Golf courses began to appear in Bruce County in the early 1900’s when the sport was newly introduced to Canada. It was an activity enjoyed by men, women, and kids of all ages. As interest grew, large farm properties were being sold to build courses to be enjoyed during the spring and summer months. The unpredictable Bruce County weather would always determine the length of golf season. Here are some brief histories of a few of Bruce County’s many golf clubs.
Saugeen Golf Club
The Saugeen Golf Club originated in 1925 and started on 45 acres with a standard 9 holes. Charles M. Bell was one of the founding members who along with 6 others invested to bring the game of golf to the Saugeen Shores area. Workers from the Bell Furniture Company aided in the creation of the course and opening day was in the summer of 1925. The club saw 90 members its first year. A clubhouse was built from the farmhouse on the property which also housed events such as card games, socials, and dinner parties. These events would act as fundraising efforts to improve the course. The first caretaker of the course was Joseph Hulls who had the task of upkeeping the course manually with horse-drawn mowers, rakes, and shovels. Later, his son Fred would take over the role of manager.
The 1930’s saw some financial difficulties as the club tried to become a private playing course. In turn, the club opened publicly to encourage more people to try and play the game. They were able to purchase more acreage to expand the 9-hole course to one of the largest in the area. In 1945, Saugeen Golf and Country Club Ltd. sold assets and liabilities and became incorporated by provincial charter making them a non-owned and non-profit corporation. They then became known as Saugeen Golf Club.
The 1950’s saw more popularity for the sport and business began to flourish. The course needed to establish a “no walkers or caddies” rule since the influx of people on the course made it difficult to play. This also diminished any person trying to skip out on paying to play. The course purchased more property in the early 1950’s which allowed for the addition of a driving range and for it to be made into an 18-hole course. There was a pro-shop added and storage for the 50 rental carts available. The course was rated official and was a member of the Ontario Golf Association in 1957.
The course was growing rapidly, and more people were playing on a regular basis. With this became the decision to start reserving tee times and saw the need for a course marshal who helped keep traffic moving and supervise playing. The course saw an increase of tournaments and large events. By the 1970’s, an upgrade to the pro shop added golf equipment, accessories, and apparel. New equipment was purchased to maintain the quality and pristine greens more efficiently. By the late 1980’s it was reported that the course saw over 35,000 rounds each season.
The 1990’s saw the plans for a larger expansion from 199 acres to 299 acres for another 9 holes. This also helped with parking concerns and the addition of new buildings and improvements to existing structures. The expansion of the course was designed by professional golf course architects which made the course desirable for all skill levels. The expansion made the course 27-holes which allowed for better maintenance on each 9. If there were certain sections of the course that needed attention or maintenance, it was able to be shut down without disruptions to those wanting to play 18 holes. If there were tournaments, there was still a section that could be played by the public. By the late 1990’s, the course saw over 60,000 rounds each season, and by the 2000’s, the course was limited to 650 members. Each of the nine holes at the Saugeen Golf Club are still in use today. The original 9 hole is called ‘Sunset’, the 2nd addition is called ‘Legacy’ and the newest addition is called ‘Sunrise’. The Saugeen Golf Club is still listed as one of the few 27-hole courses in the area with top reviews.
Kincardine Golf Club
The Kincardine Golf Club was born through the interests of Josephine Gualco of Poland. She moved to Kincardine in 1906 and purchased a piece of property where her and her friends could play golf. This property is still the present location of the Kincardine Golf Club. When Gualco left Kincardine, she designated the property to be used for the golf course. The other sections of land were purchased by James Malcolm and given to the course to expand. In 1920, the Kincardine Golf Club (Private) Ltd. became incorporated. They sought out help for developing the course and entrusted Rev. David Ritchie who was from St. Andrew’s Scotland. Ritchie designed the course into some challenging configurations and in 1929 another expansion to the course was made. The land allowed for two new holes, a practice field and parking lot. The course saw many upgrades and configuration changes to the sequence of the holes. By the 1950’s a separate pro-shop and clubhouse were built to accommodate the growing number of members. The Kincardine Golf Club prides itself on being one of the oldest golf courses in Bruce County and operates as a semi-private 9-hole course full of challenges for all skill levels.
Walkerton’s Golf Clubs
Walkerton had two golf courses that were established in the same year.
The Walkerton Golf and Curling Club was granted its charter on January 3, 1925. It operated under a Board of Directors and Presidents. In 1966, the Board of Directors decided to build a new structure to house the golf course and curling club. This new complex opened in 1967 and housed artificial curling ice, a pro-shop, lounges, and large kitchen. The complex is still in operation today for curling and a 9-hole golf course which is located just outside of Walkerton on Bruce Road 2.
The other course in Walkerton was originally called the Saugeen Golf Club and opened as a 9-hole course in 1925. The course was owned by William Brunt who made it a family retreat where people were invited to play. In 1965, the new owner Ralph Campbell took over and made it into an 18-hole course and added a clubhouse and locker room. The course was then owned by Jerry Peterson who wanted to take the course to a private and high-end level. He ultimately sold the course to Keith Stein who took over operations in 1972. Stein would change the course name to Whispering Hills Golf Club and opened the course to competitive golfers along with juniors and beginners. The Day family took over the course in 1977 and continues to operate today. There have been many improvements made over the years and now operates as an 18-hole course with clubhouse and banquet facilities along with a golf simulator for the off season.
Small Town Courses
Some of the original courses in Bruce County were established in smaller communities. For instance, a small-town golf course that was booming with popularity was at Bruce Beach. The cottagers at Bruce Beach were given a firsthand look at the newest sport by Rev. Robert Martin. With his demonstration he enticed them all to learn. In 1903, there were six holes developed on the Frank Tout and McCosh Grove flats property which started the craze. Eventually by 1907, the Bruce Beach Golf Club was formed, and 9 holes were developed. Membership was 25cents and the club members would be responsible for the maintenance of the grounds. The memberships grew over the years and saw the formation of the Lady Golfers club, and allowance of children under the age of 16 when accompanied by an adult to play between certain hours of the day. Due to flood damage in 1926, the members needed to purchase an alternative property to keep the golf course running. Improvements were made to the course and tournaments began to happen on a yearly basis. The 9-hole course is still present today and operates on the ‘Honour System’ where golfers pay what they can. The Bruce Beach Golf Club is the oldest in Bruce County.
A short-lived golf course in Culross Township was the only one in the area. The Alps Golf and Country Club was a popular spot for avid golfers and was open from 1932-1938. There was a two-story brick house on the property that was converted into the clubhouse. The course was owned by Arthur Nelles, and the golf pro was Bleek Meyer who assisted with golf lessons. Due to some financial difficulties, the farm property went back to the MacDonald Estate and the golf course ceased operation.
It’s no surprise that Bruce County has an abundance of golf courses with the vast open landscape and beautiful scenery. Golf is still a favourite past time and continues to boost tourism to the area. Today there are over 15 listed golf courses in Bruce County all having their unique picturesque views and challenges to all skill levels of golfers.
Sources:
Culross Historical Society. “All Our Yesterdays, A History of Culross Township 1854-1984.” Culross Historical Society, 1984. Print.
Brant Township Historical Society. “The History of the Township of Brant 1854-1979.” Brant Township Historical Society, 1979. Print.
Saugeen History Hunters. “Roots and Branches of Saugeen, 1854-1984: a history of Saugeen Township.” [Port Elgin, Ont.]: Saugeen History Hunters, 1984.
Fletcher, Wanita Hollands and Isabelle Munro, eds. “Toil, Tears & Triumph: A History of Kincardine Township.” Kincardine: Kincardine Township Historical Society, 1990. Print.
Smith, Gerda. “History of the Saugeen Golf Course 1925-2000”. 2002. Print.
https://www.kincardinegolfclub.com/course/club-history/
https://wiki.brucebeach.ca/wiki/Souvenir_History_of_Bruce_Beach#HISTORY_OF_THE_GOLF_CLUB
http://www.whisperinghillsgolfclub.com/news.html
F.H. Leslie Ltd. Niagara Falls. Club House, Bruce Beach, near Kincardine, Ontario [Postcard]. 1925-1950(?). Krug family fonds. A2014.008.0039. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
Homuth, Carol, Dr. Golf & Country Club, Kincardine, Ont. 30 [Photograph]. 1950-1970. Carl Homuth fonds. A2004.017.397. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
Scougall, John H. Golfers, Kincardine [Photograph]. 1906-1922. John H. Scougall fonds. A992.022.0879. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
Scougall, John H. Two Men Golfing at Kincardine [Photograph]. 1906-1922. John H. Scougall fonds. A992.022.1561. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
J.E. Evans, Walsingham Ontario. Saugeen Golf and Country Club, Southampton [Postcard], Ont. Canada. 1930s(?). Krug family fonds. A2014.008.1031. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre.
Thornburn, Lindsay. Golfers on Green at Saugeen Golf Club [Photograph]. 1952-1957. Lindsay Thornburn Photo Collection. A2013.012.02397. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
Thornburn, Lindsay. A Woman preparing to tee off at Saugeen Golf Club [Photograph]. 1952-1957. Lindsay Thornburn Photo Collection. A2013.012.02400. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
B.374 Gold and Country Club, Walkerton, Ontario [Photograph]. Digitally reproduced 2015. A2015.111.021. Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre
