HGCC Club History
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HGCC Club History The Club’s history is the subject of two pub- a wheelbarrow, rake and a hoe and grad- lications, "A Hundred Years of Golf"(1993) ually the layout was expanded to 12 holes, The course was opened for play for and "The Hamilton Golf and Country then 15, and finally 18 by about 1904. It’s one month in late 1915 and the formal Club1894-2004. An Illustrated History" interesting to note that in 1903 the Club opening was held on June 1, 1916. The (1996). The following account and that on received permission for the first time to remodelled farmhouse served as the Colt the architect, draw on those sources. create bunkers on the course as part of clubhouse until 1929, when the present its lease. In 1907, the Club purchased the one was opened by J.J. Morrison, one Hamilton Golf and Country Club’s history property. of the founders and early presidents of dates back to October 24, 1894, when the original club and an Honorary Life the newly formed, unincorporated Ham- The Hamilton Golf and Country Club Limit- Member. ilton Golf Club held its opening match on ed, today's Club, was incorporated in June a 12-hole, links-style course on grounds 1906. A year later, it purchased the Para- “What you see today is not a lot differ- belonging to The Central Fair Agricultural dise Farm for $12,000 and then leased the ent than Harry Colt saw in 1914,” says and Industrial Company. The property golf course to the Hamilton Golf Club until Club historian Les King. “For the first few was located at the corner of Barton and 1912, at which time the two clubs amal- decades of the 20th Century, Hamilton Ottawa Streets, adjoining the former gamated and the original Hamilton Golf was considered one of the best courses Hamilton Jockey Club property in what is Club ceased to exist. in North America.” The Aberdeen Avenue now Hamilton’s industrial northeast. course was sold by the Club in 1924 to GRANGE FARM - Rising property taxes the City of Hamilton for $90,000 and was Hamilton G&CC is one of the 10 found- and member dissatisfaction with the developed into the present municipal ing clubs of the Royal Canadian Golf course prompted the Directors to begin a Chedoke Golf Club. Association—today’s Golf Canada. In the search for a new location late in 1912 with spring of 1896, the Club moved to a new the assistance of Sutherland and George THE GOLDEN YEARS - The years 1919- nine hole course (later expanded to 18) Cumming, the professional from The To- 39 were golden ones for Hamilton G&CC. that was laid out on a property known as ronto Golf Club. In January 1914, the Club In 1919, the Ancaster course hosted the Paradise Farm, located on the south side purchased the 200-acre Grange Farm in 2nd International Matches between the of Aberdeen Avenue in Hamilton, just Ancaster from Mrs. Margaret Bevan for leading amateur golfers of the United below the escarpment. Although we have $40,000. States and Canada, witnessing American no record of who laid out the first nine stars as Chick Evans, Bobby Jones and holes, it was most likely founders Peter HARRY COLT of England was retained Francis Ouimet competing against the Crerar and J.J. Morrison, both Scots, who to lay out a new course on the Ancaster likes of Canada's George Lyon, William oversaw the work. property. He had already designed a McLuckie and Hamilton’s own Fritz number of courses in the United Kingdom, Martin. A clubhouse was built the following year. including the new Eden course at St. An- In October 1899, the lady members drews, and had served as the architect for EARLY CANADIAN OPENS - The Cana- organized their own club as a section The Toronto Golf Club course in 1911-12. dian Open was held the following week within The Hamilton Golf Club. By 1901, and the winner, Douglas Edgar from the Club had 40 lady and 65 gentlemen Colt visited Ancaster in May 1914, and de- Atlanta, set a new course record of 66. members. signed the course for a fee of 300 guineas This was to be eclipsed by Tommy Ar- (about $1,533). The work of clearing the mour’s 64 at the 1930 Open. The ladies’ JOHN SUTHERLAND - The Club hired its grounds and laying out the holes began Canadian Open title was contested over first greenskeeper, John Sutherland, on immediately under the direction of course the Ancaster course in 1922, 1924 and April 1, 1901. Sutherland came to the Ab- superintendent Sutherland, and seeding 1929, with Alexa Stirling, Glenna Collett erdeen Avenue property from the Royal was completed by the fall. The planting of and Helen Hicks, respectively, emerging Canadian Yacht Club, where he learned what would become many thousands of victorious. about turf care for lawn bowling and trees and shrubs also commenced. The tennis courts. At the time, sheep grazed total cost of the project over the years C. E. ROBINSON - In 1928, acting on the fairways and there were wooden 1914-17, including that of the land, was earlier advice that it had received from fences around the greens to protect the $108,000. Colt's partner, Hugh Alison, who had vis- short grass. Sutherland started out with ited and advised on the layout in 1920, 2019 RBC Canadian Open – June 3 to 9 the Board purchased 119 acres located by Les King, and by hosting the Canadian driving range. Construction of the six east of the 14th and 15th holes (now Men’s Amateur Championship for the new Colt inspired holes commenced in Nos. 5 and 6 of the South Course) for the sixth time. November 2009 and was completed in sum of $15,000. This land was planted time for a July 1, 2011 opening. with trees. Almost a half-century later, 75 CHARLES COODY - The Club was the acres were developed by the Club as its venue in 1996 for the Du Maurier Cham- RESEVOIR - In September 2009, the Club new East nine, with C.E. (Robbie) Robin- pionship, an event on the PGA Senior received all necessary permits to begin son as the architect. Tour in which Charles Coody triumphed. construction on the water resources In winning the 1999 Club Championship, project, which included construction of Construction on the new nine com- meanwhile, Matt Ion not only shattered a 20,000,000+ gallon reservoir to the menced during November 1973 and the record for the three-round event with right of No. 4 West. It also involved the was completed in September 1974 at a an 11-under-par total but also established re-routing of the stream channel of the cost of $320,000. To accommodate the a new record of 65 for the S-E course. tributary of Ancaster Creek in the vicinity new nine, changes had to be made to of No. 3 East green and the adjacent the existing nine-hole short course and BOB TWAY - The next significant event irrigation pond. The water resources to the 15th and 16th holes of the old was the Bell Canadian Open in 2003, won project was completed in late fall 2010. course. Club President Glen Chambers by Bob Tway in a playoff over Brad Faxon. and “New Nine” Committee Chairman Jim KEY STAFF - The current Head Golf Pro- Firth officially opened the East nine on JIM FURYK - The Open returned in 2006, fessional is David Miller, who previously August 2, 1975. when Jim Furyk won by a single stroke. served as an assistant pro at the Club The modern-day course record of 63 was from 1991 to 1995. Mr. Miller is only the For playing purposes, the Club’s 27 holes matched four times that week, with Jim sixth person to hold this position since were designated as the West Nine (the Furyk, Justin Rose, Brett Quigley and Kevin 1912. Nicol Thompson served from 1912 original holes 1 to 9), the South Nine Sutherland each sharing in the feat. until his retirement in 1945. He was suc- (the original holes 10 to 18) and the East ceeded by Dick Borthwick, who retired Nine. They are played in three rotations, SCOTT PIERCY - In July 2012, Scott Piercy in 1974. Ken Steeves held the reins from W-S, S-E and E-W. With the exception of picked up his second PGA Tour victory 1975 until his untimely passing in 1980. the alterations made to the old 15th and with a 17-under par to defeat Robert Gary Maue took over from 1981 to 1989, 16th holes noted above, and changes in Garrigus and William McGirt by a single and Rob McDannold followed in the role the locations of the greens on the 4th stroke. from 1989 until 2007. and 13th holes, the original course (now W-S) remains basically the same as that CLUBHOUSE - Renovations on the club- Golf Course Superintendent Rhod laid out by Colt. house began in April 2007. It was opened Trainor joined the Club in 1990 and will for partial occupancy in June 2008, before retire at the end of the 2019 season. The sale in 1984 of some 22 acres being completed in November 2008, with The Chief Operating Officer, Peter Holt, adjoining the East nine allowed the Club the grand opening celebration held on was appointed to his current position in to both discharge the debt incurred in June 14th, 2009. November 2015. building the new nine and to fund a ma- jor renovation of the clubhouse and the PRACTICE AREAS & SHORT COURSE - The Club currently has over 1,200 mem- installation of a new automated irrigation Most of the driving range nets and poles bers, of whom nearly three quarters are system on the course.