From the Archives

Bob Panasik

Born October 20th, 1941 in Windsor, Ont., Bob Panasik played in the Canadian Open for the first time at the age of 15. When he made the cut to stay for all four rounds he made history as well. In the 48 years since, no younger player has made the cut at a PGA Tour event.

Panasik went on to win a fair amount of tournaments through his career. These wins included 12 provincial titles, two CPGA Championships and three CPGA Senior Championships. He also played his way into nine US Opens and three Canadian World Cup Teams.

His career stretched from his Canadian Junior Championship in 1958 through to CPGA Super Senior Champion in 2003. He was a member of the Hydeway Golf Club, which is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year. Panasik was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.

Cathy Sherk

Bancroft, Ont. native Cathy Sherk is an inspiration to female golfers throughout Canada. Sherk has complemented her impressive amateur and professional career with a dedication to teaching the game to up-and-coming young amateurs.

In 1978, Sherk captured her second Canadian Amateur, the U.S. Amateur and medalist honors at the World Amateur. She was also named the world’s #1 Women’s Amateur by Golf Digest and the Ontario Athlete of the Year that year.

Sherk was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995 and the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.

Murray Carlyle Tucker

Born November 2nd, 1922 in Mitchell, Ont., Murray Carlyle Tucker served the professional golf industry since 1948 when he became the professional at the Sunningdale Golf and Country Club, in London, Ont.

Tucker wrote many of the original manuals and policies and was particularly responsible for introducing a pension plan for Canadian professionals. He was also the first Canadian to earn the degree of ‘Master Professional.’

Tucker also had success as a professional golfer, winning many titles throughout his career. He won the 1955 Millar Trophy, the 1950 Ontario Open, the 1958 Ontario PGA and has won the Ontario Seniors’ PGA Championship three times.

Tucker was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1999 and passed away on June 24th, 2002.

Gordon Witteveen

Recently inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2012, Gordon Witteveen’s career was dedicated to the world of turfgrass as a superintendent, historian, author and mentor to the next generations of greenkeepers. He was a dominant presence in the Canadian golf landscape for over four decades.

His fascination with turfgrass led him to research, compile and write: A Century of Greenkeeping and Keeping the Green in Canada: A history of Golf Course Management, as well as co-author practical Golf Course Maintenance: The Magic of Greenkeeping and Keepers of the Green. He received multiple awards for his publications including regular contributions as a featured columnist to GreenMaster.

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All photos are courtesty of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame archives.