What a wonderful evening we shared on Saturday, July 4th, as we celebrated 35 years of Mad River Golf Club. Thank you to everyone who joined us to make this milestone anniversary such a memorable occasion.

Whether you were unable to attend, or you were there but couldn't hear Past President Tim Price deliver Wil Matthews' remarks during the evening's program, we thought you might enjoy reading them below. 

The 35th Anniversary 
"Thank you for joining me in spirit on this special day. I’m sorry I can’t be with you in person. Maybe it would interest you if I tell you a few stories about the beginnings of the Club.

There is much more to any success than simply having an idea. Peter Barnard, Ray Richards and I started with a blank piece of paper and optimism. Peter and I were neophytes in the golf business. Peter was an accomplished tennis player who had hardly ever played golf and Ray knew how to maintain a course in his role as a course superintendent for Camp Borden but never had time to play! In the beginning we didn’t even know what terrain to look for and needed Bob Cupp to help us select the land the Mad was built on.

Perhaps it was foolish of the three of us to try to build a world‑class family course in the Creemore area where we lived or worked — but we did it.

Submitted by Gary Ward, General Manager & C.O.O.

35^th Anniversary Party
 
Saturday night was a picture-perfect evening for a party and what a party it was. The food was excellent, there were plenty of fun activities, the band was outstanding and it was special to see so many members dancing, laughing and having a great time socializing together.
 
Chris Barnard presented an original water colour painted by our own Laurie Foote, of the original Mad River golf course, to Member #1 John Roland. John joined Mad River before the golf course had even been built, there were also 25 original members in attendance Saturday.

One of our Founders Wil Matthews was unable to attend but sent and wonderful note that Tim Price read, Tim was the Club’s President from 1991 until 2005.
In hearing the message, it struck me what visionaries Wil, Peter Barnard and Ray Richards were. Not only did they undertake the risk associated with building this world class golf course, they also decided not to follow the traditional private club operating model, rather they created something new. They set up Mad River to have a relaxed, respectful and unpretentious environment that should feel more like a second home than a private club. It was to be operated using values not rules, and these decisions cultivated the distinctive culture that truly is a differentiator for Mad River. We actually do “do things differently around here” and it’s a central element to why Mad River has felt so special since inception.

Saturday night we celebrated many successes over the first 35 years, and as we turn the page on that chapter of the Club’s history, it’s our obligation to prepare the Club for the same degree of success for the next 35 years, and beyond.

The significant investment we’ve just made with the irrigation system is a fundamental pillar of those preparations. The new system will assist Chad and his team to maintain and improve the quality of our already exceptional golf course.

An equally important commitment, and in some instances perhaps a more challenging one, will be to maintaining the extraordinary culture and environment that was developed 35 years ago. Wouldn’t it be great if the atmosphere at the Club still felt this way, relaxed, respectful, unpretentious, like a second home, 35 years from now!

Thanks so much to the organizing committee Chair Susan Quigley, Karen Franklin, Lisa Houston, Deborah Ise, Doug Moxon, Laura Neves, Kevin Reilly, Colin Tyler and Sandy Higgins for all the extra effort they put into making it such a fantastic evening.

 
Submitted by Dean Elliott, Men's Captain

What a week it was!!  In addition to Canada Day, there was lots to celebrate, including the completion of the on-course project, opening of the new 6^th and 17^th greens and of course our Club’s 35 Anniversary celebration!  Despite the heat and humidity, it was a fantastic week at Mad River.  A huge thank you to everyone that made it a week to remember!
 
The Men’s Senior Club Championship (age 55+) is coming up quickly and will be played on July 12^th and 13^th.  The Championship flight will be played over both days as a medal play event.  All other flights are played using the Stableford format on July 13^th.  With all 18 holes in play, this is a great opportunity to test your game against our full course with some friendly competition along the way.  Follow this link www.golfgenius.com/ggid/nt5nqu to register by July 8^th, and hope to see you there!
 

Submitted by Ryan Rinneard, Director of Instruction
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Submitted by Marshall Voorheis
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