My general but vague interest in the just-completed Ford Wayne Gretzky Classic near Collingwood, Ont., consisted of the following:
1. Why would Gretzky, whose mom died of lung cancer and whose father has suffered a stroke, have a big stogie sticking out of his mouth every time we saw him on TV? Doesn't he know smoking causes more than 85% of all lung cancers and that it's a leading cause of strokes? What does that say to the young people who respect and admire his hockey legacy, especially his five kids?
2. From the little I saw, I enjoyed the event more than the recent Skins Game, meaning that there might be a better future for a Canadian version of the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am than for more regurgitations of the tired skins format. Those things were fun when Trevino or Zoeller were headlining but, for the most part, now it's watching guys who have passed their prime trying to be entertaining. I'd rather watch entertainers trying to golf.
3. By not attending, golf fans lost a chance to see two pretty good golf courses: The Georgian Bay Club and the Raven at Lora Bay. The former is a Hurdzan-Fry design whose layout and construction was overseen by senior architect Jason Straka, and the latter is a Tom Lehman/Tom McBroom collaboration. Both are well worth trying to get on and are further evidence that the Georgian Bay area has become a serious contender in the race to be Canada's best golf destination.
4. While I deeply respect golf's tremendous contribution to charity (the PGA Tour is on its way to raising its second billion), the Wayne Gretzky Foundation's mission "to provide less fortunate youth with the opportunity to experience the sport of hockey" seems a tad superficial. How about diabetes or autism or, referring back to my Point No. 1, smoking-related illnesses?
In any case, the Nationwide Tour event is booked for the next two years. It wouldn't be a bad idea, if you live within a couple of hours' drive, to attend next year's tournament and take advantage of some of the golf and other attractions this region on Lake Huron's Georgian Bay has to offer.