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Great Canadian Golfers: Who was Gordon Brydson?

11/20/2012

5 Comments

 
PictureGordon Brydson
Who was Gordon Brydson? That is the question.  The answer: He was one of Canada's best golfer's in his prime.  Many people from Canada who play golf are very familiar with the fact that the last Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open was Pat Fletcher in 1954.  What most people don't know is that finishing second that year was Gordon Brydson.  Pat Fletcher fired a 72 hole total of 280 -8 at Point Grey Country Club in Vancouver.  At the time Fletcher was the first Canadian to win the National Championship in 40 years.  However, it's the only time in the history of the Championship that two Canadians dueled for the prestigious title, a feat that may never be seen again.  Brydson very easily could have won that week in 1954, but history was written differently and in the end he still had a great career as a golfer and builder in the game....

Brydson was born in 1907 and a native of Toronto who was known as an all around athlete.  He displayed great skill as a hockey player while in his late teens and early twenties.  Most notably he had stints for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1929-30 and the Chicago Blackhawks organization from 1930-32.  Brydson was also a flying wing and place kicker for the Toronto Argonauts during the 1920's.

During this same time he was making a name for himself as a golfer.  In 1930, Brydson won the Ontario Open Golf Championship which proved to be his first of many significant golf titles.  His first job within the golf industry was Assistant Golf Professional at the Toronto Golf Club under the great George Cumming.  Then in 1931 he was named the Head Golf Professional at Mississauga Golf & Country Club and held that post for 40 years.  During his time at Mississauga, Brydson was instrumental in bringing the Canadian Open to the club six times in his tenure.

Brydson won his first major national golf title in 1935 when he captured the Millar Trophy.  In 1928 Captain Melville Millar of the Islington Golf & Country Club donated the Trophy to the tournament.  The event saw the best golf professionals from across the country play in a match play format which was held at the Islington Club for many years.  Brydson went on to win the event 3 times (1935, 1942, 1953). 

In the early going the Canadian Open was played for theRivermead Trophy (1919-1934). The trophy then became known for the prize given to the Low Canadian at the National Open Championship.  Brydson won this distinction five times (1941, 1942, 1946, 1955, 1956) and not to mention his runner up finish didn't count in 1954. 

Gordon Brydson Playing Accomplishments

National

1935 Winner of the Millar Trophy
1942 Winner of the Millar Trophy
1953 Winner of the Millar Trophy
1941 Winner of the Rivermead Trophy
1942 Winner of the Rivermead Trophy
1946 Winner of the Rivermead Trophy
1955 Winner of the Rivermead Trophy
1956 Winner of the Rivermead Trophy
1942 Canadian Professional Golfers Association Champion
1944 Canadian Professional Golfers Association Champion
1948 Canadian Professional Golfers Association Champion
1960 Canadian PGA Senior Champion
1954 Canadian Open Runner-up

Provincial

1930 Ontario Open Champion
1944 Ontario Open Champion
1941 Quebec Open Champion
1962 Ontario Seniors PGA Champion
1963 Ontario Seniors PGA Champion
1964 Ontario Seniors PGA Champion
1965 Ontario Seniors PGA Champion
1938 Runner-up in the Ontario Open
1941 Runner-up in the Ontario Open
1946 Runner-up in the Ontario Open
1950 Runner-up in the Ontario Open

Gordon Brydson was elected to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1981 and the Canadian Professional Golf Tour acknowledges their most improved player each year with the Gordon Brydson Trophy.


JIm Kenesky's Final Thoughts


Many great individuals are not aware of the footsteps they are making when they are being great.  Gordon Brydson was one of these individuals.  Brydson didn't try to be great, he just did his best at every challenge he had.  Golfer's in Canada today are not well connected with our history in the sport and Gordon Brydson left a significant footstep in the game.  He was a great player and was instrumental in the PGA of Canada's and Mississaugua Golf & Country Club's traditions.  It's sad that so many great individuals were never recognized in our wonderful past.  Golf today in our country and in any part of the world was developed and made strong by individuals such as Gordon Brydson.  We should be very thankful that these pioneers preserved our game for us.  Though he didn't win in 1954, he still carved a wonderful past for us to remember and build from.

In an appreciation of reading my post on Gordon Brydson, I encourage you to visit these sites to see more on the history of golf in Canada.
Infomation and facts provided by
PGA of Canada
Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Mississauga Sports Council Hall of Fame
Golf Canada
5 Comments
Craig Tovell
9/27/2014 07:48:34 am

I found a GordonBrydson 2 iron recently! Was there a manufacturer that made them for public sale or where they exclusive to him? His signature is on it as well as " Mississauga " . Any info would be appreciated! Craig

Reply
david murchison link
12/2/2014 03:36:36 am

Asst. Pro to him 1953 to1957. Ask me anything. I loved mr. Brydson i sent a set of his irons he gave me in1953 to the cdn golf hall of fame this summer . My phone no. Is 1 519 601 1453. They were made by burke thumm in toronto.

Reply
david murchison link
12/2/2014 11:46:08 pm

I sent you an email yesterday re. Mr. Brydson and his signature clubs. You can phone me at 1 519 601 1453 london ont.

Reply
JIm Kenesky
12/7/2014 07:08:17 am

Hi David. I will reach out to you next week. I'm interested in knowing more about his signature set. He was a great Professional.

Reply
david murchison link
12/17/2014 02:56:08 am

Re. Gordon brydson. Call me at 1 519 601 1453

Reply



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