoka’s waters. Participants grab their calendars to make sure this weekend is slotted early before real lives intervene. Friendships are earned and must be nurtured. Family and business responsibilities can be hectic so it is easy to find reason not to attend. My move to British Columbia has made me appreciate such a link to the past even more with these gentlemen of character.

This tournament is very important to the host. He works hard at organizing the food, the cottage and all the other accoutrements that go along with it. Tom steps up every year and I know all the participants feel honoured to be invited to what we term a “major championship”. Those who have won in the past get to wear Past Champions jackets on the opening night that were purchased from Goodwill and offer clipped on badges with the Sturgeon logo. The uglier the better but those who have not entered such a prestigious inner circle enviously eye the chance in the future while cradling a cold brew.

The group originally started small but it has now expanded to 10-12 individuals. Every year we drone on about the antics, the old war stories from university and the collapses of those who came so close to wresting the trophy. I often wonder what I would be doing every September if Tom “the Chief” Stanton and I had not had that fortunate encounter in his orange coveralls in Leonard Hall. Perhaps I would be fishing instead with a person from Ingersoll or staring at a spreadsheet dreaming of greater things.

Cheers to great friendship, a crew of characters and golf for the ages. The year would not be complete without a visit to Lake Muskoka to play in the Sturgeon.