Reed On The Greens, by Jeffrey Reed

Sandy Somerville

In 1932, Babe Ruth hit his famous called shot in the World Series, Amelia Earhart completed her transcontinental flight, and at Five Farms Country Club in Baltimore, Maryland a local sports legend was born.

London’s C. Ross (Sandy) Somerville dominated the Canadian Amateur golf ranks in the 1920s and ‘30s, with six titles (1926, ’28, ’30-’31, ’35, ’37), and four runner-up finishes (1924-25, ’34 and ’38). But 80 years ago, his win at the U.S. Amateur tournament not only gave him international recognition, but also put London on the golf map.

Born in London in 1903, Somerville was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1971, and the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2000. He died in 1991 at age 88. A member of London Hunt & Country Club for more than 70 years, Somerville earned the nickname “Silent Sandy” while competing at the 1933 British Amateur, thanks to his quiet, business-like approach to the game of golf. His play spoke volumes, though – especially during his victory at the U.S. Amateur event which was then considered one of golf’s Major tournaments.

The great Bobby Jones once said of Somerville, “If there is anything connected with golf which he cannot do well, I do not know what it is.” Jones invited Somerville to the first Masters Tournament in 1934, and the Londoner recorded the tournament’s first hole-in-one.

A member of the Canadian Amateur Athletic Hall of Fame, the University of Toronto Hall of Fame and the London Sports Hall of Fame, Somerville also claimed four Ontario Amateur titles, and two Canadian Senior titles. He was an all-around athlete, turning down offers from both the Toronto Argonauts and Toronto Maple Leafs. But following graduation from U. of T., he decided upon golf, and in 1950 was named Canadian Golfer of the Half-Century in an RCGA poll. He served as the association’s president in 1957.

London’s George “Mooney” Gibson was voted the Canada’s Baseball Player of the Half-Century 1900-1950, giving London bragging rights on the diamond and the golf course.

With apologies to Canada’s 2003 Masters champion, Somerville was the Mike Weir of his day. In fact, London lawyer David Nash, son of another Canadian golf legend – Jack Nash – once quipped that Somerville “was the Tiger Woods of his time. When Sandy won the U.S. Amateur, it was a Major.

“Canada has never had a dominant golfer like him. We’ve had two who come to mind in Marlene Streit and Gary Cowan, but in terms of dominance, he dominated in the 1920s and 1930s,” added Nash.

Another famous London H&CC member, super senior Ed Ervasti, said of Somerville upon his death, “He was such a marvellous gentleman. You don’t see gentlemen golfers like him today. And that’s what made it so nice playing with him, he always observed the rules and etiquette of the game.”

George Knudson and Moe Norman also deserve note as some of Canada’s greatest golfers. You can also include “Silent” Sandy amongst that group. Eighty years ago, he left his mark on golf, and put Canadian golf – and the city of London – on the map.

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