THE QUILCHENA GOLF COURSE 1925 – 1957
“Lost but not forgotten”
In 1861 Jeremiah Rogers, the Paul Bunyan of the Pacific Coast arrived in Hastings from Nova Scotia. Over the next decade he developed a nice niche for himself in the lumber industry. He signed a lease agreement with the Canadian Admiralty that allowed him to log the flatlands surrounded by present day Arbutus Street, 33rd avenue, Alma hill area to Spanish Banks. He constructed a home on the beach within a block of Brock House (In 1905 the Jericho Country Club renovated his home for their first clubhouse.). Rogers specialized in supplying the longest, straight trees to the sailing ships for their masts and spars. He sold the extra trees he cut to the Hastings sawmill.
Little Mountain and the Quilchena Hills drained westward to the flats the area became extremely moist and boggy. For this reason the trees grew straight and tall. The area became known as Quilchena- a First Nations name meaning sweet waters. The density of moisture in the soil created a constant fog to settle over the area, especially in the spring and fall. For this reason the area became known as Asthma Flats or Consumption Flats.
As his logging operation moved southeast towards Little Mountain Jerry became innovative in his methods for moving the timber to the small cove area near his home. In far away Hastings Mill the residents referred to Jerry’s area as Jerry’s Cove. By the late 1890’s the area became known as Jerico and now Jericho.
To move the cut logs from the 33rd and Arbutus area Jerry utilized oxen and the stream that flowed into Jerry’s Cove. In the mid 1860’s he developed the first railroad in BC to move his valuable timber to the beach. Jerry cleared the first growth timber from the future Quilchena Golf course area.
1925 is an important year for the development of golf in the Pacific Northwest. More courses opened than any other year. The growth of personal incomes, the expanded use of automobiles, the reduced hours of work creating more leisure time, and the expanding middle business class are all factors contributing to the explosion in the popularity of golf. In particular Vancouver saw a migration to golf in the trade industries. The tailors, the painters, the plumbers, the postal workers, and the policemen all formed golf clubs to provide relaxation and a sense of fraternity among their members. The groups competed weekly with inter club matches. For your group to win the prestigious Commercial league added bragging rights to your group.
In 1925 the Jericho CC, the Vancouver G&CC, the Shaughnessy Heights GC, the Marine Drive GC, the Point Grey G&CC, the new Hasting Park Golf Course and the soon to open Langara Golf Links could not satisfy the growing demand. In April Dr. GF Strong, AJ Cowan, and GF Donaldson approached the CPR asking if the company would lease the group enough land to construct a nine-hole golf course. If the enterprise proved successful the group hoped to expand to 18 holes. The CPR agreed because their last undeveloped land holding in Vancouver sat unused. The company had no plans to develop this property for many years.
GF Donaldson immediately developed a plan for a nine hole golf course on the triangular lands bounded by the interurban line on the east, 33rd Ave on the south, West Boulevard (present day Arbutus) on the west and King Edward on the north.
The group informally opened their new course in Oct 1925. Simultaneously they commenced the construction of their bungalow style clubhouse. The official opening for the golf course coincided with the opening of the clubhouse in September 1926.
Hole Description for 1925 nine hole course:
Hole # 1 is a 400-yard par 4 from the clubhouse towards 33rd and Arbutus. Playing down hill the fairway is flanked on both sides with trees.
Hole # 2 is 385 yards par 4 along Arbutus. This is a fine two shot hole the second shot calling for a long high drop pitch. The green is located on a fine rolling plateau with a green hollow in front.
Hole # 3 is 275 yard slightly uphill Par 4. The slugger must beware, as a 200-yard pulled tee shot will land him in a ravine. The green is well bunkered to make the approach interesting.
Hole # 4 is 425-yard par 4. The fairway is on a slight ridge that falls gently toward the green. And a good long run-up second shot should reach the green.
Hole # 5 is 200 yards. Par 3. This distance gives a real one shot sporty hole. You drive from Arbutus towards King Edward. The fairway lies slightly uphill, the ground falling away to the left, the green being placed beyond a ridge. Behind the green is a fine clump of trees.
Hole # 6 is 475 yards par 5 hole. The fairway is slightly rolling and falling away. If the player can get a 250-yard drive it will take another 210 to carry the stream in front of the green.
Hole # 7 is a dogleg 450-yard par 4. The tee is next to the clubhouse and the green at the corner of 33rd and East Blvd. From the tee the land slopes gently downwards and the 200-yard mark is approximately fifteen feet below the tee. On this hole the long hitter will risk playing over the edge of the clump of trees on the left of the fairway His second will be a long brassie.
Hole # 8 is along 33rd 170 yard par 3. This is a feature hole. The land slopes slightly downhill from the tee, the green being placed on high ground behind a grass hollow.
Hole # 9 is 425 yards Par 4 back to the clubhouse. Driving from near the corner of 33rd and Arbutus trees on the left will catch any pulled shot and two natural hazards on the right will also have the slicker in trouble.
As finances increased the desire to have an 18-hole course increased. The new eighteen-hole layout scheduled to open on the holiday May 24th 1927 weekend. Heavy rains moved the official opening to June 26 1927.
Hole description for the 18-hole golf course opened in June 1928.
Hole # 1 440 yards par 4 is the same as the present first hole.
Hole # 2 275 yards par 4 is across Arbutus and runs parallel northward.
Hole # 3 495 yards par 5 skirts the woods, running alongside the clearing going west.
Hole # 4 160 yards par 3 is on the upper plateau.
Hole # 5 133 yards begins in the southwest corner and is the shortest hole on the course.
Hole # 6 457 yards begins on the flat and runs parallel to hole # 3.
Hole #7 475 yards runs back up the hill to holes # 4 and 5.
Hole # 8 140 yards par 3 runs towards the 5th tee.
Hole # 9 430 yards par 4 runs alongside 33rd avenue to the corner at Arbutus.
Hole # 10 385 yards par 4 is the old #2
Hole # 11 335 yards par 4 is the new hole running along Arbutus.
Hole # 12 415 yards par 4 is the old #3.
Hole # 13 – Hole # 18 are the same as the old course running back to the clubhouse.
The first BC Men’s Amateur Championship held at Quilchena saw an unusual result. Dick Moore, a Quilchena member, defeated Stan Leonard one up on his home course.
From 1927 – 1938 the players traversed the hill at the west boundary of the golf course. This proved cumbersome. A new course plan emerged in 1938 showing a relatively easy walking course. Each nine had two par three holes. Jack Porter’s plan made several distinct changes.
“Outstanding features of the new plan are a sweep away from the hilliness around the 5th and 8th holes. The tendency away from the old uphill walks; the fact that there will now be tow par three holes on each nine instead of the three on one nine and one on the second nine; the ninth will be brought closer to the clubhouse to make Quilchena members confident their new course will be more compact, more sporty and even a better test of golf.”
In 1946 shortly after WW2, Bill Mawhinney’s family moved to 2138 West 22nd Avenue. As a youngster Bill walked three blocks to the north boundary of the course at Arbutus and King Edward. He spent his teenage years honing his skills on the old Quilchena layout especially on the short 240-yard 14th hole.
For a decade Bill brought fame and prestige to the Quilchena Golf Club as he played the finest fairways in North America.
Bill’s impressive amateur record.
Vancouver City Junior Champion 1947, ’48
BC Junior Champion 1947, ’48
Canadian Junior Men’s Champion 1948
Vancouver & District City Champion 1949, ’50, ’51,‘52
New Westminster Champion 1947,’48
Vancouver City Match Play Champion 1947,’55
BC Men’s Amateur Champion 1951,’52
BC Men’s Closed Champion 1947,’48,’49,’50.52
Canadian Men’s Amateur Champion 1950
Canadian Men’s Amateur Medallist 1949, ‘52
PNGA Medallist 1950
PNGA Men’s Champion 1952
USGA vs. RCGA team member 1951
America’s Cup team member 1952
Willingdon Cup team member 1948,’49,’50,’51,’52
Morse Cup team member 1949,’50,’51,’52
Hudson Cup team member 1949,’50,’51,’52
In 1949 the BC Men’s Amateur Championship Young Bill won medallist honours and Percy Clogg emerged from the match play competition as the champion. A glance at Bill’s impressive record illustrates the fame and recognition he brought to the Quilchena Golf Club. He served the club as its club professional from 1957 – 1958. In 1954 Bill Mawhinney shot a course record 62.
As lands became more valuable for housing Quilchena appeared doomed in 1952. At the final December Board meeting of the Vancouver Parks Board the commissioners recommended the City to purchase Quilchena as a replacement for the eventual loss of Exhibition Golf Course. The City planner squashed this idea by arguing the potential land assessments the City would receive on this development far out weighed the value the City would receive if the land remained a golf course. This CPR tract of land represented the largest undeveloped parcel of land on the west side of Vancouver.
The new course opened during the summer of 1957