A giant of Canadian golf and Olympic gold winner, George Lyon
On my visit to Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, I came across the grave of George Lyon—one of Canada’s greatest golfers and, likely, someone many have never heard of.
George Lyon was born in Richmond, a small town just outside of Ottawa, Ontario. His father was the Mayor of Ottawa in 1867. Despite being a natural athlete who excelled in several sports, George only took up golf at the age of 38, largely due to the lack of available golf courses in Canada at the time.
Remarkably, just eight years later, he qualified for the 1904 Summer Olympics in St. Louis, Missouri—at the age of 46.
His first three matches were cakewalks, and he guaranteed himself at least a silver medal. In the finals, he faced the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, 19-year-old Chandler Egan. Lyon reportedly drove the green on the 276-yard first hole, rattling the young American and setting the tone for a shocking 3-and-2 victory to claim the gold.
Henry Chandler Egan was an American amateur golfer and golf course architect of the early 20th century.
To this day, George Lyon remains the oldest Canadian to win an Olympic gold medal (summer) —at 46 years and 29 days.
George Seymour Lyon, eight-time Canadian Amateur Championship and member of Canada Sports Hall of Fame, died in Toronto on May 11, 1938. He was 79.
1858-1938
George Lyon Jr. rests beside his dad’s grave. He served in World War I and was injured at Ypres in 1915, a battle known for its heavy fighting and use of chemical weapons. The war injury significantly impacted his health, and he died of pneumonia about ten years later.
