Chris Markle
One would be unable to speak about the history of golf in our community without extolling the numerous accomplishments of Chris Markle. 1974 saw the opening of the Dalewood Golf and Country Club and Chris immediately made his mark capturing the Club’s Bantam championship. In the years since, at Dalewood alone, “Sparky” claimed 4 Club Junior Championships, 19 Club Men’s Championships, and 6 Club Senior Men’s Championships (and counting). Representing the Dalewood Club in 1996, alongside club pro Graham Gunn and Woman’s Champion, Jeanne Beaith, the trio won the CPGA of Ontario Championship. Beyond Dalewood, “Sparky” has won numerous regional championships, including the 1995 Pinecrest Open Championship, and most notably in 2002, when he bested 144 of the top male golfers in the province at the Kawartha Golf and Country Club to win the Ontario Mid-Amateur Championship. The next year in the same tournament he finished in second place and took home fifth place in 2005. Three years after that Chris claimed the 2008 Kawartha Golf and Country Club Men’s Invitational Championship. Beyond the golf course, Chris spent twelve behind the bench coaching a variety of boys’ and girls’ hockey teams, and was named Coach of the Year in 1999 helped guide the 2001/2002 OWHA Provincial Gold Medal Winners and the 2004/2005 Silver Medal Winners. Recognized early in 2024 as one of “nine” active 50-year members of the Dalewood Golf Club, that same year saw “Sparky” record his eighth “Hole in One”. Chris has long been considered an Ambassador by some and the Godfather by others when it comes to Golf in the local region and beyond. If there is a local competition, be it a Member Competition at Dalewood, a Lefty-Right Tournament with his buddy Dan O’Donoghue, a Regional or Provincial Qualifier, a Charity Event or even a competitive/fun outing with a group of friends, you can count on “Sparky” not only partaking, but usually at or near to the top of the leaderboard on most occasions. And afterwards he can often be found in the backyard of his home which conveniently sits behind the first hole at Dalewood.