Reed On The Greens, by Jeffrey Reed

When Thames Valley Golf Club opened its doors in 1924, and concurrently launched its 1st Annual Men’s Invitational, a links legend was born.

On May 26, under the watchful eye of City of London golf courses head professional and manager, Steve Bennett, Thames Valley will again host its men’s invitational tourney. “It’s one of the oldest tournaments in the area and has a long list of great past champions,” said Bennett.

In fact, Thames Valley was as one of Eastern Canada’s first public golf courses, and today remains an anchor of the London municipal golf system. John Cowie, a member of the City’s golf crew since 1968 and current supervisor of golf course operations, penned a fabulous book in 2009 – From Rough To Fairway: The First 85 Years of the City of London Golf Courses.

“What makes the City of London courses unique is the way the system was built with no public investment of any kind,” wrote Cowie. “The fees of the golfers and the determination, resourcefulness and vision of the people who worked on them are all that allowed them to be successful.

“There never was a master plan for the golf courses,” Cowie added. Yet Thames Valley remains a gem in these parts, thanks in part to its resting spot which hugs the banks of the Thames River, and sits adjacent to Springbank Park. Despite the thousands of rounds played there each year, it remains one of Canada’s top public tracks. There have been 11 major renovations to the course, including a new automated irrigation system in 2003.

Thames Valley was originally a nine-hole course, but expanded to 18 in 1927. During the Roaring Twenties, golf legends Gene Sarazen and Sandy Somerville played at least one historic match here. Mike Weir, too, played at Thames Valley – as a junior, during a Junior Tyson Tour event. During WW II, the grounds served as a military base for five years before once again serving the golf-mad population of London.

Incredibly, Thames Valley has had only a handful of head professionals, including Fred Kern, who was instrumental in the operation of the Tyson Tour from 1971 until 2009. He ran the club from ’71 until his retirement before the 2008 season.

“The course is nestled in a valley in London’s most scenic area,” said Kern. “Stately old oaks and maple trees line its narrow fairways. Carved out of rolling terrain, it takes one up four levels to the high point of the course and a panoramic of the valley below. As one continues, the Thames River winds alongside the three finishing holes, giving the golfers a glimpse of beautiful Springbank Park.”

Back in 1924, golfers would take an electric streetcar to Springbank Park, change into their golf shoes in a pump house, cross the Thames on a floating bridge, and pay a green fee of two bits. Today, with its offerings of a pristine 18-hole Classic Course, and short 9-hole, par-32 Hickory Course – where many youngsters hone their skills – Thames Valley remains a local treasure.

Fittingly, Labatt – another important part of London’s history – is the title sponsor of this year’s Thames Valley Men’s Invitational which featuring five flights and a $5,000 prize table, including partnership with Titleist Canada.

Awaiting the field is what Kern calls “a beautiful yet challenging round of golf.”

For more information on the event, visit http://golf.london.ca/Main/pdfs/Thames_Valley_Invitational_Poster_2012.pdf

-30-

 

 

 

 

About Wilson Golf

For nearly a century, Wilson Golf has designed, manufactured and distributed premium and recreational golf equipment throughout the world. Since 1914, Wilson Staff irons have won 61 Major championships, more than any other iron manufacturer in history. Wilson Staff’s Ci11 irons, Di11 irons and FYbrid RS hybrids were honored with Golf Digest’s Hot List awards in 2011 and 2012. Wilson Staff, Profile, ProStaff and Hope consumer brands offer excellent craftsmanship and tradition today by delivering the highest quality golf equipment to all golfers to enhance performance on the course and overall enjoyment of the game.

Wilson Golf is a division of Chicago-based Wilson Sporting Goods, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of sporting equipment by Amer Sports. Visit www.wilsonstaff.com or call 773.714.6400 for more information.