TORONTO – This is a serious Toronto Star headline from 1926: “Hebrews buy farm; build golf course.
Ninety-seven years later, one can only imagine what those “Hebrews” – a group of Jewish businessmen who created Oakdale Golf & Country Club because all private golf clubs at the time followed a strict “no Jews” policy – would think. Today in the headlines about his club.
Oakdale was front-page news in Canada on June 5 when it first hosted the PGA Tour’s Canadian Open golf tournament – the world’s third-oldest national championship, behind only the US Open and the British Open – and later became the site of golf tournaments. It has become One of the greatest moments in Canadian sporting history.
With the club’s immaculate green fields and thousands of fans gathering, one of the longest droughts in Canadian sports ended when Nick Taylor dramatically sank a miraculous putt in the playoffs and won the event’s first title since 1954. The Canadian became the champion.
The club, which remains predominantly Jewish today, went from virtually invisible to virtually overnight becoming a part of Canadian sporting lore.
Former club president Mark Sadowski said, “Our club feels really excited and privileged to host this event, to show the world who we are.” “And dare I say we are a little cocky.”
The ninth hole leading up to the clubhouse at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto. (Courtesy of Golf Canada)
Since the day it opened, Oakdale has stood by its stand against discrimination of any kind. While membership of the club is passed down from generation to generation in families – keeping its Jewishness as strong as ever – anyone can join, so the club also includes plenty of non-Jews. There has never been a question on the application about religious affiliation or any other identifier — and Sadowski insists there never will be.
To join the ritzy club, however, took what Sadowski describes in the application as “a very specific piece of Jewish DNA.”
“about this tzedakah,” he said, using the Hebrew word for charity. “Do you give to the community—not necessarily financially, but are you community-minded? So, the two pillars of our club are that we are a family-oriented club and we expect our members to give back in some form or the other.
A photo taken during the final round of the Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club on June 11, 2023 in Toronto. (Bernard Brault / Golf Canada)
Sadowski also noted how the club – surrounded by a largely economically disadvantaged citizenry in northwest Toronto – preferred to rent most of its staff either within walking distance or a short commute. In addition, the club hosts events that bring local children to the site to learn the game of golf.
At the same time, the club’s conservative, attention-averse membership wants to stay out of the limelight.
“The club has always been very low-key,” said Molly Jagroop, the club’s general manager, a Guyanese immigrant, who emphasizes how comfortable she has felt since her first day working at Oakdale more than a decade ago. Have done
“We haven’t been in the spotlight because it’s not something that is of major interest to our members. But we’re turning 100 in 2026, so we felt it was time to raise our profile , If you wish, let the world see us.’ “When you look at the golf course and the condition it’s in, the clubhouse, and the work we’ve done with our facilities over the years, we sit up very well. So why not open things up? Host the Canadian Open Kind of felt like the right time to do something big.
Oakdale Golf & Country Club general manager Molly Jagroop with past president Mark Sadowski, June 2023. (Ed Clausmann)
Needed to reach out to Golf Canada – the governing body that runs the Canadian Open – to see if they’re interested. Many officials and elite players had never even heard of the club. But Lawrence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada, was not one of them. He knew many of the members of Oakdale, having first played the course as a guest more than 30 years earlier.
Applebaum, who joined Golf Canada as CEO in 2017, said, “We go through a multi-year, multi-stage process to see if a potential host has all the aspects we look for in a PGA Tour event. I want.” Career in the sporting goods industry. “And Oakdale continues to surprise us on every level. Do they have a strong membership? Yes, 1,000 families. Do they have a golf course that can be perfect inside ropes? Yes, we took the best 18 of his 27 holes to make up the overall course.”
Golf Canada CEO Lawrence Applebaum speaks at the press conference prior to the Canadian Open at Oakdale Golf & Country Club in Toronto on June 6, 2023 (Bernard Brault / Golf Canada)
Applebaum said that as Golf Canada went through the rest of its checklist, which included the ability to hold on-site concerts and adjusting food, beverage and hospitality options, the club continued to prepare for the task.
Applebaum said, “Every time we came forward with something we needed, Oakdale came forward and was cooperative.” “This club has just welcomed the world with open arms and shown a spirit of togetherness that is truly inspiring.”
Membership approval came in at around 75 percent – one of the highest levels of support of any club hosting the event.
The club was handed over to Golf Canada prior to the competition, with all the preparatory work done overtime. Despite wildfire smoke, rain and the highly controversial blundering announcement about Saudi Arabia’s investment in the PGA Tour, all went well during the four-day tournament. The historic win by Taylor was just an unexpected bonus.
Nick Taylor plays in the first round of the Canadian Open on June 8, 2023 in Toronto. (Bernard Brault / Golf Canada)
Members had to make many sacrifices, especially leaving their club for a few weeks during peak playing season. But Sadowski is confident that when all the reviews are complete, members will see how the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks. And, assuming membership is approved for another round, the club will host again in 2026 to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
“It was a step outside their comfort zone, but they approached it with: ‘Can we do it? Do you think we can do it?’ Applebaum said. “They gained the belief that they could and then they blew it out of the water. So, I feel very fortunate to have found this gem of a club called Oakdale and we look forward to coming back in 2026.
