Ladies' Golf Club of Toronto celebrates 100th anniversary of unique course

Women dressed as flappers, or in kilts with tam-o'-shanters, or carrying parasols, a few with tie-die shirts and headbands like the hippies of the 1960s, and hundreds of others got together to play golf and celebrate.

The Ladies' Golf Club of Toronto continued its 100th anniversary festivities on Saturday with a tournament around the Stanley Thompson-designed course in Thornhill, Ont., with members encouraged to wear period clothes. Margaret Auld, the chair of club's archives committee, said the event was an example of the special culture at the only golf club in North America that was created by women, for women.

"That's the joy of this club: it has so much history," said Auld, looking out over a practice green as a woman in a long dress and a laced white blouse tried out antique hickory putters. "When we get new members coming in here and we talk to them they're just blown away by the camaraderie, the acceptance.

"It doesn't matter whether you're high handicap or low handicap, just come and join us, come and have fun, and we have today. What a bunch of fun things we did out there."

Saturday's activities included an outdoor lunch, demonstrations of hickory clubs with the Golf Historical Society of Canada, and period dress. The festivities continue in July with a members dinner and a planned book of the club's 100-year history.

The Ladies Golf Club of Toronto was founded by Toronto's Ada Mackenzie in 1924. One of the best golfers of her time — she won The Canadian Press's outstanding female athlete of the year award in 1933 — Mackenzie was frustrated by the common rule at the time that prevented women from playing golf until the afternoon.

"I think what she thought was, 'I can't play until noon and I'm a competitive