Golf in the province is over a century old and the stories are endless. Over the past five weeks Golf Saskatchewan, with the remarkable precision of provincial golf historian and tireless volunteer Lori Harvie we’ve brought you the stories of half a century from 1900 to 1950.
In this weekly publication Harvie provides historical data that outlines interesting facts as the governing body of the “greatest social game on earth” looks back and shares the history of the sport within Saskatchewan’s boundaries.
AUTHOR’S NOTE:
Most of the information in this history of golf in Saskatchewan comes from the newspaper accounts of the day. Their colourful and detailed reporting makes fascinating reading. Many newspapers are available on line at Google News Archive, or on microfilm at local libraries.
In Regina: The Morning Leader published from March 1907 to April 30, 1930. The Leader-Post published from May 1, 1930 to the present (online to 1987).
In Saskatoon: The Daily Phoenix, 1907-1912; Daily Star 1912-1927; Saskatoon Phoenix, variously between 1902 and 1928; Saskatoon Star-Phoenix, 1928 to the present.
PRIMARY SOURCES:
Saskatchewan Golf Association. Cash Book, Mar. 1926 to —–. (Golf Saskatchewan)
“Saskatchewan Golf Association, Annual Tournament, August 17-20, 1915, Wascana Country Club.” (Saskatchewan Archives brochure S-G 372, pamphlet collection in Saskatoon.)
“Western Canada Golf Association. First Annual Tournament Programme, 9th August to 16th August, 1924.” (Riverside Country Club/ L. Harvie)
“Saskatchewan Open Championship at Riverside Country Club, July 26 & 27, 1958.” Saskatoon Public Library – Local History Room, Pamphlet PM2008-89. Note: contains a list of all previous open winners; has a history of Riverside Country Club.
BOOKS:
Barclay, James A. Golf in Canada, a history. McClelland & Stewart, c1992. 626p.
Boyle, Mickey: Ninety years of golf; an illustrated history of golf in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan Golf Association, 1987. 175 p. (title page: … golf on the prairie)
Bradley, Kenneth A.: Out-of-bounds: a century of golf in Moose Jaw. Golf Saskatchewan & Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, c2012, 231 p.
Guest, Penny: Over the course of a century; the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club 1907-2007. c2006, 176 p.
Harvie, Lori: Playing through 100 years at Riverside Country Club. Riverside Country Club, c1912, 132 p.
MacMillan, Marnie: A History of the Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association in Northern Saskatchewan, 1914-1975. Typewritten, 23 p., 1976.
GOLF ASSOCIATION NAMES:
Saskatchewan Golf Association (SGA) – formed Sept. 1913 in Regina. SGA and SLGA amalgamated Jan.1, 1999 to become Saskatchewan Golf Association (SGA). Saskatchewan Golf Association was renamed Golf Saskatchewan in 2011 (GolfSK).
Canadian Ladies’ Golf Union (CLGU), Saskatchewan Section – formed Sept. 1926; name changed nationally to Canadian Ladies’ Golf Association (CLGA) in 1966 and changed provincially to CLGA – Saskatchewan Section; known informally as Saskatchewan Ladies’ Golf Association (SLGA) until amalgamation with SGA in 1999.
Royal Canadian Golf Association (RCGA) – name changed to Golf Canada in 2005.
MARRIED WOMEN’S NAMES:
Until the 1960s married women were always referred to in print by their husband’s name (Mrs. A.Z. Smith). When we were able to discover her first name we have used that (Lola Smith).
SASKATCHEWAN CLUB NAMES:
ESTEVAN: Woodlawn Golf Club; 2013 – renamed TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club
MOOSE JAW: 1906 – Moose Jaw Golf Club (MJGC); 1944 – became Moose Jaw Elks Golf Club; 1948 – named Willowdale Golf Club; 1968 – named Moose Jaw Country Club; 1976 – named Hillcrest Golf Club.
MOOSE JAW: 1924 – Citizen’s Golf Club; 1937 – renamed Lynbrook Golf Club
NORTH BATTLEFORD: 1920 – Battleford Golf and Country Club; 1929 – renamed Riverside Golf Club; 1933 – renamed North Battleford Golf and Country Club (NBGCC)
PRINCE ALBERT: 1909 – Prince Albert Golf Club; 1967 – renamed Cooke Municipal Golf Course
REGINA GOLF CLUB (RGC): 1899 – organized and opened 9 holes; 1906-1911 – Barracks course opened at RNWMP; 1999 – designated “Royal” Regina Golf Club (RRGC)
REGINA: GYRO CLUB: 1926 – opened with sand greens
REGINA: 1993 – named Joanne Goulet Golf Course
REGINA: WASCANA COUNTRY CLUB (WCC): 1911 – Wascana Country Club formed; 1912 -opened 9 holes and clubhouse
SASKATOON GOLF CLUB (SGC): 1907 – organized; 1933 – renamed: Saskatoon Golf & Country Club (SGCC)
SASKATOON: RIVERSIDE COUNTRY CLUB (RCC): 1912 – established as Saskatoon Country Club; 1915 – named Riverside Country Club.
SWIFT CURRENT: 1917 – Swift Current Golf Club; 1920 – renamed Elmwood Golf Club
WASKESIU: 1934 – Waskesiu Golf Club, first 9; 1936, 2nd nine
YORKTON: 1921 – Deer Park Golf Club