Profile
The Legacy Of A Champion
Andy Nezan
by Joe McLean, FGM Editorial Assistant
Mention the names Boucher, Cordukes, Davidson, Galon, Riopelle, Rioux, Seely, Stimpson
and Zebchuck in golfing circles and you’ll draw smiles from many elders in the Ottawa
golf community. Through the 1950’s, ‘60’s and ‘70’s and into the ‘80’s, these were some
of the top names in amateur golf in our area.
Add the name of Andy Nezan to the mix and watch and high Village ideals. Andy was also inducted learned how to be tough at an early age. After
the smiles get just a little bigger. into the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame in 1986. delivering milk by horse and buggy, he had to avoid
being mugged for his pay on his way home on a
Andy passed away in 1997, but his legacy continues But, as much as Andy was a multi-time winner of daily basis .
in the collected memories of friends and record books. golf events, he was also, to coin a popular phrase,
His prowess at the game of golf is legendary, as his “The Man”. Admiration for him was wide spread Starting work as a teenager in 1943 at Union
record will attest. (See sidebar) Through five decades and throughout our research for this profile, we were Engraving, he toiled as a delivery boy at $8 a
from the middle 1950’s and into 1990, Andy was unable to find a negative comment about Andy week and then worked his way up the company
arguably the most consistent winner of golf Nezan. In a 1974 column in The Ottawa Journal, ladder as an embosser, printer and engraver. He
tournaments throughout the Ottawa Valley. Eddie MacCabe wrote, “He’s an exemplary type of went on to purchase the company in 1967. According
a man, modest and affable and all man, and in all to his son Greg, Andy’s strong wrists could be
Special recognition for his golf achievements were the years I’ve been involved with the game in attributed to his years of manipulating the various
given to Andy by the Associated Canadian Ottawa, I’ve never heard anyone put a knock on presses and machines.
Travellers (ACT) as their Athlete of the Year in 1964 Andy Nezan. He plays his game, takes what comes
and by Le Droit newspaper in 1965 as the inaugural along, the bad with the good, and his humour never Andy came into contact with the game of golf at an
Charles D’Aoust Trophy winner for Amateur French nitters with the turn of the card.” early age as a caddy at the Ottawa Hunt Club and
Athlete of the Year for Eastern Ontario and Western actively took up the game at the age of 18. He
Quebec. Andy received the Village Athletic Award Born in 1926, Andy was raised in the French section became a little more serious about golf when his
in 1985 in recognition of his athletic achievements of the Village (Preston Street Area) in Ottawa and wife Rose gave him a set of clubs for his 21
st
60 FGM MAY 2009
flagstick.com
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