Bill Paul, Tournament Director for the RBC Canadian Open, has become synonymous with Canada’s only PGA TOUR event. Paul has headed-up the event since 1993 after taking over for long-time Tournament Director Richard “Dick” Grimm – a Canadian Golf Hall of Famer – whose illustrious career included appointments as RCGA (Royal Canadian Golf Association) president in 1974 and director of professional tournaments from 1983-93.

This year, as the Canadian Open celebrates its 100th playing and the 25th time it’s been held at Glen Abbey Golf Club, Paul will spearhead his 16th Canadian Open. He has also worked at every Canadian Open in some form or other since 1977. Throughout the years, Paul has become one of Canada’s foremost PGA TOUR experts, building countless relationships with a myriad of the Tour’s players and staff members, as well as visiting a countless number of professional and amateur golf events across the globe.

As Tournament Director, Paul seldom gets to see golf shots at the Canadian Open. His responsibilities include ensuring a strong player field, liaising with the PGA TOUR tournament week and all year long, coordinating venue selection, acting as media spokesperson, sponsor relations, managing staff and suppliers, overseeing building of the onsite infrastructure for at the event, and much more.

Paul lives in Burlington, Ont. with his wife Eileen, his sons Ryan and Willy and his daughter Aynsley. He is a graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. and Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont.

Bill Paul’s Top 3 Canadian Opens

2000 Bell Canadian Open
Glen Abbey Golf Club
Oakville, Ont.

Many wouldn’t be surprised to learn that Paul lists his top Canadian Open as the memorable event in 2000, but most would be surprised at his reasoning.

“2000 is probably the most memorable Open for me, but not because of what took place on the course and the eventual winner,” said Paul in reference to the historic win by Tiger Woods. “It’s because of everything it took to get him (Woods) here. I started with Tiger at Augusta of that year and in June his coming to Canada became a closer reality. I remember it was a magical year for Tiger, maybe the height of Tigermania, and I didn’t tell anyone, nobody at the RCGA, not even my wife. As the event drew closer I was 98% sure he was still in, but 2% is big in Woods’ world.”

Anticipation grew as the Open drew closer. Paul’s initial belief was confirmed when Woods’ agent called to confirm that his client had signed the commitment sheet.

“I had already started to work on the extra stuff needed for Tiger and thought I had covered all the bases – policing, added infrastructure, et cetera” added Paul. “I even went as far as to have a new Triple Crown trophy made. But I never anticipated the whole circus outside the ropes – T.V. cameras, helicopters flying over the course and the extra phone lines required to handle calls. RCGA staffers will remember that 15 minutes after we announced Tiger was coming, everything happened. The phones started ringing off the hook. Everyone had to help out in order to handle all the ticket orders. Lines of people looking for tickets started to form down Dorval Drive. I’ve never seen anything like it. 2000 was a magical year.”

Woods, then 24-years old, would go on to hit what some call the greatest shot in golf history in an unbelievable 6-iron sand shot that helped him to win the event and become only the second golfer in history to win golf’s Triple Crown Trophy. Lee Trevino was the first to accomplish the feat in 1971. It truly was a magical year.

1997 Bell Canadian Open
Royal Montreal Golf Club
Ile Bizard, Que.

Paul’s second selection is the 1997 Bell Canadian Open held at Royal Montreal Golf Club. The return to Royal Montreal marked the eighth time Canada’s Open golf championship was to be decided at North America’s first golf club.

The Canadian Open had been held at Glen Abbey the previous 16 years when the RCGA decided it was time for a change. In June of 1995, during an RCGA Centennial celebration at Royal Montreal Golf Club, the RCGA announced that the Open was moving and that The Royal Montreal Golf Club would host the 1997 tournament.

“For me it was the year the RCGA moved away from Glen Abbey,” noted Paul. “Everyone knew the Open would work, but many doubted it would be a financial success. I remember the event’s budget was to make a mere profit of $349,000 which had been slashed from $2 million the year before.”

Mike Richards, Tournament Chairman for the Royal Montreal Golf Club and Paul challenged each other to make the 1997 Championship the biggest and most profitable in the association’s history. They began working two years prior to the Championship and by the time of the 1996 Open at Glen Abbey rolled around, they knew it would be a financial success. Now they just had to convince the players to commit to the oldest golf club in North American.

The players came and loved it, as did the more than 125,000 spectators who visited the course tournament week. Steve Jones edged out Greg Norman at the sold-out event for his second win north of the border. The championship was a huge success and it’s an event that everyone who attended will likely remember to this day. The success of the 1997 Open, away from the then RCGA owned Glen Abbey, was a catalyst to moving the Open to other venues around the country.

2003 Bell Canadian Open
Hamilton Golf and Country Club
Ancaster, Ont.

It was the dawn of a new millennium and again the Open had been held at Glen Abbey for a number of consecutive years. Paul was looking for another change and recalled a course he had admired from years past – Hamilton Golf and Country Club.

The Canadian Open had twice been held at Hamilton, but not for a number of years – 73 to be exact. Paul was determined to hold a modern day Canadian Open at the venerable club, but would run up against a slew of unsuspecting naysayers.

“It all started when I spoke at a function for members at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club,” explained Paul. “There were about 300 members and I believe the club’s president. There was a question and answer period at the end of the meeting and the president at the time stood up and asked when they could expect to get the Canadian Women’s Open or the Canada Senior Open. I said that hosting those events would not happen and he got upset. I replied, you should think bigger, why not the Men’s Open.”

The membership agreed with Paul and eventually voted to hold the event. But not before Paul would run up against opposition.

“I had been a big fan of the course for a long time, but nobody thought the Open could go to Hamilton,” said Paul. “It was too far from Toronto, it was considered to be too old and it wasn’t long enough. I heard it all.”

Paul’s motivation, hard work and perseverance would eventually pay off.

“It was more work, but I was motivated because no one, including many RCGA executive staff at the time, supported going to Hamilton,” added Paul. “I put forth a multi-year plan which included Hamilton and the PGA TOUR fully recommended it and the course. In fact, they loved the course, as did the players.”

Success proved to be sweet for Paul as Hamilton showcased itself to be a great venue, again hosting the Canadian Open in 2006.

“Just to go to a place that was perceived to be outdated, but get more accolades from the players than any other course in memory was especially rewarding,” Paul stated. “It was a tough year too. SARS was a big deal and to pull the event off with such success was very satisfying.”

Although Paul lists these as his more memorable Opens, he was adamant in stating that many of the other events could also be included on his list.

“All of the Opens have been very special to me, each one with its special memories,” said Paul. “Over the years I have been blessed to work with thousands upon thousands of great volunteers and I have been fortunate enough to be surrounded and supported by the great staff and the RCGA, as well as the special people who I’ve met over the years. This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning and thanking them. I’m looking forward to many more great events as well.”