birthday. He was later quoted by the ACT Archivist tricks Andy showed me when the rough around the
Doug Milton that, “The gift made her a long standing greens is long and thick.”
member of the golf widow’s club in good standing.”
Andy’s character as a gentleman golfer can best be
After his Quebec Amateur Championship win in described by his friends and fellow competitors.
1964, Andy related the true story of those golf clubs “Playing a golf game with Andy Nezan was always
to Ottawa Citizen Columnist Jack Kinsella. “I know very special. You always knew that you were in for
you won’t believe this, but the (department store) a long hard fought match. However, for me it was
clerk sold her a set of ladies Hogans. To make it Andy’s genuine nature and enduring friendship that
worse, they were those flexo-ladies. Every time I impressed me the most. Andy embraced this fine
swung I was in danger of decapitating myself with sport and brought a sky full of sunshine to so many.
the back-lash.” He competed hard, he competed with passion. I
miss his smile and his heartfelt encouragement.” –
Fortunately, those clubs were stolen one night at the Graham Cooke
Gatineau Golf Club. From then on, Andy purchased
1955 Chaudiere Club Champion
proper clubs and quickly became an “A” class player “Andy was a gentleman at all times and a pleasure
1959 C & D Match Play Champion
at the Chaudiere Golf Club (now Chateau Cartier). to play golf with.” – Roy Haines
1960 C & D Medal Champion
Andy recorded one club championship title there,
Gil O. Julien Trophy Nominee / Le Droit / Golf
competing against many of the best players in the “A great competitor who studied the game and worked
1962 Rivermead Club Champion
area who also happened to be Chaudiere members. hard, Andy played better as he got older. He wasn’t 1964 C & D Match Play Champion
above giving you little shots like ‘hit the fairway’ Quebec Amateur Champion
Moving over to the Rivermead Golf Club in 1961 when you were teeing off. A hell of a player and a hell Ottawa ACT Athlete of the Year
(The initiation fee at that time was $150), Andy went of a guy, he was a good fellow.” - Darcy Boucher
1965 City 4 Ball Champion with Glen Seely
on to become club champion nine times.
Quebec Amateur Champion
Andy also gave back to the golf community by
Charles D’Aoust French Athlete of theYear
Such was Andy’s dedication to his family and work serving on many committees at the Rivermead Golf
1966 City 4 Ball Champion with Glen Seely
that after his Quebec Amateur wins in 1964 and Club and as a Director of the Quebec Golf, the
Charles D’Aoust French Athlete of the YearNominee
1965, Andy had to turn down invitations to represent Ottawa District Golf and the Ottawa Valley Golf
1968 City 4 Ball Champion with Glen Seely
the Province of Quebec on the Willingdon Cup Associations.
1969 Quebec Willington Cup Team Member
teams. In private industry, it was no work – no pay
1970 C & D Match Play Champion
Rivermead Club Champion
and a week away at the Canadian Championships Reaching senior status, Andy continued to play
1971 Rivermead Club Champion
wouldn’t help the bottom line. exciting golf as evidenced by his two City and
1972 Rivermead Club Champion
District Match Play championships, a Rivermead
1973 Rivermead Club Champion
After Andy bought the company, he was able to championship, a Quebec Father/Son championship
1974 C & D Medal Champion
play on the 1969 Quebec Willingdon Cup team at with Greg, two OVGA Senior championships and
Rivermead Club Champion
the Westmount Golf Club in Kitchener, Ontario along two times being named to the Quebec Provincial
1975 Rivermead Club Champion
with team-mates Graham Cooke, Don Davidson Senior Team. He didn’t just get older, he got better. 1976 Rivermead Club Champion
and Don Rioux; after all he was now the boss. C & D Match Play Champion
According to Greg, his father was proud about his 1977 C & D Match Play Champion
Graham Cooke, arguably one of Canada’s top numerous selections to the Canadian Seniors Golf
1978 Quebec Father/Son Champion with son Greg
golfers and golf course designers had the following Society and his participation in their matches against
1980 Rivermead Club Champion
to say about his old and dear friend. the U.S.A. and England. He was so proud that he
1983 OVGA Senior Champion
specified that he be cremated in his bright red
Quebec Provincial Senior Team Member
“In 1969 I made my second Willingdon Cup team Canadian team blazer.
Canadian Srs / Triangular Matches UK & USA
and joined Andy, Don Rioux and Don Davidson.
1984 Canadian Team vs USA - Devonshire Cup Matches
Arguably the three best amateur golfers in the So that is a brief part of the story of Andy Nezan –
1985 Triangular Matches in Capilano, BC
Ottawa area and the tops in the Quebec Golf Assoc. family provider, proud husband of Rose, father to
The Village Athletic Award
1986 Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame Induction
rankings. The Canadian Amateur that year was in Diane and Greg and friend of too many to mention in
with John Donaldson, Sue Holloway,
Ontario at the Westmount Golf Club in the Kitchener the business and golf communities.
Cliff Murchison, Mike Scott, Tony Gabriel,
area (great course / great setting with old mature
Dave Thelen, Linda Thom, James Naismith
oak trees lining all the fairways and home to Gary Andy Nezan is no longer around, but his
1989 Quebec Provincial Senior Team Member
Cowan). From the onset of the event Andy was our legacy certainly lives on.
1990 OVGA Senior Champion
teams go to guy. He figured out the greens as if he
had always played there, and mapped out a strategy
to stay out of trouble across the course. He won all
Flagstick Note: There’s an old phrase that behind every
our team bets in the practice rounds while still
great man, there’s a great woman. While we were preparing
giving us tips on course management. Andy had
this profile, Rose “The Rose of Rivermead” Nezan passed
an innate talent on figuring out how to attack a
away in her 80
th
year and we were unable to interview her.
course and this ability coupled with his exceptional
Andy and Rose both grew up in the Village, married in 1947
even magical short game served him well. We didn’t
and she was that great woman. As Greg tells the story, “Rose
win the Willingdon Cup but thanks to Andy we all
handled the household finances and kept Andy on the
had a great time and all left with improved short
straight and narrow. They were a great team.” Rose was
game skills. To this day I still utilize a few of the
also successful as a golfer winning many events at the club
level. One of her proudest moments was winning the
Mother-Son Quebec Golf Championship in 1986 with Greg.
flagstick.com
MAY 2009 FGM 61
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