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SportsOakville Beaver SPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010 19 By Herb Garbutt OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF In 1981, Gar Hamilton was invited to the 75th anniversary celebration of the Mississaugua Golf and Country Club. Hamilton had played his first of 13 Canadian Opens at the course and was still pursuing a career as a professional golfer. But as he looked out at the course he thought to himself, I still want to win the Masters, but if this doesnt work out, what a place this would be to work. Eight years later, Hamilton received another invitation from the club, this time asking if he would be interested in becom- ing the clubs head professional and director of golf. In the 22 years since, Hamilton has over- seen the golf operations at the century-old club and passed on his knowledge of the game to hundreds of the clubs mem- bers. All the while, the longtime Oakville resident has managed to maintain a successful play- ing career. Last year, just shy of his 60th birthday, Hamilton was one of only two Canadians to qualify for the U.S. Senior Open. It is difficult, Hamilton said of the bal- ancing act required to manage his duties at the club while keeping his game sharp enough to play competitively at the highest levels. My own playing is probably number five on the list (of priorities) and youre com- peting against people for whom its number one. Its challenging but there is some per- sonal pride in it and you get some work in whenever you can. Hamiltons on-course exploits as well as his abilities to teach and promote the game of golf recently earned him entry into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Hamilton and fel- low inductee Sam Young will be honoured at Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge in May. Growing up in Lawrence Park in Toronto, Hamilton picked up the game from his father when he was 10 and found immediate suc- cess. He won his first tournament, a Toronto Public Links event at the Don Valley Golf Club and would later win the Ontario junior boys title in 1966. He went on to play at Indiana University, serving as team captain. Upon graduating with a business degree, Hamilton began a career as a touring pro, winning the Manitoba Open in his first season on the Canadian Tour. He would earn two more wins on the tour while trying to earn his PGA Tour card. In some ways, there was less opportunity then, Hamilton said. I remember qualify- ing, there were 1,200 people starting and only 22 got in. And there was no Nike or Nationwide Tour to fall back on. Its a lot bet- ter set up now. If you just miss, you can still do well on a national secondary tour. Hamilton would eventually earn his card, though that often meant traveling to the event and vying with 200 others in a Monday qualifier for three spots in the field. He enjoyed his best sea- son in 1980, making cuts in four of his six events. Even after becoming a club professional beginning at Horseshoe Valley in Barrie Hamilton couldnt shake the competitive bug. It was always fun to com- pete, he said. And among his peers, Hamilton was one of the toughest competitors. He won four Canadian PGA Club Professional Championships, was the Ontario PGA Player of the Year five times, won the Ontario PGA Senior Championship three times and Canadian Senior PGA title once. Asked his favourite amongst his numer- ous titles, Hamilton says, any win is a good win. Throughout his career as a professional, Hamilton has seen many changes, but none more drastic than the equipment to play the game. You used to get a set of clubs and make them work for you, he said. Now its a mas- sive fitting job. Every six months, theres something new. I never dreamed it would keep evolving, but thats part of the fun. One thing that hasnt changed is Hamiltons philosophy to scoring better: work on your short game. Hamilton, who plans to retire from Mississaugua next year, said teaching the game has helped him stay sharp. It reinforces your own fundamentals, the 1998 Ontario PGA Professional of the Year said. Youre always learning. A good teacher probably learns as much as they give out. And after a long career in golf, Hamilton has given a lot to the game. Local golf pro to go into Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Last year, Gar Hamilton became one of only two Canadians to ever qualify for U.S. Senior Open My own playing is probably number five on the list (of priorities) and youre competing against people for whom its number one. Gar Hamilton, on qualifying for last years U.S. Senior Open HALL OF FAMER: Gar Hamilton, pictured outside Mississaugua Golf and Country Club where he is the head pro and director of golf, will be indcuted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame next spring. NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER