One hundred years of a women’s golf tradition in Simcoe County has come to an end.
Women from the Couchiching Golf and Country Club in Orillia, the Barrie Country Club, the Blue Mountain Golf and Country Club, and Midland country clubs gathered at the Orillia course Thursday morning for a day of golf and socializing during the final Finlayson Cup tournament.
Known informally as “June Days” to its participants, the tournament started in 1922 and, aside from the war years and the COVID-19 pandemic, the Finlayson Cup has been awarded every year to the best team of women golfers from four area clubs.
Therese Lauer, who helps organize the event and plays on the Orillia team, says there is a camaraderie and special bond shared among all of the players.
“There are some really long-term friendships made here,” she said. “The captain of Collingwood, her mother and grandmother played in this tournament. It’s gone on for generations.”
All four clubs have won their share of titles and Midland is the defending champion. The leader board is tight among three teams so far, but Orillia has fallen behind.
“We are not going to win the trophy until the Leafs win the Stanley Cup,” Lauer joked. “We haven’t won since the ’60s, and we are proud here in Orillia to hold onto the bottom spot.”
Orillia is limited in the number of players for the tournament. Normally, teams consist of 15 golfers, but the Orillia team only has nine.
“They are all people who enjoy the game of golf,” Lauer said. “That’s why we've continued to play.”
Deb Watson, captain of the Orillia team, says it is “sad” the tournament will be retired after this year.
“It’s representative of the times,” she said.
People have different commitments now and younger golfers are seeking other opportunities when it comes to joining local clubs, she says.
“Today, people get out and play a variety of different clubs,” she said. “A lot of people don’t play on a daily basis or even semi-regular basis. They come out once in a while.”
Watson says the participants who were heavily involved with organizing the yearly tournament are aging and don’t have the stamina to continue. She also says the next generation of golfers has other commitments.
The legacy of the Finlayson Cup will live on at the Simcoe County Museum, where the trophy will be on display along with some memorabilia. Each club will also do something to recognize past members and their accomplishments.
“It’s a privilege to take part in something like this,” Watson said. “It’s been a good experience for me, and it’s been fun.”
— With files from Peter Robinson
