Reed On The Greens
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com
December 3, 2015
Photos: Jeffrey Reed/LondonOntarioGolf.com
When the Golf Association of Ontario (GAO) announced this week that London’s Patty Howard would enter the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2016, I was taken aback. Amongst Howard’s many much-deserved accolades and awards, I had thought that the Ontario golf hall had already beckoned her.
But I was wrong – and at the same time absolutely thrilled that Howard will be part of the Class of 2016 to be officially inducted next May at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.
Howard joins former GAO executive director Dave Mills, and golf journalist and author John Gordon as 2016 inductees. Golf writer Bill “Skip” Johns will receive the Lorne Rubenstein Award for his major contributions to golf.
For Howard, 61, induction into the Ontario golf hall is the latest of her many notable achievements. Following the 2013 golf season, when she was director of golf at her home course, Sunningdale Golf and Country Club, Howard retired after a 40-year career. A member of the PGA of Canada since 1975, Howard is widely considered one of Canada’s most knowledgeable and personable golf professionals.
A member of the London Sports Hall of Fame (2009), Howard was Canada’s first female head professional at a private mixed club (London’s West Haven Golf & Country Club 1990), and she was the first female member of the Ontario PGA Board of Directors (1985-86).
“I was at West Haven’s 25th Anniversary celebration in October,” said Howard. “It was a trip down memory lane. I really enjoyed reminiscing about those days, and meeting with friends and members to talk about old times. It’s a wonderful club, a great golf course, and I had a fantastic time. It’s so hard to believe 25 years have gone by so fast.”
Howard’s accolades include Club Professional of the Year (PGA of Canada, PGA of Ontario 2007), Women of Distinction Award – Sport, Fitness & Recreation (2001), London Sportsperson of the Year (2008), and London Ontario Golf Heart Award winner (2013). Now, add Ontario Golf Hall of Fame member to the mix.
“Not in a million years did I think I would ever be inducted,” said Howard. “You go through your career, and you do what you love. And it’s fantastic just to have a career you enjoy every single day. But never do you think about awards for doing that job – the job that you love.”
A Class A golf professional since 1981, Howard has worn every golf hat under the sun. She has worked as a groundskeeper, and played professionally on the U.S. Futures Tour – she won twice with three second-place finishes. In fact, Howard is the only female to have won on the Southwestern Ontario Professional Golfers’ Association (now PGA of Ontario) mini tour, shooting a 65 to beat the area’s top male pros.
Howard once held the women’s course record (70) at The Oaks Golf Club in Delaware, and posted a women’s course-record 73 at The National Golf Club of Canada to claim victory at the 1988 Ontario Ladies Professional Championship.
This year, Howard and her husband, Dave Reid, finally made the trip together to the Home of Golf.
“It was the trip of a lifetime,” said Howard, still with excitement in her voice as she spoke of her pilgrimage which included rounds at the Old Course, Kingsbarns and Carnoustie.
“I had goosebumps standing on the first tee at St. Andrews. Standing on the 17th tee at the Road Hole, aiming over the Old Course Hotel, was incredible. So was standing on the Swilcan Bridge. It was an amazing journey,” Howard said.
The same can be said about Howard’s entire career: it, too, has been an incredible journey. And now, she rightfully takes her place amongst legends in the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame.
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