Galiano Golf Course 90 years old in 2025
Galiano golf Course 90 years old in 2025
We recently received this inquiry. “My grandparents played golf on Galiano Island in the 1930’s. Do you think they played on the present course.”
Because we have done very little research on the golf courses located on the Gulf Islands, we used this question to investigate when golf originated on the various Islands. This project included; Salt Spring, Mayne, James Bay, Galiano, Gabriola, Stewart, Quadra Island , Bowen, Hornby, Denman.
Denman Island Golf Course (June 13, 1923)
“Yesterday June 11th a group of Courtenay golf enthusiasts comprising Mrs. McKnight, Miss Cooke Messers William Shilcock, James Aston, and Mathew Brown visited Denman Island to participate in the opening of a new golf course on the Island. This latest is located on Mr. Aston’s property overlooking Metcalf Bay. And is a nine hole one. Denman Islanders who took part in the opening included: Captain and Mrs. C. Lacon, Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Lacon, Mr. Michael Bell-Irving, Miss Coburn, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Piercy, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Pickett, Mr. Thomas Shaughnessy, the misses Shaughnessy.”
Salt Spring Island (1928)
In 1928 Mr. Norman Wilson, who lived in a gracious mansion called “Barnesbury”, agreed to lease part of his property to the newly formed golf club for $25 per year for the first year and $30 per month for the second. The Salt Spring Island course officially opened for play on October 23, 1928. At the official opening President W Scott made these remarks: “The golf course would be a valuable asset to the Island. He hoped that a large number would join the club and those that did not play would give the course their moral support. He gave high praise to WW Wilson for the work he had done in the last six months in getting the course into excellent shape. He added that although the course at present was only nine holes, the plan was to extend it to eighteen.” Mr. Watson, chairman of the greens committee, drove the first ball.
Galiano Golf Club
Captain Ivan George Denroche arrived on Galiano Island around 1925 after serving in WW1 in the British forces. For forty-five years, he devoted his attention to promoting the Island to tourists and business people. Upon his arrival he formed. The Galiano Development association. Immediately under his guidance the group convinced the federal government public works department to build a new wharf.
In 1935 he organized the Galiano Golf Course Development Co. to secure land for the construction of a new nine-hole golf course to service the citizens and tourists of Galiano and Gossip Islands. To guarantee the development, Ivan purchased the lands for the future course. “Upon advice from Dr. T. Roberts, medical officer for Mayne Island and a former Point Grey G&CC captain, Denrouche hired the services of Dunc Sutherland, the Point Grey professional, to layout the course. On December 5th, 1935 the Galiano G&CC Ltd was officially formed. The initial signatories included: Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Page, Harold Harris, cannery superintendent, James Peter Hume, farmer; Donald Arthur New, postmaster. The authorized capital was 10,000 shares at $1 each. Members purchased shares or earned shares through volunteer labor or donated materials.
The course officially opened in 1936. Following the lead of Galiano, Mayne also constructed and opened their course at the same time as Galiano. Research indicates an interclub rivalry between the two clubs probably began around 1938. The two club teams competed for the EH Bambrick Memorial Cup. It is unclear when Mayne Island G&CC ceased operation.
The Galiano club members annually competed for Nixon rose bowl (Ladies club champion), Price Cup (Ladies club champion runner-up), Roberts Cup (men’s club champion) and the Gossip Island Cup.
During WW2 “owing to wartime exigencies and the shortage of labour, the members took over the work of keeping the course in trim themselves.” JP Hume led the greens committee. The Denrouche family members remained as strong supporters of the club. Peter, Ivan’s son served as club captain after the war. The Galiano clubhouse served the community as a centre for all meetings and social events.
In August 1964 Ivan Denroche placed his privately owned golf course up for sale for $50,000. The 40-acre property included the nine-hole course, a residence, clubhouse, caddy house, guest house, catering facilities, and a large barbecue area. Prospective owners must be interested in maintaining the property as a golf course. Robert. Aston purchased the property. The Galiano G&CC continued to operate.
In 1974 Resources Minister ,Bob Williams ,announced the government would be interested in adding the Galiano golf course property to the greenbelt lands. The decision rested upon a fair land sale between the government and Aston. Fortunately for the Galiano residents the government successfully obtained the property. The Gailano G&CC survives because of the lease with the government.
To answer the original question, we began the search using Arv Olson’s book Bakspin and Allan Dawe’s book Golf Courses of BC. These sources listed the formation date for Galiano as 1959 and 1976 respectively. The final result of our research shows Galiano is the 2nd oldest course among the Island courses. Yes your grandparents played golf at the Galiano G&CC after 1936.
Pender Island Golf course 1938
It is unclear exactly when golf commenced on Pender Island. All sources believe golf originated in the late 1930’s probably around 1938. We can find no news clippings for Pender golf prior to July 5, 1945 when the Pender Island G&CC registered as a BC society.
Play began on George Grimmer’s 52 acre pasture land. Otter Road separated the property into pasture land on the east side and forest across the road. The golfers quickly laid out five holes on the flat cleared pasture.. After the War the returning soldiers helped develop the forested area on the west side. Unfortunately, golf ceased for for almost a decade. Fortunately, the golf committee had the foresight to maintain the taxes on the property by selling firewood and saw logs. In 1962 when new golfing arrivals began settling the Island, they organized to revive the idle course. On April 14th 2961 the Islanders new the positive vibs brought golf back.
The new 4 holes on the forested side opened for play in 1965. A scorecard from March 13th 1986. Shows a full 9 nine-hole course.
Gabriola Golf 1979
The first organization meeting occurred on Aug 11, 1977. The attendees decided Gabriola needed a golf course. Joyce Lockwood became the secretary/treasurer for the new group. Joyce had the full support of her sister Jean Lockwood who was instrumental in helping to start Galiano G&CC. “‘Negotiations for the leasing of 60 acres from Clyde Coates began in January 1978. Golfer s spent 1978 and 1979 clearing the stumps and brush and especially the rocks. Many hours of labour and equipment were supplied by Eric and Nelder Boulton of Somerset Farms. Weldwood of Canada supplied Lloyd Knibbs with the logs from one of their tree farms.
The task of removing the bark from the donated trees rested with the members. Log construction of the clubhouse started with Bob Dunford with the shake roof being installed by Steve’s Shake and Shingle. Building the clubhouse began while clearing took place.
Before the clubhouse officially opened the eager golfers could not wait to play their new course. On July 10th 1980 Bud Lawerece and Lee John officially struck the first shots to open the new 2,700 nine hole course. The clubhouse officially opened April 11, 1981.
The par 33 course is situated on south road six miles from the ferry. A scenic course the layout borders Hogan Lake with clumps of evergreens dotting the layout.
James Island Golf 1997
In 1988 developers foresaw James Island as the idyllic place to have an 18 hole golf course. Jack Nicklaus’ company actually laid out an 18- hole course. Due to red tape and a lack of financing these plans fell by the wayside. In 1994 Andy Evans, a friend of Bill Gates ,purchased the Island with plans to construct a course. In 1999 Craig McCaw , brother of John McCaw, the former Vancouver Canucks owner, purchased the Island. Evans hired the Nicklaus company to build a nine-hole course. Strangely Craig chose nine of the holes from the original 18-hole design Nicklaus Co. design. Because the 9th did not return to the clubhouse site, a 10th hole was constructed. Only selected visitors could play, so little actual information about the course existed. The Island was placed on the market for sale. It is unclear if the course is available for play.
Bowen Island 2004
In the 1920’s there were two proposals to construct a golf course on Bowen Island – one at Hood Point and the other at Crown Point on the exact site as the present course, Fast forward to January 22, 1988 the golf association was formed. A rebirth of the original group occurred in 1996. Construction began in March 2003 and the 1st sod turning ceremony occurred on July 6 2003. The Russ Olson designed layout The three different types of terrain divides the course into the lower, middle, and upper holes. The course officially opened for play in 2006.
Quadra Island 2012
“My husband (Bill Pirie) and I have lived on the Island for 40 years. In all that time we have always been a small group of dedicated Island golfers whose dream it was to have a course on our own Quadra Island” Numbering 200, the group acquired a piece of property to transform into a golf course. The shareholders spent the first five years gaining permission from the various authorities to construct a course. The shareholders always wanted to develop a high- quality facility to make sure everyone on the Island would be proud of the development. As funding became available the course proceeded. In 2011 the first seven holes were seeded. In Sept 2012 the full nine holes opened for play. To accommodate passengers on the ferry, the club provided a free shuttle. “The course is challenging, high quality, interesting and scenic.”
Stewart Island Golf 2015 (Kyle Washington)
This Washington Group (Seaspan owners) course located on Stewart Island is shrouded in mystery. Stewart Island is the private retreat for many of the Seaspan owners, employees, and friends.
Hornby Island Golf (owner Peter Wardle ) opened around 2015. After retiring from his architectural business, Peter Wardle developed a six – hole course with 18 separate tees on his Hornby Island property. The course is open to the public to play this first-class unique course.