FEATURE F The Legend of Westmount Exploring the incredible golf career of Kitchener’s Gary Cowan BY BRIAN WILLIAMS no reason to doubt he knows where the ball PHOTOGRAPHY • ALISHA TOWNSEND is going. golf fan could spend a long time The master is in his element. watching Gary Cowan on the The swing may have shortened up a practice range at Westmount Golf bit over the years and the balls may not and Country Club. fly quite as far as they once did, but this AIt’s special when you get a chance to see a 78-year-old’s swing is fluid and athletic. master in his element. You have no reason to suspect he suffered On this occasion, despite a strong wind a stroke in 1997 that affected the right side putting a chill into an otherwise beautiful of his body. day, most of the well-struck balls come to Cowan had shared earlier that he used golf rest in a small area that would make them as a measuring stick during his recovery. easy to retrieve. “One of the doctors didn’t know that I One stray goes left of target. “That one will played golf, and he said probably the best get me in trouble,” Cowan says. thing you could do is get out on the golf And then one goes a little further than the course and walk around.” bunch. “There’s the best one.” That was when Cowan knew the game he No warm-up. No spikes. No problem. loved could help him get better. Cowan is unfazed by the photographer He couldn’t hit the ball 30 yards when he who is capturing this session. He’s playful tried four days after the stroke. And he says with her, letting her know she has no he couldn’t hit a low shot or get out of a reason to fear being slightly ahead and to bunker for a long time. the side of him. But a therapist in London had explained “You can stand right here if you like,” he to him how the body will recover over time says, pointing to a spot a couple of feet so he carried on. away from him. “The ball is going there,” he “I could see changes almost daily,” Cowan says. says, indicating a straight line. But there is one ability that has not When you’re dealing with Canada’s best returned. amateur golfer of the 20th century, there is “To this day I can’t whistle,” he says. JULY I AUGUST 2017 GRAND 37 “I used to whistle all the time. I used to whistle to the birds when I practised.” So many ways wo United States Amateur titles. One Canadian and nine Ontario amateur to look Tvictories. Eight appearances at the Masters Tournament, including finishing really good as the low amateur in 1964. The list goes on . and on . There’s plenty of material for a memoir, which he says people have been nudging him to produce, but speaking into a voice recorder about his experiences when he’s by himself just doesn’t feel right to him. Prompt him, however, and time flies by as he settles in at a table near a window in Westmount’s lounge area that bears his name. The tabletop often becomes a putting surface as he uses his fingers to indicate the position of a flag and each player’s ball, as well as the progression of their putts in key situations. For the person lucky enough to be receiving the history lesson, it brings the achievements on his resume to life. At times playful, at times a little devilish with a sparkle in his eye when a particular story is amusing, he recalls in vivid detail popular American player Deane Beman had ABOVE: moments such as the 1971 U.S. Amateur lost the championship, as opposed to how Gary Cowan poses near the third hole at championship. Cowan had won. Westmount Golf and Country Club. After a poor drive on the par-four 18th With the media gathered in 1971, Cowan Westmount is his home away from home. hole, a bogey five was definitely a possibil- set things straight. FACING PAGE: ity and would have landed Cowan in a “Someone in charge says, ‘Who’s going to A trio of photos capturing moments from playoff the next day. Eddie Pearce, the player ask the first question?’ the fourth and final round of the 1971 PHOTOGRAPHY • ASSOCIATED PRESS U.S. Amateur golf championship, which wishing for the playoff, was done for the day “And I piped up, ‘I am.’ Gary Cowan won in spectacular fashion and standing among the spectators beside “And I said, ‘Is there anyone here from Highlights from The Legend’s Golfing Resume at the Wilmington Country Club in the green, not far from the flag, watching it Sports Illustrated?’ Delaware. In 2000, Gary Cowan was named Other significant victories all unfold. From deep in the rough, Cowan “A guy sheepishly right in front says . ‘I Canada’s ‘Top Male Amateur Golfer of Ontario Juvenile Champion (1954) ON THE LEFT, Cowan waves his arm as struck his second shot. Not only did it make am and I’m going to do a much better job the Century’ in a poll conducted by the Ontario Junior Champion (1956) his putt drops into the cup on the fifth the green, it rolled into the cup. than’ whatever, whatever, whatever.” Royal Canadian Golf Association. Canadian Junior Champion (1956) green for a birdie. Also hoping for a different outcome, Cowan’s point had been made. The final Grand Valley Tile Low Amateur, Canadian Open (1960) TOP RIGHT, Cowan raises his arms in the Canadian Amateur CERAMIC | STONE | HARDWOOD | LAMINATE Medallist, World Amateur Cowan is convinced, was the United line of that year’s story read: “Without air, twirling his nine iron on the 18th hole. Champion (1961) BAMBOO | CORK | VINYL | CARPET Team Championships (1962) States Golf Association official who had question, the 1971 Amateur would be He had just used the club to knock his Runner-up (1959-60, 1964, 1968, 1974) Low Amateur, Masters Tournament (1964) been shadowing him. The congratulatory remembered as the one Gary Cowan won.” second shot from the rough into the hole Ontario Amateur Ontario Open Champion (1968) handshake from that person gave Cowan a 135 yards away to secure a three-shot Champion (1964, 1968, 1971, 1974-75, 519.743.8300 Honours good laugh. ob Strahan, Westmount’s head golf victory. 1977-78, 1981, 1984) Inducted into Canada’s Sports www.grandvalleytile.com But his fun wasn’t done. professional since 1990, has known BOTTOM RIGHT, Cowan poses with the Runner-up (1959-60, 1967, 1969, 1973, Hall of Fame (1967) [email protected] championship trophy while tossing into 1983, 1990) Inducted into Canadian Golf Hall of Fame (1972) Five years earlier, when he won the U.S. Cowan for 37 years – and known of R the air the ball he had used on the final United States Amateur Amateur for the first time, there had been him even longer. 70 Alpine Court, Kitchener hole. Champion (1966, 1971) Source: Golf Ontario website an article written from the angle of how Strahan said when he arrived at Mon - Wed & Fri 8-6 Thurs 8-8 | Sat 9-4 38 GRAND JULY I AUGUST 2017 JULY I AUGUST 2017 GRAND 39 Westmount in 1980, as assistant pro to Strahan says the Westmount community it should be required reading for all those insurance business.” Back when the house was filling up, Gus Maue, he got to know Cowan as an has a lot of respect for Cowan. Special status, younger players. Cowan worked for Mutual Life. It was a Cowan stepped away from tournament golf extremely talented player and a strong however, is not something Cowan demands. Until then, they might want to opt for the career that allowed him to combine golf in 1972 and ’73 to make money. personality. He just goes about his business, Strahan Coles Notes version in the clubhouse before and work and then just work all winter. That meant he didn’t defend his U.S. “Elite players like him . in all sports says. He’ll play with anybody and mixes taking Cowan on in a match. In the lounge It was a chance to have his cake and eat it Amateur title in 1972. And that made a lot . they just have that self-confidence. well with the newer, younger members. a wall plaque lists his biggest victories. too, he says. of people unhappy. Sometimes you can take it as arrogance but “Right now I play with a lot of the younger Beside it is a trophy cabinet that does With a growing family, there were mouths “I had about nine letters from USGA it’s not that. To be that level you just have to guys,” says Cowan, who plays to about a wonders to protect his legacy. to feed. He and Elaine, his wife until people saying you should be doing this, have that inner confidence in yourself.” five handicap. “I call them younger, they’re “If that wasn’t there, how many people they divorced in 1989, had four children you should be doing this, but that makes Strahan says people will often judge a 25, 30, 35, but they’re guys that I like to would know about that?” Cowan asks. “Not between 1965 and ’73. me say No, No, No.” golfer based on their great shots, but he play with because I can help them if they very many, because time goes on, eh.” Rob, the oldest, has come closest to There were other possible perks, too, but sees it the other way.