The Skins at Summerlea

One of the major events of the 75^th Anniversary year was the Skins Game. A damp, foggy morning greeted guests and spectators as they arrived at Summerlea on Friday, June 28, 1996 for the much-anticipated Skins Pro-Am.  Four PGA stars – Fred Couples, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and Nick Price were playing in this event, hosted at Summerlea to help celebrate the anniversary year.  As the weather turned hot and sunny, 30 teams participated.  Much enjoyed by the players and the gallery, the four talented pros put on a great show while providing playing tips and encouragement to their amateur partners.  The team captained by Duke Doucet won the low gross.

The weather began to deteriorate on Saturday while the first nine Skins were played.  This did not deter the gallery; large numbers followed on each hole. This is always a more relaxed, fun format for the players and the spectators.  At the end of the first day, Freddie Couples, always a great Skins player, was leading with $45,000.

Sunday, June 30 was a truly miserable day, with drizzle turning into heavy rain. Despite the terrible weather, large numbers of faithful golf fans were present to see the final nine holes of the Skins, played on the back nine of the Dorion course.

Couples provided some exciting moments.  His drive on #10 landed behind a tree but fortunately for him the position of a TV tower provided him with a free drop, enabling him to go on to win the hole.  There was another great Couples moment when he sank a long putt on # 14 for an eagle.

At the end of regulation play, the game was tied, between Couples and Nick Faldo, forcing a play-off.  This went for four holes and was finally won by Fred Couples who became the 1996 Export “A” Skins champion.  He was presented with a cheque for $165,000 and the Northern Lights Trophy.  The sponsors called this event at Summerlea “the best Skins Game ever.”

Of great interest to the TV audience was the “Breakfast Club”.  In front of the fireplace in the clubhouse each morning, Jim Nelford hosted breakfast and conversation with the four pros.  They talked about their jobs, about breaking into professional golf and their lifestyles as pros.  A relaxed and interesting beginning to the day.

Marion Dunn

The Century Club

The first Summerlea Century Club tournament was held in 1988 dedicated to “those who have enjoyed 100 years of life and golf as members of Summerlea. A unique day it brings together whose years of membership and age add up to 100 years of age or more. It is a fitting tribute to the unswerving devotion loyalty and devotion of these club members whose contributions over many long years has made Summerlea proud.

Held in the fall, the fun day consisted of a 9-hole tournament followed by cocktails and dinner. Over dinner there were many stories and lots of laughs. The enduring friendships over the years epitomizes the true Summerlea spirit.

One of Summerlea's exceptional members several years ago Corilda Massue's was a 50-year member still playing golf at 98 years old.  At the birthday party at the club celebrating this special occasion Corilda was supposed to play nine holes but it was a rainy day. Over a glass of champagne she said golf had kept her going, it helped keep her head and her health, there was nothing like the game Summerlea was her second home. She still liked to play 18 holes but many of the women she played with, all younger, would only play 9.

With champagne and birthday cake it was a happy day.

One tradition was the reading of a poem by Heinz Kuch:

When food and drink are flowing fast
And when it's on the house
The “Old Boys” whoop it up for all
With spirits they arouse.
Thanks to the Lord whose weather man
Has always brought us luck
And gave the great old management
The much sought after “Buck”
My thanks to all who laboured hard
For many days and nights
To give us joy and merriment
And many true delights

Marion Dunn                

The Peter Jackson Classic

The main event of the 1981 season was the $200,000 Peter Jackson LPGA Classic.  To host a successful major golf tournament requires a great deal of advance planning, many volunteer hours and the cooperation of the entire membership.  Summerlea members supported this undertaking with great enthusiasm.  Brian McGuigan was appointed Chairman of the Peter Jackson Classic.  Committees were formed to plan and organize all aspects of the event.  Some changes were made in the clubhouse and grounds, and arrangements were made for members to play at other courses during the week that Summerlea would be closed.

In order to maintain easy communication and crowd control for the event, the front nines of both courses would be adapted to an 18-hole course.  The front nine of Cascades was the first nine and the front nine of Dorion became the second nine.  The practice area was turned into a very large parking lot.

The week of the tournament was clear, sunny and hot; temperatures exceeded 90F by the weekend.  Golfers, volunteers and the galleries had to be kept well supplied with liquids and the medical department had to cope with many heat-related problems.  The Pro-Am on Wednesday, July 1 included local sports celebrities Guy Lafleur, Gary Carter, Henri Richard and Sam Etcheverry.

On Thursday, July 2 the first round began on the 6,287-yard course.  The field consisted of 107 women including defending champion Pat Bradley.  Other well-known golfers included Nancy Lopez, Jan Stephenson, Donna Caponi, Joanne Carner, Beth Daniel, Amy Alcott and Canadians Sandra Post and Cathy Sherk.  Other Canadians, playing in the amateur category included; Summerlea’s Michelle Guilbault, who had recently become the first Quebec lady golfer to earn an All-American collegiate rating, Mary Ann Hayward of Whitlock, Prince Rupert’s Lisa Young and Toronto’s Karen Mundinger, Barbara Bunkowsky and Marlene Stewart Streit.  After the first two rounds the cut was made to the 70 low players, which included Sandra Post and Cathy Sherk.

The end of the first round saw the lead shared by Sandra Haynie and Janet Coles, both shooting four under-par 68.  One shot behind were Pat Bradley, Jan Stephenson, Marlene Hagge and rookie Rosey Bartlett.

Friday, attacking the Summerlea course, defending champion Pat Bradley and Jan Stephenson both came in with six-under-par 66, tying for the lead at 135 after the first two rounds of play.   Crowd favourites Nancy Lopez, Donna Caponi, Patty Sheehan and Mary Dwyer stood at two-under par 142.

Bradley and Stephenson matched scores again on Saturday, resulting in a great final round of golf on a very hot Sunday. Co-leaders Bradley and Stephenson played in a threesome with Nancy Lopez, whose four-under-par 68 the previous day suddenly put her in very strong contention.  On the last 485-yard par 5 hole, Lopez put her second shot into a sand trap.  Needing a birdie to take the lead and perhaps force a playoff, she blasted to within 12 feet of the hole but missed the putt, leaving her nine under par for the tournament.  Close behind came Stephenson, needing a par, and Bradley, needing a birdie to stay at the same total.  Stephenson was short but her approach shot landed within 12 feet of the hole.  Bradley barely missed an eagle but got a birdie to finish at nine under, putting the pressure on Stephenson who had to sink her putt to win.  Stroking the ball, “exactly like I wanted to do it,” Stephenson dropped her putt to win her first major tournament, a dramatic ending to a great exhibition of golf.  Jan Stephenson was elated with her win, extra special as both her parents from Australia were present.  Her father had caddied for her throughout the week.

A vote of thanks was extended to the volunteers who had turned out in great numbers from Summerlea and many local golf clubs.

Estimated attendance for the four days was 25,000.

Marion Dunn

Winter Days at Summerlea

In the winter weekends of the 1980 's Summerlea was alive with people, all bundled up enjoying themselves. Toboggans and sleds of all kinds were flying down the practice hill and wearily climbing back up for more.

There was also lots of fun on the golf courses. Jules “Cas” Castagner put together a special machine christened “The Flying Frog” to set tracks on both courses for cross country skiing. We all knew when there was a new snow fall Cas and “The Flying Frog” would be very busy keeping the skiers happy.  Summerlea is not exactly a flat course so it was a great workout. Two of the greatest challenges were the 6^th hole of Dorion and the 6^th hole of Cascades. On the “Gully Hole” the carefully carved tracks were soon smoothed out by many bodies, who, unable to manage the steep hill were sliding down, very fast, wearing out the bottoms of their ski suits. There was a rumour that one person accidentally skied into the river, fortunately frozen at the time.

The hills were alive, not with the Sounds of Music, but with sounds of hilarity as well as sounds of “Mountain Fear” but best of all, the sounds of winter people having fun and enjoying the camaraderie of good Summerlea friends. Later, back to the warm clubhouse for soup and crackers and like golf days, talking over the great day, telling lies. There were also informal Après Ski Parties including Happy Hour, Buffet and Dancing until midnight.

Part of the Summerlea story is that members are not only avid golfers but also enthusiastic party goers. There has always been an active social life, from the days where there were bridge games and tea parties under the trees outside the clubhouse at Lachine to the present location where these social traditions continue. The Opening Dinner Dance was always something to look forward to, catching up with friends not seen all winter.  Tournaments followed by dinners such as St. John Baptiste Day and Canada Day, Mother and Father's Day buffets, Easter lunches and dinners, Member Guest days, many Theme parties, Derby Day and the Oyster Night and finally the Closing Dinner Dance. Summerlea was well known for its wonderful gourmet food, beautifully presented.

All these events are a well-loved part of Summerlea.

Marion Dunn