Trivia: “Which two golf courses have most often played host to the U.S. Open? A) Baltusrol and Oakmont B) Baltusrol and Winged Foot C) Olympia Fields and Inverness D) Oakmont and Oakland Hills” Answer below.
My productivity on Thursday was comfortably up and into the zone where I’d prefer it always remain. Put simply, I got a lot done. And since I try to begin each day with a clear perspective on the most appropriate tasks for the day, I got a lot of the right things done. (My apologies. That’s terrible manipulation of the Queen’s English. While I do believe that the point hath been duly conveyed, I’m equally certain that my dearly departed high school English grammar teacher, Mrs. Ballard, is none too pleased.)
I was able to, for the most part, create my day yesterday, which is always quite satisfying. And also, always quite within our grasp.
It seems one Mr. Mike Weir has created his days quite often in the past, both recent and distant, landing him this past week firmly into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame! Fantastic news! You can read recent National Post coverage, titled “Weir gets an early call from the hall of fame”, both here and included in this entry below.
My productivity on Thursday was comfortably up and into the zone where I’d prefer it always remain. Put simply, I got a lot done. And since I try to begin each day with a clear perspective on the most appropriate tasks for the day, I got a lot of the right things done. (My apologies. That’s terrible manipulation of the Queen’s English. While I do believe that the point hath been duly conveyed, I’m equally certain that my dearly departed high school English grammar teacher, Mrs. Ballard, is none too pleased.)
I was able to, for the most part, create my day yesterday, which is always quite satisfying. And also, always quite within our grasp.
It seems one Mr. Mike Weir has created his days quite often in the past, both recent and distant, landing him this past week firmly into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame! Fantastic news! You can read recent National Post coverage, titled “Weir gets an early call from the hall of fame”, both here and included in this entry below.
It was nice to see that Weir’s induction also rated coverage in the International Herald Tribune in their “Names in the Game” composite column, found here and included below.
Earlier this week Weir’s winery, Mike Weir Wine, announced a five-year partnership with distributor Diageo Canada, making Weir’s firm one of the very few Ontario VQA wineries to have distribution across all of Canada. You can find the press release here, and also included below.
So while Weir was busily heading off the Hall of Fame, I was back here dealing with more pressing matters. OK, maybe “pressing” is a bit of a stretch. Maybe “matters” is even a stretch. But I did manage to cull a few blog entries from the past and plop them into the top of the right hand column on this blog. This Featured Blog Posts section will evolve over time.
I’m now wondering about changing the background template for this blog again. I’d simply prefer to include more relevant links, news, etc., all on the first screen or two. I’ll add the task to my to-do list and pursue it during some needed fun/frivolous down time in the future.
Weir gets an early call from hall of fame
'He's Done A Lot'
Jeremy Sandler, National Post
Published: Friday, February 06, 2009
Early February is a slow time at Huron Oaks Golf Course in Bright's Grove, Ont.
Snow covered the tee boxes and greens outside the windows for the few paying customers sipping beer and playing euchre inside the clubhouse bar yesterday.
But the weather belied the warm news that the club's former employee and junior star Mike Weir had been inducted into Canada's Golf Hall of Fame.
"Most of the members have been long-time members and most of them knew Mike, or knew of Mike if not knew him personally, way back when," said Jay Peters, who bought the club in 2003, the same year Weir's victory at The Masters made him the first Canadian to win a major golf tournament. "He's done a lot for the game of golf in Canada."
Including his playoff win over Len Mattiace at Augusta, Weir owns eight PGA Tour wins.
That ties the 38-year-old with fellow Hall of Famer George Knudson for the most ever by a Canadian on the PGA Tour.
"I would have been shocked and stunned if he didn't get that honour at some point in time, given his career to date," Peters said. "He's certainly, if not the greatest Canadian golfer, he's certainly right up there."
According to former PGA professional Richard Zokol of Vancouver, there is no question about that.
"Those eight tournaments were in an era where the competition was significantly greater than when George played, number one," said Zokol, the winner of the 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open. "Number two, and foremost, is that he won The Masters and was the first Canadian to ever win a professional major."
Karen Hewson, the director of the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame and historian for the RCGA, agreed with Zokol.
"You always need some perspective before you can pass judgment," she said. "I'm comfortable saying his impact is equal to or probably exceeding anybody else that's probably been on either [the PGA or the LPGA] Tour from Canada at this point."
Hewson said Weir's Masters win coupled with expanded media coverage has given the left-hander a profile beyond any other golfer in Canadian history.
"I don't think too many Canadians wouldn't know who Mike Weir is," she said. "There haven't been a lot of Canadian golfers you can say that about."
In addition to his PGA Tour success, Weir has also represented Canada on the international team for the Presidents Cup four times and played on three World Cup teams for Canada.
A two-time winner on the Canadian Tour, Weir also won the Ontario Amateur championship and was a runner-up in the Canadian Amateur before he turned pro in 1992.
"I am extremely honoured to share a place in the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame with the many names who have done so much for golf in Canada," he said in a statement sent out by the RCGA. "I have so much that I still want to accomplish both on the course and in helping to continue to grow the game in Canada, but this honour will always rank as one of the greatest of my career. I'd like to thank the RCGA, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, and Canadian fans for this honour and their support."
Zokol said Weir becoming the 20th player and 64th member inducted into the Hall of Fame should not be seen as an end for Weir, who two weeks ago opened his 2009 season with a tie for third at the Bob Hope Classic.
He pointed to golfers like world No. 5 Vijay Singh and ninth-ranked Kenny Perry, both of whom are well into their forties.
"I think Mike's right in the middle of his prime, he's not there yet," Zokol said. "I think of Vijay who's won most of his tournaments above 40. I think Mike's best performances could still be in front of him."
jsandler@nationalpost.com
CANADIAN PGA WINNERS
Mike Weir -8
Air Canada Championship, 1999; WGCAmerican Express Championship, 2000; The Tour Championship, 2001; Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, 2003; Nissan Open, 2003; The Masters, 2003; Nissan Open, 2004; Fry's Electronics Open, 2007
George Knudson -8
Coral Gables Open Invitational, 1961; Portland Open, 1963; Fresno Open, 1964; Greater New Orleans Open Invitational, 1967; Phoenix Open Invitational, 1968; Tucson Open Invitational, 1968; Robinson Open Golf Classic, 1970; Kaiser International Open Invitational, 1972
Al Balding -4
Stephen Ames -3
Stan Leonard -3
Dave Barr -2
Dan Halldorson -1
Ian Leggatt -1
Richard Zokol -1
Names in the Game
The Associated Press
Published: February 5, 2009
OAKVILLE, Ontario: Former Masters champion Mike Weir, whose eight PGA Tour victories matches a record for Canadian golfers, has been elected to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Weir will be inducted during the week of July 20-26 at Glen Abbey Golf Club during the 100th edition of the RBC Canadian Open.
"I have so much that I still want to accomplish both on the course and in helping to continue to grow the game in Canada, but this honor will always rank as one of the greatest of my career," Weir said.
Weir is tied with George Knudson for most PGA Tour wins by a Canadian. He is the only Canadian to capture a major, winning the 2003 Masters in a sudden-death playoff.
The 38-year-old played on four Presidents Cup teams, beating Tiger Woods in a singles match two years ago at Royal Montreal.
Attention Wine/Food & Beverage Writers/Lifestyle Editors:
Mike Weir announces partnership with Diageo Canada for national representation
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ON
Feb. 2 /CNW/
Legendary Canadian golf icon and burgeoning winemaker Mike Weir announced details today of a representation agreement with Diageo Canada. Under the distribution agreement, Diageo Canada will add the award-winning Mike Weir Wine to its portfolio of international brands.
With a focus on superior quality, Mike Weir Wines have become a critical and consumer success story since their inception, and one of the fastest growing VQA wines in Canadian history.
"I have always considered myself an Ambassador for Niagara wines and have proudly served my wines all over the world", says Mike Weir. "Partnering with Diageo Canada will allow us to grow brand awareness and value, gain greater access for Ontario wineries and also benefit my Foundation".
Proceeds from the sale of Mike Weir Wine have always gone to the Mike Weir Foundation, which was started in 2004 by Mike and his wife Bricia.
"We are pleased to be working with Mike Weir VQA Wines, and confident this partnership will compliment everyone involved", says Debra Kelly-Ennis, President and CEO, Diageo Canada. "This is a really strong addition to our wines portfolio and a good strategic fit, with our shared focus of growth and opportunities."
This five-year distribution agreement is specific to Canada, and will make Mike Weir one of the few Ontario VQA wineries to have distribution across Canada.
"We were very impressed by Diageo Canada's commitment to excellence and the quality of their staff and portfolio", says Barry Katzman, President, Mike Weir Wine Inc. "This is an arrangement that will open doors for our wines, and VQA products in general. We are thrilled to be included amongst Diageo'sportfolio of world class brands".
"We are confident Mike Weir wines will continue to grow and benefit from our sales, distribution and execution expertise, as well as support the communities in which we work and do business", adds Kelly-Ennis.
About Mike Weir Wines
Mike Weir Winery was established in 2005 with 5000 cases of VQA wine. The wine is currently available in every Province in Canada and current production is 30,000 cases made in partnership with Chateau des Charmes winery in Niagara-on-the-lake. The company unveiled plans in November for the building of a new Winery and Hospitality Centre in conjunction with the Niagara Parks Commission adjacent to Whirlpool Golf Course in Niagara Falls.
About Diageo
Diageo (Dee-AH-Gee-O) is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wine and beer. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards wines.
Diageo is a global company, trading in some 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com.
Celebrating life, every day, everywhere, responsibly
For further information: Barry Katzman, President, Mike Weir Wines, bkatzman@mikeweirwine.com, (905) 651-5506, www.mikeweirwine.com; Jim Weir, Mike Weir Foundation, jweir@imgworld.com, (519) 384-0833; Alanna Stone, Manager, PR & Communications, Diageo Canada Inc., alanna.stone@diageo.com, (416) 626-2000 ext. 6662
And the answer: “A) Baltusrol and Oakmont at seven times each”
And the answer: “A) Baltusrol and Oakmont at seven times each”
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