Senior Ryder Cup
East Region Playoff
Smuggler’s Glen Golf Club – August 14, 2023
We have been so fortunate with the quality of clubs hosting our Regional Playoffs and Smuggler’s Glen was no exception. It is set where the Canadian Shield passes from Ontario into the Adirondacks’ in New York State and consequently has the appearance of a Muskoka golf club in many respects. The designer, Boyd Barr of Barr Designs allowed the landscape to establish the routing and appearance of the tee blocks and fairways on this 300 acre property. This has resulted in several spectacular holes with endless opportunities and challenges. Included among these are Holes 4 and 18, both of which might be described as “risk, reward” to some or “hit it and hope” to others. Unique in the design features of the course are five par 3s and five par 5s and a large number of elevated tees. In fact, it isn’t until one gets to the latter holes on the back nine where a flattish hole can be found.
The East Region is geographically the largest of the five SRC regions stretching from the eastern fringes of the GTA to the Ottawa Valley and into Quebec. The most western part of the Region was represented at the playoffs by Meadowbrook, Mill Run and Royal Ashburn Golf Clubs. The Bay of Quinte, Cataraqui and Kawartha Golf and Country Clubs, The Quarry Golf Club and the host Smuggler’s Glen Golf Club are representative of the central part of the East Region. The majority of the clubs at the playoffs are found closer to Ottawa including Perth, Hylands, and Greyhawk Golf Clubs and Smith Falls Golf and Country Club and Carleton Golf and Yacht Club. Further north in the Ottawa Valley are teams from Petawawa and Pembroke Golf Clubs. However large this region is, it is apparent that it would be beneficial to have more clubs between Kingston and Montreal.
There are a number of established and strong teams in the East Region including Hylands, Cataraqui, Kawartha, Smuggler’s Glen (last year’s Champions) and Meadowbrook which won its division by over 30 points. Despite the strength elsewhere, Greyhawk Golf Club excelled this day and advanced as the Champions. This will be Greyhawks first opportunity at the SRC Championship. Greyhawk beat out perennial contender Kawartha Golf and Country Club and Mill Run Golf Club by two points. Like Greyhawk, this will be Mill Run’s first opportunity to contend at the SRC Championship after 11 years of trying. Not surprisingly both Meadowbrook and Hylands Golf Clubs made strong showing but were unable to advance this year.
As previously mentioned there are five par 3s at Smuggler’s Glen and all five had closest to the pin prizes provided by our generous sponsors. Lorne Steinberg Wealth Management donated a large sized bottle of scotch to prize winner Kirk Miller from Kawartha G&CC. Bruce Macdonald from Carleton was closest to the hole on the lengthy fifth hole and was rewarded with two bottles of wine from Reif Estate Winery. The eighth was a “hole in one for a car” opportunity, however, Denis Sequin from Casselview had to settle for a golf bag donated by Gananogue Chevrolet. The shorter par 3s, 10th and 16th were the last two CTP opportunities. Tim Baranowski from Royal Ashburn was awarded a large bottle of Fireball from Seagrams for his closest to the pin on 10 and Shawn Selleck from the host club received a golf bag, head cover and a case of beer from Sleemans Brewery. Lorne Steinberg also provided a $500.00 Golf Town Gift Card as a lucky draw prize. This was won by Steve Fredericks from Kawartha.
We are assisted generously by our host clubs and sponsors each time we hold a regional playoff. We certainly appreciated the help of Smuggler’s Glen Golf Club and its accommodating staff in putting together the exciting East Region Playoff. Numerous sponsors have also assisted in providing financial and product support, all of which goes into making this a worthwhile day for the 128 golfers participating from across the region. As well as those who donated closest the pin prizes, we would like to thank Sleemans, Tilley Canada, Walter Caesar, Hides Canada, Winding Road Maple, Charton Hobbs, Reif Estate Winery, Jancor Sales, Visit Tucson, Renfro Hosiery, Pizzaville, Maui Jim, TruLOCAL, Golf Away Tours, Visit Tucson, BDO, My Custom Sports Chair, Good Things, Sketchers Golf, Henri et Victoria, Chilly Moose, Sapsucker and Callaway. All of these donors have allowed us to add team and raffle prizes at each playoff and expand our lunch time offerings. The in - kind donations helped us raise $925.00 from our raffle. That money will be used to defray some of our playoff expenses. As you will see below, Tilley has provided the much sought after sunhats for the Playoff Champions.
So far we have completed three regional playoffs and now we are off to London and the Forest City National Golf Club on Monday August 21st to play the Lexus of London South West Regional Playoffs.
East Region Playoff Champions: Greyhawk Golf Club
Captain Jim Crawford with team members Chris Joly, Gregg Rebus, Andrew MacMillan, Rick Lowe, Doug MacDonald, Ken Clark and Marc Carrier
Two of the Closest to the Pin Winners show off their prizes
Denis Sequin from Casselview Golf Club receives a golf bag courtesy Gananoque Chevrolet and
Tim Baranowski from Royal Ashburn Golf Club exhibits his winnings from Seagram - Fireball
Prizes were awarded to all teams competing. Here some of the Cataraqui members demonstrate their golf shoes donated by Sketchers Golf
Casselview Golf Club SRC Team members were recipients of two bottles of wine donated by Reif Estate Winery
Smuggler’s Glen Golf Club – 14th Hole: Serenity Valley: a beautiful but challenging hole
