George Lyon (golfer) facts for kids
Lyon in 1904
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
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| Full name | George Seymour Lyon | |||||||||||||
| Nationality | Canadian | |||||||||||||
| Born | July 27, 1858 Richmond, Canada West |
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| Died | May 11, 1938 (aged 79) Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
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| Sport | ||||||||||||||
| Sport | Golf | |||||||||||||
| Club | Lambton Golf and Country Club, Toronto | |||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||
| National finals | 8-time Canadian Amateur champion | |||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | Gold medal, St. Louis 1904 | |||||||||||||
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Medal record
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George Seymour Lyon (born July 27, 1858 – died May 11, 1938) was a legendary Canadian athlete. He is best known as an Olympic gold medalist in golf. Lyon also won the Canadian Amateur Championship eight times. He is a proud member of Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Outside of sports, he worked in the insurance business.
Contents
Early Life and Cricket Career
George Lyon was born in Richmond, Ontario, which is near Ottawa. Before he became a golf star, he was a talented cricket player. He played for the Canadian national team eight times. In one club game, he scored an amazing 238 runs without being out. This was the highest score ever made in Canada at that time.
Lyon's Amazing Golf Journey
What's truly amazing is that George Lyon didn't start playing golf until he was 38 years old! Back then, there weren't many golf courses in Canada. Just eight years after picking up a golf club, he won the gold medal in golf at the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri. He was 46 years old at the time!
He won the Canadian Amateur Championship a record eight times. His last win was in 1914, when he was 56 years old. He also finished second in this event twice. Later, he won the Canadian Seniors' Golf Association Championship ten times. His last senior win was in 1930, when he was 72!
Lyon was a lifelong amateur golfer, meaning he never played golf professionally for money. He even reached the finals of the 1906 U.S. Amateur when he was 48.
The 1908 Olympics and Golf's Return
In 1908, Lyon traveled to London to defend his Olympic golf title. However, the golf tournament was canceled at the last minute. This happened because golf representatives from England and Scotland couldn't agree on how to run the event. Lyon was offered the gold medal by default, but he refused to accept it. Golf did not return to the Olympics until 2016.
Founding a Golf Club
George Lyon also helped start the Lambton Golf and Country Club in Toronto. He founded it with Albert Austin. The club officially opened on June 13, 1903. Lyon often played with professional golfer George Cumming. They were a very strong team in 4-ball matches.
Legacy and Recognition
George Lyon passed away in Toronto, Ontario, in 1938. He was buried in Toronto's Mount Pleasant Cemetery. His incredible achievements were recognized after his death.
- In 1955, Lyon was inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1971, he was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame.
Lyon in Pop Culture
A fictional version of George Lyon appeared in a 2016 episode of the Canadian TV show Murdoch Mysteries. The episode, called "A Case of the Yips," was set in 1903. In the show, Lyon talks about his upcoming trip to the 1904 Olympics. He also tries to sell insurance to Detective Murdoch, which was a funny running joke.
Honoring Lyon's Name
Today, the Golf Association of Ontario holds an annual tournament named after him. It's called the George S. Lyon team championship. This event is for men's club teams. His life story and Olympic gold medal win are also shared in the 2016 book "Olympic Lyon" by Michael G. Cochrane.
Tournament Wins
- 1898 Canadian Amateur
- 1900 Canadian Amateur
- 1903 Canadian Amateur
- 1905 Canadian Amateur
- 1906 Canadian Amateur
- 1907 Canadian Amateur
- 1912 Canadian Amateur
- 1914 Canadian Amateur
