Blake Cook has been a member of Marine Drive Golf Club for more than 40 years. During this time his commitment and service to the Club has been remarkable.

• Served on more than 80 Committees (Links, Executive, Trustees, Clubhouse Building, Maintenance Facility, Legal-Property-Bylaws, Nominating, Membership, Fitness Facility Planning, Long Range Planning and Communications)
• Committee Chair 20 times
• Director 15 times
• Trustee 12 times
• Past President twice
• President once

Blake is a champion and he behaves like one, setting high goals for himself, putting in plenty of practice and being very determined.

Many Members don’t realize his contributions, some of which include looking at course problems, geotechnical issues, Clubhouse issues and addressing legal issues or permit problems.

Blake Cook is a well-deserved Legend in our Club for a multitude of reasons. We are fortunate to have him as a Member.

Jack Ellis, a charitable and honourable man, joined Marine Drive on July 1, 1942 and for almost 59 years served the Club with integrity and distinction, both as a builder and champion golfer. Jack’s significant contributions include being the Director at Marine Drive for 21 years and also served on various committees for a further 15 years. The majority of his time spent with the Links and Finance. He was also the past President of Marine Drive and held every other board position except junior chairman. With George Norgan, Jack obtained the “Title” for Marine Drive in 1946 when we almost lost it to the City of Vancouver. In addition, he introduced the progressive Junior program at the Club that allowed Juniors to graduate into the intermediate category from age 19-30. In addition, Jack was named Amateur Golf Tour Man of the Year in 1984. He thoroughly enjoyed serving the Club and the countless rounds of golf he played and the many valuable friendships which resulted.

Jack had a unique zest for life and was appropriately labeled “Action Jackson” by another long-time Member.

Dr. Phil Gofton became involved with MDGC in 1957 when he became a “Waiting to Play” Limited Member as the Regular Men’s compliment was full. A few months later, he became a Regular.

At Marine Drive, Dr. Gofton has been:

• On the Links Committee, 1964 and “Forever”!
• Member of the Board of Directors for 8 years
• President of the Club, 1977 and 1978
• Past President, 1979
• Chairman of the Finance Committee, 1983
• Two-time Vice-Captain
• Club Captain, 1987
• Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee for 4 years
• On-going Committee Member for another 18 years including Property and Kitchen Property
• Working with the Park Board over proposed walkways along the river and the Yew Street link up
• Two-time Honorary Vice-President
• Honorary President
• Chairman of Trustees, 1993
• The only person who actually knows the boundaries of the Club

Some of the major changes to the golf course that he has been instrumental in are:

• Greens rebuild #2, 8, 11, 12
• Tees rebuild #3, 9, 11, 12
• #13 green and fairway, #14 tee and green and #15 tee- over 100 000 yards of fill to re-do these areas
• New men’s tee #16
• Many trees removed on #5 and #8

John (Johnny) Johnston is truly a Marine Drive Legend. Since becoming a Member in 1952, J.J. (as he is lovingly referred to) racked up an incredible record of amateur achievements which includes five America’s Cup, two Commonwealth, two world Amateur and six Willingdon Cup appearances. Tournament wins include seven Penticton Opens, the 1966 Vancouver City Amateur and the 1967 BC Amateur. Two of Johnny’s favorite and most prestigious wins were the 1959 Canadian Amateur and the 1967 BC Open Championship, both which were played at Marine Drive Golf Club, against some elite competition.

Career highlights include:

• Won the Canadian Amateur, defeating Gary Cowan at Marine Drive in 1959
• Won BC Amateur in 1966
• Won BC Open at Marine Drive as an amateur in 1967, won Mexican Amateur in 1967
• Made BC’s Willington Cup Team 9 times from 1958-1967
• Represented Canada in America’s Cup 4 times, World Amateur twice and Commonwealth Competition twice
• Inducted into BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1971
• Won Marine Drive Golf Club’s Championship 6 times
• Teamed with Ron Willey, defeated Jack Nicklaus and Deane Beman in match play competition (America’s Cup)

In 1971, Johnny Johnston was inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame along with many of our Province’s top athletes. He also appears on our own “Wall of Fame” three times.

It is only fitting that the title of “Honorary Professional” has been bestowed upon ‘Hall of Famer’, Stan Leonard. “Stan the Man” won the City Amateur as a 14 year old, and the BC Amateur as a 17 year old. He was Head Professional at Marine Drive from 1940 to 1955 during which time he won five of his eight Canadian PGA titles before embarking upon a successful stint on the USPGA Tour at age 40. Tracking the same intensity of his amateur days, Stan’s wins at the 1940 CPGA championship was the first for a golfer from outside central Canada in nearly two decades. He would capture seven more CPGA titles and win the PGA Tour’s Western Open, Greater Greensboro Open and Tournament of Champions. In the US, Stan won three USPGA tournaments and played in 13 Masters tournaments in Augusta, finished tied for 4th in 1958. In 1959, he was awarded the World Golfer of the Year trophy. Stan is the Member of Canadian Hopkins Trophy Team six times, member of the Canada Cup Team nine times and member of the British Columbia Willingdon Cup Team six times. Added to his eight CPGA titles were five Open crowns, two World Cup victories and a win over Art Wall on Shell’s famous Wonder World of Golf. Stan won a total of forty-four tournaments during his career. In 1997, Stan was named a Club Legend at our 75th Anniversary celebrations.

Career highlights include:

• Won an unprecedented 8 CPGA titles and 5 BC Open Crowns
• Head Pro. at MDGC between 1940-1955
• Embarked on USPGA Tour at the age of 40
• Winner of Greensboro, 1957
• Tournament of Champions, 1958
• Western Open, 1960
• Finished 4th in the 1958 and 1959 Masters
• 2 World Cup Victories

George Norgan was President of Marine Drive Golf Club from 1936-1940, and President of the BC Golf Association in 1939. He subsequently proved to be the Club’s savior.

Originally, Marine Drive Golf and Country Club Ltd. owned the Club land and Members themselves belonged to the “Society of the Marine Drive Golf Club”. But, this structure exposed the Club to legal vulnerability when it ran into financial difficulties due to the decline in Membership during the war years.

In 1948 when threatened with foreclosure proceedings, outside interests endeavored to acquire the Club and dispose of the property, but fortunately, George Norgan came to the rescue and advanced $51,000 that was required. This was a considerable sum at that time considering the income of the Club from all sources then was less than $1,000 per month. The debt was retired in 1952 partly from the sales of three lots facing Marine Drive where the original 14th tee was located.

George is gratefully remembered for this gesture, but he was a consummate sportsman and Club builder. The records show that as President, he vigorously fostered the Club spirit by encouraging attendance and participation. In addition, he initiated the formal calendar of events.

Marilyn (Palmer) O’Connor was destined to be a golf champion. With her father being the Head Professional at Kamloops Golf Club, Marilyn says, “It was natural to spend my time at the Golf Club.” Marilyn met with success early in her golfing career. In 1962, at the age of 14, she became the Interior Ladies Champion and was selected to the BC Junior Ladies Team. These early successes in Marilyn’s career spurred her on to even greater success during her more than 35 years of competitive golfing.

In 1981, Marilyn was named “Canadian Outstanding Female Amateur Golfer” and in 1997, she was ranked the top Female Senior Golfer in Canada.

Marilyn Palmer joined Marine Drive Golf Club in 1965 when she moved to Vancouver to attend UBC. She fondly remembers the many hours she spent on the course here. Her husband, Donald O’Connor, who doesn’t play golf, has always been supportive of her golf career. Both he and their two sons have often caddied for Marilyn in tournaments.

Career highlights include:

• 1965 – won BC Junior and BC Ladies’ Amateur at age 18
• Won 3 BC Junior Championships
• Won Canadian Ladies’ Closed in 1966 and Canadian Ladies’ Amateur in 1986
• Represented Canada on 4 Commonwealth and 6 World Cup Teams
• Won unprecedented 9 BC Amateur titles
• Won 8 Alberta Amateur and 2 Alberta Senior titles
• Won Saskatchewan Ladies’ Amateur in 1979
• Provincial Team Member (BC/Alberta) 33 times
• PNGA Champion in 1973
• Named “Canada’s Outstanding Female Amateur Golfer” in 1981

Barb Renwick’s name has been synonymous with golf since she and her parents joined Marine Drive Golf Club in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s. Born into a golfing family, Barb’s mother was a member of the BC Women’s golf team in the early forties, and Barb followed graciously in her footsteps.

Around the time she was 15 or 16 years old, Barb took her first lesson from Alvie Thompson, an assistant to Stan Leonard at the time. After Alvie moved to Toronto, she continued lessons with Jack Westover.

“I started taking lessons from Jack and did so throughout my competitive years,” says Barb. Regimented practice and a competitive nature began to form an alliance which saw much success for the young Renwick. In 1961, she made her first appearance on the BC Junior Team, whose travels that year extended as far away as Point Grey. In her Canadian Junior debut (at Marine Drive), she finished 2nd behind Gayle Hitchens. Barb made the BC Team for several years, culminating in what she describes to be her most successful year, 1966. Halifax was host to the Canadians, which then consisted of the Canadian Closed Championships and the Canadian Open. The Closed, a 54-hole medal play event, saw Barb and Marilyn Palmer deadlocked after 54 holes. Marilyn won out after a 3-hole playoff. In the Open event, match play, Barb beat the legendary Marlene Stuart Streit in the quarter finals, but fell to friend, Gayle Hitchens, on the 18th hole in the semis.

During those years in the sixties, Barb began to work in the pro shop at Marine Drive. After deciding that she didn’t want to pursue a career in golf, Barb pursued other professional interests.

“The Club is a big part of my life. Most of my friends are here and many happy memories. I look forward to coming down to a place that is ‘like home’ to me,” says Barb.

Barb was a member of the Board of Directors for three years (1993-1995), serving as Chair of the Public Relations Committee for two years and the Junior Committee for one. Her year on the junior Committee, among other things, saw the advancement of the Junior Development Program and the Junior Girls Program.

While Barb’s last competitive round was in 1974, she says she is starting to get the competitive bug again, “I would like to compete at the Senior level now-although I hate to admit that I qualify. I worked with Tim Tait on my game and I am now getting back to practicing and taking more lessons-especially on my short game”. Barb is thinking of taking part in some more events with an eye in competing in the US Senior Amateur.

Career highlights include:

• Vancouver city and District Junior Champion, 1961
• BC Junior Champion, 1961
• Canadian Junior Runner-up, 1961
• BC Junior Team Member, 1961, 1962
• BC Province Team Member, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1970
• BC Women’s Amateur Champion, 1964, 1968
• Vancouver Ladies City and District Champion, 1964, 1965, 1967
• Vancouver Ladies City and District Runner-up. 1963, 1966
• Marine Drive Ladies’ Club Champion, 1963, 1964, 1965
• Canadian Ladies amateur Runner-Up, 1966
• Six-time Sweeney Cup Winner (10 & under handicaps)

Still active in competitive golf, Doug Roxburgh has been at the pinnacle of amateur golf in Canada for more than two decades. He was a shy 17 year old high school student when he won his first BC Amateur title in 1969. He has posted 4 Canadian Amateur titles and a record setting 13 BC Crowns.

Doug was the Canadian Junior Champion in 1970 and won his first of four Canadian Amateur Championships in 1972 (repeating in 1974, 1982 and 1988). Doug then embarked on an amateur career that many in BC would compare to local hero, Ken Black. He has represented Canada seven times at the World Amateur (Eisenhower Trophy).

Career highlights include:

• Won first of 13 BC Amateur titles at age 17
• 4 Canadian Amateur Championships
• 4 Marine Drive Amateur victories and 13 MDGC Championships
• Represented Canada as a part of the Canadian Team at World Amateur Championships at MDGC in 1992
• 3 BC Senior Men’s titles
• 1 Canadian Men’s Senior title

Dick Zokol achieved the status of a Marine Drive Club Legend in the fall of 2001. Since joining the Club as a Junior in 1970, Dick was destined to be a golf champion. Since he was a young boy, Marine Drive has had a profound effect on Dick. Having grown up only a medium iron shot from the premises, Dick spent more time hanging around the Club than anywhere else in his younger years. “I was a caddy. I picked balls on the range. I cleaned clubs in the back shop. I was a busboy. I’m really proud to say I scrubbed out every toilet at Marine Drive Golf Club,” he says with a chuckle. He relates fond memories of the days when Alvie Thompson ran the Pro Shop, when Doug Roxburgh (“the golfer I admire the most, no questions”) was reeling off BC and Canadian Amateur championships, when he chipped and putted late into the soft summer nights with pals Kevin Hayward, Russ Jordan, Kelly Murray and Peter Radiuk. “Marine Drive has shaped me. It has made me who I am today,” he says. “I can’t tell you how tremendously grateful I am for having been made a Club Legend. There’s a special spirit at Marine Drive that’s unique in Canada.”

Dick Zokol began his PGA Tour career in 1981 after captaining the Brigham Young University golf team to the NCAA Championship. He joined the PGA Tour that year and became one of Canada’s pre-eminent professional golfers. He won the British Columbia Open in 1982 and the Utah State Open in 1984. In 1992, Dick was at the pinnacle of his game with two PGA Tour victories: the Deposit Guaranty Classic and the Greater Milwaukee Open. His achievements were recognized in the 1992-1993 season as Score Award crowned Dick the Canadian Male Professional Golfer of the year award. After a break from playing a “full-schedule” of golf competition from 1995-1998 before reenacting his “full-schedule” of golf competition in 1999 by playing a combination of both Nike and PGA Tour events. Dick is a founding Steering Committee member of the PGA Tour’s Air Canada Championship and has been a part of the event as a volunteer since its inception in 1995.

During his hiatus from a “full schedule” of golf, Dick was the “Director of Golf” for Eaglequest Golf Centers Inc. Eaglequest Golf Centers was founded in 1996 to acquire, develop and operate community golf centers across North America. Eaglequest quickly became the second largest golf center consolidator in North America before it merged with Family Golf Center Inc. in 1998.

On October 22, 2009, Dick, who rose from the junior ranks at Marine Drive Golf Club to become one of this country’s top touring pros, was inducted into the British Columbia Golf Hall of Fame.

Career Highlights:

• Canadian Tour Victories: 1982 BC Open
• International Victories: 1992 Greater Milwaukee Open (PGA Tour); 1992 Deposit Guaranty Classic (PGA Tour); 1984 Utah State Open
• National Teams: World Cup 1993, 1992; Dunhill Cup 1993, 1992, 1987, 1986, 1985
• Other Achievements: 1993 T2 Infiniti Canadian TPC; 1990 2nd Chattanooga Classic; 1998 2nd Hawaiian Open; 1987 T3 Deposit Guaranty Classic, T7 Canadian Open; 1984 won Utah State Open; 1981 won Canadian Amateur Championships; NCAA Champion Team Member