23 AUG 2019: The golf gods blessed Skal’s Toronto and Toronto North chapters with a perfect day to goof off on the golf course at Lionshead in Brampton, Ontario this week. It was a little warm to be sure, but as one player noted, “I shouldn’t complain, it’s going to be freezing (in Canada) soon enough.”

In all, 140 golfers registered for the 64th annual event, which for the first time combined the two Toronto chapters, and many more arrived for cocktails and dinner – making it the largest-ever Skal tourney, according to Toronto chapter president and all-round Skal dynamo Sue Webb (VoX2 International).

“This has become a very special event in the industry,” noted lead organizer Kimberly Hartley (Myrtle Beach).

Both Webb and Skal Toronto North president Claire Ingle (PSAV) lauded the event (and the organization’s) social and networking benefits, and reminded guests that in addition to helping fund the two chapters, the event raised a hefty donation for the Daily Bread Food Bank.

Such was the import of the event in Skal circles that national president Paul Durand flew in from Edmonton.

Clearly the industry also took note, with more than 80 sponsors stepping up to donate prizes – “too many to list,” co-organizer Scott Barker (Big Bark Graphics) happily noted.

Besides the draw and auction prizes, players earned requisite honours for top scores, longest drives, closest shots, beating a pro, etc. For our part, yours truly overcame the severe limitations of a fractured and duly splinted finger to rock the bean bag tossing event by sinking three out of four shots – an accomplishment dubiously claimed to have been equalled by Goway’s Craig Canvin.

Now that’s golf!