Day 10 – Friday, August 17 – Championship Round

Championship Round - Ed, Johnny, Russ

“Mug Huggers” is what Ron Lyons called them.  They are the five or six guys, par shooters, who have games good enough to chase the top trophy.  The other forty-plus players are just here to have a good time trying, as I, to shoot a personal best.  I was paired with Russ Fischer from Iowa and Johnny Baggo a local.  Gary played with the eventual champions.  Did his game rub off on them?  The winning score for the championship flight was two over par (110) for 27 holes.  The 60 and over flight’s winning score was three over par (111) for the three nines.  For the first time a father and son, Chris and Mike Reaumes, won each flight.   I played a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde round shooting 38, 46, 39 for a total of 123.  Lloyd shot 142, Gary 143, and Joe147.    

One highlight was on hole-six of the last nine the Traditions.  On this par five, Russ and I were both just off the green in two about 50 feet from the cup.  I hit my bump and run shot just right and it almost went into the hole.  Russ turns to me and says, “I wish I could do that!”  He then hits it on the same line and drains it for an eagle.  I tap in for birdie after the high five celebration.  Fun hole. 



Fountain at the Champions First Tee

Gary told me later that he saw my brother out on the course.  There was a ground squirrel running around with a cigar-shaped pine cone in its mouth.  Since I tend to smoke a cigar per nine the analogy fits. 

Another hole that tickled your inners was the Hole-in-one hole of 170 yards in which the prize was a new BMW 328i.  I took a seven – not a seven iron, but a score of 7 which contributed to my ugly middle nine.  I didn’t even come close to winning a pair of roller blades.

Behind us all day were Rick and two of his Indian buddies or being politically correct three ‘First Nation People’.  Rick doesn’t care.  He calls himself an Indian and is proud to be one.  They are Cree and are keeping the tradition of the long line of Cree Indian golfers which may not go back to far.  One of his pals said, “Rick was lying.  I’m the only Indian here. Rick is Mexican and Dan is Chinese.”   After more absurd conversation you can really tell that they are proud of their heritage.

After the 27 holes of golf finished, there was an award banquet in the lower walkout level of the clubhouse.  Appropriately Ron was the Master of Ceremony.  After the steak dinner, he started with several jokes and had a few Alberta golf officials say a few words.  The next presentation was a dance performed by Rick.  He was in full ceremonial Cree dress explaining the colors of his costume.   The yellow was for the sun, green for the land, blue for the water, red for his people.  He got a standing ‘O’ as he is very well like by anyone who knows him.  He thanked Ron for the honor to present his culture to all the golfers at the banquet. 

Ron then passed out the winners’ medals – Open flight, Over 60 flight, Lady’s flight (only one golfer), and of course let’s not forget the Chinese flight.  The Chinese flight is a standing joke between Edwin Lee, co-owner of the Legends GC with Ron, and Steven Cheng an avid golfer and good friend of Ron and Edwin.  Each year Edwin and Steven play for this medal.  Ron calls it the ‘All World Chinese Open’.  Edwin won this year. 

In keeping with a tradition that Ron began about ten years ago, he honored a legendary Canadian golfer.  Each year he has an artist create a pen and ink portrait of the golfer being recognized.   Many of the past recipients were present at the banquet.  All had a distinguished history of being outstanding golfers or contributors to the game.

US and Canadian Hickoty Golfers at The Legends Golf Course

Ron concluded by thanking all the Americans for coming to event and getting their asses kicked.  Well, he didn’t quite put it that way.  He was truly gracious as he singled out each person or group from the States.  He also will not accept money from the Yanks for any golf or dinners during the entire week.

As the banquet ended, we said goodbyes to fellow golfers whom we felt were now old friends.
This was another fine day in Canada.

Day 11 – Saturday, August 18, - Travel Day – Stand By

Goodbye, we said to the Super 8 after the wholesome breakfast, and we headed to the airport for a 2:00 pm flight or the 6:00 pm flight, all stand by, to Minneapolis and then DTW.  We turned in a very well used smoked out Dodge Journey with a chip in the windshield that as a driver you cannot see because the rear view mirror blocks it out.  Was it there before or after we got the car?  I think before because it was noticed by Bodnar on the second day.  Our bodies and luggage were hauled up to check –in.  We then proceeded to customs and then security.  It is strange that we went through US customs in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada but we did just that.  All was pleasant and easily passed through. 

No go on the 2:00 pm flight as it was all full up.  No go on the 6:00 pm flight as it did not exist.  We did, however, meet a sympathetic gate agent, Glenn, who recommended a hotel and wished us luck tomorrow.  We stayed at a Hampton Inn in a room for three.  We had dinner at Zimbelli’s which is close to the airport and specializes in prime rib and pasta.  We had a good dinner then return to the room for a short snooze to awake to a 5:00 am wake up and a 6:00 am shuttle to the airport. 

Day 12 – Sunday, August 19,  Airport – Try, Try, Again

Ditto!  We repeated everything as the day before and were all set to boogie out on the 8:00 am flight, but alas no room at the inn!  We got the last three seats on the 12:25 flight and we truly believe Glenn had something to do with that. 

In Minneapolis we were squeezed out of the 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm flight.  How rude – tourist go home!

I am currently writing this in an Irish bar at the terminal waiting for the 10:00 pm flight which looks pretty good.  There is hope.   We sure are watching a lot of the Little League World Series.

Eureka!  We got the 10:10 pm flight home.  We arrived at Detroit Metro at 1:00 a.m.  then finally home at 1:30 a.m.