This is a golden year for the Royal LePage Ladies Tillicum.
In 1962 a handful of imaginative Sunnydale Golf club women decided it was time to host a ladies tournament. It took months of planning and helpful support from the men's division. The date was established for the first Sunday following Labour Day and it was decided to charge a $5 entry fee per golfer which included lunch.
At that time Sunnydale had a nine-hole golf course, a small clubhouse and no available kitchen service. It was up to the tournament committee members to provide the luncheon and prepare room for the number of participants. A kitchen was added in 1966. However they did have a liquor license and drink tickets were sold for 25 cents each.
The tournament proved to be a success with 51 entries coming as far away as Vancouver. The Tillicum team trophy was won by the Comox Golf Club with prizes valued at $10 each. The Low Gross Corby trophy was won by Mrs. J. Stevenson and the Low Net Ingram trophy was won by E. Jones. Both of these prizes were valued at $20.
Sunnydale has now grown to an 18-hole course with an excellent kitchen in an updated clubhouse. We also have a well stocked pro shop (with a lady Pro) and a top notch greenskeeper and staff.
This year's tournament date is Aug. 18-19th preceded by an amazing wine and cheese on the evening of Aug. 17. For the 50th we will strive to honour the original committee. We are fortunate to have at least one of those creative women living in Comox and hoping she'll be able to take part in some of the celebration. These names may be familiar: Kay Dick, Madge Hart, Margaret Bowden, Paula Derome, Jessie Hastings, Jean Ingram, Bertha Mathers and Vi Whitlaw.
More details on the upcoming 50th tournament will be published in the spring. In the meantime we are thankful for the dedicated historians who provided us with such detailed records. This year the entry fee will definitely be more than $5!
鈥� Frankie McCaffery
