Posted On: Tuesday, May 133, 2025
Jack Northey, left, and fellow golf legends Ed Ervasti and Tony Matlock, right, at the Senior Invitational at BlackHorse golf course in 2009.
The local golf community has lost one of its best.
Jack Northey was an incredible golfer who achieved more than 100 victories in tournaments in Ontario, four other provinces and the U.S.
He died May 9 at age 91.
The former real estate agent moved to Southampton in 1999 and during his first year at Saugeen Golf Club he won four tournaments - the senior and men’s invitationals and the senior and men’s club championships.
That came after winning eight club championships at Galt Country Club.
But his winning went well beyond club championships. He won numerous provincial titles (see list below) and Canadian championships including the Super Senior title in 2004.
During an interview with Grey-Bruce Golf magazine in 2006 after shooting 67 to win the Boom Gravett Senior Invitational at Saugeen (he was 72 at the time), he said he was most proud of playing well enough to represent Ontario six times at the Canadian Senior Championships.
Former Saugeen pro Joey Rettinger said at the time that Jack had the best short game he’s ever seen.
”When he’s playing well…he gets that look in his eyes and he gets the putter rolling. He gets up over the ball and you just have that sense that it’s going in,” he said.
Jack attributed his short game success to practise, something he would do for at least an hour every day during the week leading up to a tournament.
Among his remarkable achievements was a victory in the Owen Sound Golf and Country Club’s Men’s Invitational in 2005. Playing in a field of some of the best players in the region, including some who were almost 50 years younger than him, he shot a two-over-par 73 in windy and cool conditions to claim the title.
He was still playing at the end of last season and hit the first tee shot to open the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship which was held last September at Saugeen.
"We are saddened to share the passing of Jack Northey — a true golf legend and the very first Legacy Member at Saugeen Golf Club," Saugeen GC said in a statement. "Jack’s contributions to the game were extraordinary. Jack’s legacy will forever be part of Saugeen’s story."
SOME CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
1960 - first tournament win at Windermere GC
1960-62 - club champ TamO’Shanter GC x 2
1970 - 1993 - club champ Galt x 8
2002 - Saugeen - Senior Club Champ
1999-2010 - Saugeen - Club Champ (not Senior!) x 6
2009 - 2013 - Betmar Florida - Club Champ x 5
1969 - 2014 - 45 consecutive years with at least one major win per year
1990 - Ontario Senior Champion - Horseshoe Valley
2001 - Ontario plus 60 champion - Lookout Point
2002 - Ontario plus 60 champion - Sutton Creek
2004 - Ontario Super Senior Champion - North Bay
2005 - Ontario Super Senior Champion - Sutton Creek
1989 - Canadian 55-60 Champion - Richelieu Valley Quebec
2001 -Canadian Team Champions - Camelot Ottawa
2004 - Canadian Super Senior Champion - Brantford
He won tournaments and/or events at 47 courses in Ontario, 4 in other Provinces, 11 in the U.S.A.