Edward Cockburn "Eddie" Gould

2020 Honouree

Edward Cockburn “Eddie” Gould became an honorary member of the Sports Hall in 2020 for his accomplishments in golf. Originally from Uxbridge, UK, he moved to Canada with his family to Midland, Ontario in 1900 then moved to Brantford in 1914. Eddie passed away in 1954 at 71 years old. His grandson, who shares the same namesake, nominated his grandfather who he felt deserved to be honoured considering his many contributions to several sports in Brantford. “The Gould family is proud that Brantfordians are now recognizing Eddie’s life-time achievements,” said Ed Gould his grandson.

E. C., or ‘Eddie’ to his friends, represented Brantford in sports both locally and internationally from the 1920s through to the 1950s.

In 1908, he was the Manager and Rover of the Midland Bulldogs hockey team that won the Ontario Hockey Championship. The team picture today hangs in the Midland Sports Hall of Fame. This team photo was donated by his grandsons Lionel, Brian and Edward Gould. In 1910, Midland was the runner-up to the Ontario Hockey Championship.

He was President of the Brantford Golf and Country Club in 1922 and was a Director of the Club his entire life. As a player, Gould won the Club’s Men’s Championship Golf Tournament three times and was runner-up four times. He also was runner-up at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club three times.

In 1935, Gould was elected President of the Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) and was a Director for life. He secured Seagram's as the first commercial sponsor of The Canadian Open Golf Championship. Gould represented the RCGA and Canada as an ambassador at the Augusta National and Cherry Hill Golf Tournaments held in the United States of America.

In 1938, Gould was elected President of the Ontario Golf Association and a Director for life. He was also elected a Governor of the Canadian Seniors Golf Association in 1946.

Gould was a co-founder of the Brant Curling Club and became the first President of the Club in 1945. He cut the ribbon at the opening ceremonies of the new Brant Curling Club rink, located on Morrell Street in Branford, in 1950. That same year, he was named a Director of the Ontario Curling Association.

Eddie Gould enjoyed hunting and fishing - especially at his trout ponds along the Grand River upstream from Paris, Ontario. He was also a long-time member of the Dufferin Tennis Club, various fishing clubs and the Brantford Rod and Gun Club. “He was an all-around sportsman,” said his grandson Ed Gould.

Gould's wife, Lorraine, fully supported all of Eddie's sporting activities. She also enjoyed golf and curling. She was President of the Ladies Section of the Brantford Golf and Country Club in 1932 and Honorary President of the Brant Curling Club in the 1950’s.