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Thompson-designed Thornhill Club celebrates its centennial anniversary this year

The Thornhill Club, one of the GTA’s oldest private golf clubs, is celebrating its centennial anniversary this year.

Designed by the legendary Stanley Thompson, the previously named Thornhill Golf & Country Club has been the site of several important tournaments, including the 1945 Canadian Open which was won by Byron Nelson as part of his still record 11 consecutive victories on the PGA Tour.

Thornhill will add another high-profile event during its centennial year when it hosts some of the best male amateur golfers in the world during the 2022 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, Aug. 22-26. The winner of this event gains an exemption to the 2023 Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf and Country Club, North York, Ont.

A soon-to-be-published commemorative book, co-written by hall of fame golf journalist Lorne Rubenstein and golf and curling broadcaster Bob Weeks, provides a retrospective of the club’s rich history. The Thornhill Club, 100 Years, An Illustrated History includes the stories and accomplishments of Thompson, Nelson and Thornhill‘s own hall of famers head pro Joe Noble and course superintendent Dave Gourlay. Notable Canadian amateur golfers Marlene Stewart Streit and Thornhill‘s own Judith Kyrinis, and former member and singer Anne Murray are also profiled.

The book also features the club’s curling champions and builders, including Karri-Lee Grant, Chrissy Cadorin, Peter Cadorin, George Karrys, Colleen Madonia and Austin Palmer.

The club’s curling facility was built in 1963 and was scheduled to play host to the 2022 Ontario Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Jan. 5-9. Recent developments associated with rising COVID-19 case counts, however, has forced the postponement of the event.