HISTORY OF FIRST MUNI COURSE IN BC
HASTINGS PARK GOLF COURSE, – EXHIBITION GOLF COURSE
OPENED MAY 2nd, 1925
JEFFERSON CREATES A BUZZ AMONG PROPONENTS FOR MUNI GOLF
After Jefferson showed instant success new muni courses opened in Spokane (Upriver & Downriver), in Edmonton (Victoria Park), in Calgary (Calgary Muni) and in Portland (Eastmoreland). The debate to bring municipal golf to Vancouver actually began in December 1917 with the publication of an editorial in the Vancouver Daily Sun entitled” The need for public golf links is badly felt in Vancouver.” The editor’s goal was to pressure the politicians to construct a municipal golf course. The editor placed two arguments before the readers.
First golf had not yet achieved the popularity the game deserved. Why? The exclusive nature of the local courses gave the game the title “A rich man’s game.” A municipal course would open the game to the general populace in Vancouver and surrounding area.
Second the municipalities particularly the Park Boards could see the financial returns would ultimately pay for all their Park activities. Cities continually sought reasons for visitors to remain in the area for another day. A municipal golf course adds to the list of attractions.
Mayor McBeath of Vancouver responded in a positive manner giving his support to any plan that would increase public recreation. The Vancouver Park Board immediately thought Stanley Park would be the logical choice for the first muni course.
The Vancouver Sun’s request for citizens to respond to the debate inspired several prominent citizens to add support. Mr. JR Waghorn, captain of the Jericho G&CC proposed this argument: “The pleasure and beautiful nature of the game are not dependent on any particular skill. Golf provides for the youth, to whom the more active sports are often closed, a clean outdoor form of recreation. A municipal course would provide the facilities to fulfil this pleasure. “
“The expense of the upkeep would be borne by the small fees the players paid. Parks, on the other hand, provide no income for their maintenance. Vancouver should adopt the idea and show its interest in the welfare, health, and recreation of the wage-earning class.”
Mr CB McNeil the captain of the Shaughnessy Heights Golf Club argued Vancouver was lagging behind other municipalities. “The time to start is now when the necessary land could be purchased at a modest price.”
The Vancouver City publicity agent JT Reginald Davison endorsed the scheme by stressing the advantages Vancouver would receive from the attraction the course would be to tourists. “Golf as a sport for the populace was gaining momentum throughout North America.”
With all this support the politicians could not take the next step to begin construction. The idea languished until the fall of 1923. Dunc Sutherland, the professional at the Edmonton CC, entered the debate in December stating the municipal course in his town was crowded all day and on Saturdays and Sundays it was necessary to book tee times.
HASTINGS PARK SITE CHOSEN FOR VANCOUVER’S FIRST MUNI
After six years of wavering on the question the Vancouver Parks Board placed a clause in the lease with the Exhibition Park Board that “the construction and operation of a public golf course on their leased lands at Hastings Park to fulfil their mandate to provide public recreational facilities.” The association had actually anticipated with enthusiasm this clause and moved to begin clearing land two years earlier. Future Exhibition Boards used the golf course expansion as an excuse to extend their land holdings over the next thirty years. The Vancouver Park Board used Hastings Park, as an example they were supplying needed recreational facilities to the east side of Vancouver. This created tension over the next forty years – dividing the east side residents against the west side residents.
Under the leadership of the Exhibition President AW Givin the group hired HT “Mike” Gardner to lay out a nine-hole course. The course measured a short 2620 yards with all clubs in the bag being used. While in no way providing a championship test, the course had a variety of holes. By April 1924 all ground was cleared and graded.
OPENING OF FIRST MUNI COURSE IN BC
Hastings 1925 layout
After several delays on May 2nd, 1925 the Exhibition Board and the Vancouver City Council plus interested citizens gathered on the first tee to officially open British Columbia’s first municipal golf course. Mayor Taylor drove the first ball. For his tireless efforts to bring the project to fruition the Mayor Taylor presented Mr. W. Dalton, chairman of the Golf committee, with a beautiful driver suitably engraved to mark the occasion. To attract citizens to play the Exhibition Board set the rates at $20.00 per year unlimited golf, $.35 for nine holes, $.50 for 18 holes, $.75 for all day, and $3.00 per month. One week after the opening players met to form the Hastings Park Golf Club.
Hastings Clubhouse pre 1930
After one year of operation because of the high number of players the Exhibition Association repaid a substantial amount of the loan the City advanced for the initial construction. To relive congestion on the course Dalton and his committee utilized the grounds crew to clear additional land for four additional holes. To have a complete 18-hole golf course remained the objective of Dalton and his golf committee.
Hole #1 510 Par 5; hole # 2 395 Par 4: Hole # 3 325 Par 4; Hole # 4 165 Par 3; Hole # 5 205 Par 4: Hole # 6 160 Par 3; Hole # 7 215 Par 4; Hole # 8 300 Par 4: Hole # 9 345 Par 4. Total yards 2620 Par 35
BILL HEYWORTH IS APPOINTED PROFESSIONAL
At the end of the nineteenth century fourteen year old Bill and his Dad leased part of their farm to create the Ilkley Golf Club. Between them they mapped out the 18-hole course. Bill trained in all aspects of the running a golf course. He cared for the greens, sat on the horse drawn mower to cut the fairways and toiled in the shop sanding and shaping the wooden shafts, staining and oiling the wooden head clubs. Upon serving in the Royal Air Force after WW 1 young Bill joined the exodus to Canada. How he landed in the Cowichan Valley in 1921 is unclear. Fortunately a movement to construct a local links gained momentum. The Cowichan GC became his first club professional appointment. After two years he moved to the Nanaimo GC.
After two years Roy Herne, the first professional at Hastings Park, decided to move to Bermuda. In March 1927 the Exhibition Board enticed Heyworth to their vacant position. The Board could not have filled the position with a more qualified person. He loved teaching beginning golfers especially juniors and he loved working with land to create a playable golf course. For the next 26 years Bill attracted players from throughout the City to the game. He also influenced aspiring young professionals like Stan Leonard, Ben Colk, Laverne Johnson, Bill Mawhinney, Doug McAlpine and his son Miles to work for him as assistants.
To assist Bill the Board also made a prudent hiring in 1927. They appointed Peter Brodie as their secretary to the Hastings Park Golf Course. Peter was born into a North Berwick golfing family. His relatives occupied the captain/secretary position at the old club since its inception. “He loved nothing better than to talk of the advances made in the construction of clubs and could always raise a chuckle when comparing the old weapon of weird construction with the latest shiny model.” One golfer from his era stood out more than all others – the great Harry Vardon. Standing on the first tee on a typical Saturday morning at Hastings Pete would talk endlessly about the many Vardon exhibition matches he saw.
The combination of Bill and Pete attracted droves of newcomers to the well-maintained, tricky, short Hastings Park course. This translated into nice profits for the Exhibition Board. For this reason whenever the decision to expand the fair grounds arose at the Board, the Directors chose to clear additional land for their profitable golf course operation.
In March 1961 Bill commented on the assistants who began their professional careers working for him as an assistant.
“Ben Colk; As a boy Ben could roll the ball into the cup from anywhere, but after watching the old pro freeze on a 12 inch putt and jump back as if stung by a bee he lost his touch. Many considered him the best instructor in the province. Stan Leonard: Stan came to the course with a good amateur record. He was a busy man practicing and teaching. He left to a pro job in Calgary. You will understand that in the hungry thirties it was difficult for a boy to make a start as a pro. Bill Mawhinney: He began at the Exhibition course, one more with a good amateur record and now a pro in Ontario. Doug McAlpine: One more who found it difficult to make a start in the pro ranks, now a pro at Fraser View and making a success fro himself and the Parks Board. Lyle Crawford: Now the pro at Langara developed his game at Exhibition. Lyle is, in my opinion, the best prospect of them all. He has all the shots and the nerve. Brian Copp, Brian was Lyle’s sparring partner. I lost track of him while he was at the university in Washington. Look out for Brian, who will be right there in 72 holes of play. Among the amateurs who developed their game at Hastings Park / Exhibition was Ron Willey. I can see Ronnie arriving at the course, dropping off a large bag of clubs, teeing up the ball and throwing his head back to shake the hair out of his eyes. He usually needed a haircut. Then taking a swing at the ball. What a swing! I think the most perfect swing in British Columbia. One more amateur who came along at this time was Joe Jeroski. Among the many amateurs who made a success of their business careers I would like to recognize – John Berry, lawyer, Les Bewley, magistrate, Wes Carlsen, chartered accountant, Gordon Shannon, Walt McAlpine and Jim Vanstone, the Creighton twins.”
Bill had a policy. If the youngster was eager to play he looked the other way if he knew the child had no money.
1946 Exhibition Junior tournament
HASTINGS EXPANDED TO EIGHTEEN HOLES
The success of the nine hole golf course created massive back ups for those wanting to play a full eighteen holes. The Board decided to clear additional land eastward between Windermere and Rupert to satisfy this demand. Under Bill’s supervision and work relief funding from the Federal Government the clearing began. On May 16th, 1930 Mayor Malkin struck the first shot to officially open the new 18 hole public golf course.
Hastings 1930 layout
Hole # 1 400 par 4 Hole # 10 400 par 4
Hole # 2 120 par 3 Hole # 11 300 par 4
Hole # 3 480 par 5 Hole # 12 225 par 4
Hole # 4 160 par 3 Hole # 13 225 par 4
Hole # 5 300 par 4 Hole # 14 200 par 3
Hole # 6 160 par 3 Hole # 15 200 par 4
Hole # 7 300 par 4 Hole # 16 160 par 3
Hole # 8 200 par 4 Hole # 17 250 par 4
Hole # 9 160 par 3 Hole # 18 275 par 4 Par 67 Yardage 4565
Hastings Park Hole # 9
When fire destroyed the Denman Arena in 1936 the Hastings Grounds began a transformation from an agricultural and industrial fair to an exhibition and entertainment centre. This philosophical move created stress for the golf course. The Exhibition Board did not want to loose their cash cow so they used the golf course as an excuse to purchase additional lands to maintain the course.
“We looked upon the golf course as a good investment as we are clearing a future exhibition site. We have arrived at the time now that we must use all the land west of Windermere Street for Exhibition purposes; we have pleaded with City council to procure all the lands to Rupert Street so that they might be cleared for golf.”
On Valentine’s Day 1939 the Directors announced the 10 – YEAR EXHIBITION EXPANSION PLAN.
Hastings Park Proposal 1939
This proposal never gained momentum because of World War 2. During the War the buildings were used by the Federal Government to house the Japanese while they waited to be deported to the interior of the province. The golf course remained untouched but many holes were used for parking.
After the War the Board changed the focus to “ The Pacific Exhibition – The New Fair. The movement that began in 1938 gained momentum. The fair expanded to a weeklong celebration and turned an immediate profit. On July 1, 1946 the Exhibition Board changed the name of the course to the Exhibition Golf Course.
The City presented an immediate snag when the Board wanted to reduce the golf course to a nine-hole layout between Windermere and Cassiar. In January 1948, to strengthen their argument the Board asked renowned golf architect Stanley Thompson to make a presentation to the City Council. Thompson argued, “The 4400 yards available would provide only an 18 hole pitch and putt golf course. He could design a 3200-yard beautifully landscaped and something new to Vancouver – a driving range next to Hastings Street with revenue pouring into City coffers.” In March 1948 the following artists drawing appeared in the local papers showing exactly what Thompson had suggested.
STANLEY THOMPSON DESIGN: YES OR NO
Exhibition proposal 1948
It is unclear at this time if this course was actually constructed. In the book “ Vancouver’s Fair” by David Breen the author describes the golf course changes as follows: “Other changes made after the war included a $24,000 driving range with a new pro shop and coffee bar facilities erected in 1950 and a new nine hole golf course built on the newly acquired lands.”
Was the 1950 course the one shown above?
Because the City of Vancouver and the British Empire Games Committee decided to move the location for the Games Stadium from the University of BC to the Exhibition Grounds the golf course closed on May 25, 1953. Empire Stadium occupied the golf driving range land.
The BC Golf Museum is on the search for any memorabilia associated with Hasting Park/Exhibition Golf Course. Can anyone describe the 1950’s golf course?
Contact Mike at the Museum
604 222 4653
office@bcgolfhouse.com