Rubenstein, Barclay, Lapointe and Roberts in OGA Hall

On Wednesday, the Ontario Golf Association will officially induct four new members into its Hall of Fame.

Among them is Globe and Mail writer Lorne Rubenstein.

In his column today in the Globe, Rubenstein writes about another inductee, Mary Ann Lapointe. Of course he doesn’t mention that he’s joining Lapointe on Wednesday, which isn’t surprising.

But the recognition for Rubenstein is deserved and likely overdue. Though he’s my competitor at the Globe, I fully recognize that Lorne really opened up the industry for golf writing in Canada, pioneering media like Score magazine, and through his column at the Globe. I don’t always agree with him, but I do have the utmost respect for him.

Two years ago, I wandered around the final round at Glen Abbey with Lorne, watching Mike Weir miss a couple of short putts and lose to Vijay�Singh. Walking with Lorne, you’d�think he was one of the stars on display. I couldn’t count the number of people in the crowd who said, “Hey, there’s�Rubenstein,” or “Hey Lorne,” as he walked by. And it isn’t like Rubenstein courts this�kind of attention; rather, given�his writing at the Globe and his work�on television, many just�immediately connect him to Canadian golf. It is an enviable position and one he maintains with�class and dignity. Unlike some of his contemporaries in the golf writing business, Rubenstein hasn’t gotten bitter and spiteful as he’s gotten older. He remains enthusiastic and hopeful about the game. While I don’t know if I’d consider him a “publicist for the game,” (and I doubt he does either)�as the OGA press release about his induction states, but the recognition is surely warranted.

Rube isn’t the only one from the media entering the Hall. James Barclay, now 81 and a former oil executive, has had as dramatic and important an impact on the game in Canada as anyone in the media. His seminal work, “Golf in Canada,” is a reference work of great significance and one I’ve used in my own work very frequently. His recent book on St. George’s is terrific and Barclay is one of the most delightful and interesting men you’re ever likely to meet. If there is any justice in the world, the RCGA will also recognize Barclay in time. He’s a gentleman and I’ve been pleased to have a couple of beers with him on occasion.

Oh, and there are players being elected. As previously mentioned, Mary Ann Lapointe, and the great Canadian amateur Kelly Roberts, join Rubenstein and Barclay on Wednesday at the ceremony.

Here’s the news release annoucing their induction:

Uxbridge, ON “ The Golf Association of Ontario is pleased to announce Mary Ann Lapointe, James Barclay, Kelly Roberts and Lorne�Rubenstein are the 2006 inductees into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Inductees will be honoured the first week of May at the Wooden Sticks Golf Club in Uxbridge.Elected as an Amateur Golfer, Mary Ann Lapointe, 45, of Georgetown has dominated Womens Amateur golf since winning her first Ontario Amateur Championship in 1983. Lapointe has captured numerous titles in her miraculous career including three straight Ontario Amateur championships from 1995 to 1997 and five overall.� A record twelve Womens Mid-Am championships including five straight have been crowned to Lapointe since 1990. Six times she has defeated the field at the Eastern Provinces Championship and has been a seven time member of the Ontario Inter-Provincial team. �A recent winner at the USGA womens Mid-Am marked her place in history as the only Canadian to hoist that title. Lapointe also participated and won low amateur at the 1995 du Maurier Classic.

Elected as an Amateur Golfer, , 45, of Georgetown has dominated Womens Amateur golf since winning her first Ontario Amateur Championship in 1983. Lapointe has captured numerous titles in her miraculous career including three straight Ontario Amateur championships from 1995 to 1997 and five overall.� A record twelve Womens Mid-Am championships including five straight have been crowned to Lapointe since 1990. Six times she has defeated the field at the Eastern Provinces Championship and has been a seven time member of the Ontario Inter-Provincial team. �A recent winner at the USGA womens Mid-Am marked her place in history as the only Canadian to hoist that title. Lapointe also participated and won low amateur at the 1995 du Maurier Classic.Regarded as Canadas most accomplished historian, James Barclay, 81, of Toronto is elected into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Author and historian of four books on the history of golf in Canada, Barclay is Canadas number one super sleuth of the greens, revealing century old secrets and chronicling the games unique personalities. His enthusiasm and energy he has for researching and writing about the game of golf and its place in history is second to none. Barclay, a 25 year member, served�with honour on the Board of Directors of the St. Georges Golf and Country Club and in turn has been named with an Honorary Life Membership.�
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A native of London, Kelly Roberts, 52, is elected into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Back-to-back Amateur Championships in the early 70s highlights the career of Roberts. A member of two golf and country clubs growing up, Sunningdale and Trafalger, Roberts claimed victory at the 1966 OGA Bantam Championship. His accomplishments would only begin there as he won the 1969 Junior Championship, the 1971 Ontario School Boy Championship and the 1972 and 1973 Amateur Championships. Other highlights include the 1997 Mid-Am Championship and the 2003 Mixed Championship. A member of the GAOs Board since 2002 and RCGA Associate Governor from 2000 to present, Roberts has made his presence known in the golf community for nearly forty years.

Nationally recognized writer, and Toronto native Lorne Rubenstein, 57, has been inducted into the Ontario Golf Hall of Fame. Rubenstein, a golf columnist for the Globe and Mail, has been writing about golf since the late 1970s. In his almost thirty years of service,�Rubenstein has been involved with broadcasting, public speaking, writing books, a magazine columnist and newspaper journalist. Winner of multiple awards for his magazine writing, Rubenstein has written in more than forty magazines world wide. A familiar face on Acura World of Golf since 1993, Lorne Rubenstein will forever be a legend as a publicist for the game of golf in Ontario.

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