Saturday, October 9, 2021
Hello everyone,

Welcome to the second edition of “I LAMBTON.” As the Club continues to grow and evolve, the focus of this newsletter is to share some of our rich history and traditions with all members.

For this issue I had hoped I could track down a long lost relative of Percy Barrett, the Club’s first Golf Professional. Never thought it would really happen, but to my astonishment it did. I sent a note about what I was doing to local author Scott Burk, who published Toronto’s Lost Golf Courses in 2019. After his book came out, Percy’s grandson, William Barrett, reached out to Scott and through a series of emails I made plans to meet with William and his wife Julie in late September at their home in Brampton. Not only did William add some significant details to this story, but he also opened the family scrapbook and displayed about 30 images of Percy and family on the large dining room table. What a truly magnificent find. Perhaps, the best I have encountered in all my years or researching golf books and articles. My friend, Meggan Gardner, Curator of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and Archives, was absolutely delighted when I shared some of the digital images with her. I had already spent six hours in the basement of Golf Canada House, reading through the early 1990s scrapbook former Lambton member Fritz Martin donated to the collection, as well as several issues of Canadian Golfer Magazine.

The next story was much easier to research and write, as I connected with members Ian and Heather Cruickshank for a curling, golf and tennis story. Talk about covering all of your bases – might call in an in the park home run! Turns out I have known Ian for 20-plus years. We went on a couple of media junkets together to explore parts unknown to us and play some mighty fine golf courses. We took a step back in time to his junior golfing days at the Club right up to the present, as we sat together earlier this month on the tennis clubhouse deck and watched Heather play in the Women’s Doubles Championship on a somewhat misty evening. The occasional train rumbled on by, along with a buzz of excitement, as members gathered to watch family, friends and heroes. We will start with it.

If you have any story ideas or other suggestions, please feel free to contact me at – blong@lambtongolf.com.

If you have other comments about ‘I LAMBTON’ please contact Peter Holt, General Manager/COO – pholt@lambtongolf.com.

I hope you enjoy the read.

Sincerely,

Brent Long
Editor, I LAMBTON
Love & Love
Ian and Heather Cruickshank on the courts at Lambton
This tennis tale starts with curling at Lambton Golf and Country Club, swings sweetly into golf and finishes with a smash hit on our popular tennis courts.
 
“The first time I drove down Lambton's cobble stone driveway was in the spring of 1966 when my dad (Norman Cruickshank) joined the Club’s Curling Section, says Ian Cruickshank, who joined Lambton as a Junior Golfer 50 years ago in the spring of 1971. “Like today, it was a busy place. Dad joined the Curling Section to get into the golf side. The locker room in the old clubhouse wasn't very glamorous. There were old metal lockers with member's names in little plastic letters glued to the doors - but what names they were. Across the aisle from dad's locker was Toronto Maple Leaf founder Conn Smythe.” 
The Percy Barrett Story
Percy Barrett in full swing with his ever present cigar.
Lambton Golf Pro Won The 1907 Canadian Open At His Home Club 

Lambton Golf and Country Club has played host to the Canadian Open four times since being founded in 1902, but only once has its head golf professional won the national championship.
 
By the time the course opened for play on June 13, 1903, our founder, Albert W. Austin had his man in place. It was just a matter of time before he would be a winner. When you read through the club’s early history, you’ll quickly learn that A. W. Austin wanted only the best for Lambton – the best clubhouse in the city, the best amateur golfer in George S. Lyon, the best facilities for women to learn and play golf, tennis courts - a club worthy of hosting the world’s top players, as well as a head golf professional who would bring recognition to the club.
Ladies Handicap Trophy
This ornate trophy was first won by Mrs. J Dick in 1903 and her name was etched on it again in 1905. It is known as the Ladies Handicap Trophy and according to the inscription on it, the trophy was presented to the club by its Founder, Albert W. Austin. Most recently, it has been awarded annually to the winner of the ladies’ “high handicap” match play event. This year’s winner was Cheryl Nesbitt.