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| Cedar Hill Golf Course History 2012 Marks Bill Irvine's 64th Year Using CHGC The pages associated with this site are in no way officially connected
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So, Bill Barker, Tom Hardy, Buddy Wells and Billy Irvine set out from where they met at the corner of Doncaster and Edgeware Streets to walk the one-kilometer over to the clubhouse at 1468 Finlayson Road in Victoria, British Columbia. This was the summer of 1948. Now, the boys had heard all about 'Old Man Young'. Harry Warren Young was the operator and lessee of the golf-course that had been carved into McCrae's Farm way back in 1921. The four boys were not aware of all the details but they had heard that 'the Old Man' did not like kids and would just as soon kick them off the course as sell them a green-fee. Needless to say, the pre-teens were on their best behavior upon entering the clubhouse to meet Mr. Young and pay out their hard-earned money. "Is that all the clubs you have between you?" asked the Old Man. As soon as the boys paid up their fifty-cents each, they headed for the first-tee box and each took a club from the assortment. Bill Barker kept the extra two clubs plus the putter. Billy took the brassy, Tom the four iron and Buddy claimed the five iron. The tee-box was situated under a great Oak tree and was arrived at by walking through the parking to the left of the clubhouse. Actually, 'clubhouse' is a misnomer. The 'clubhouse' was nothing more than the basement of a regular dwelling and the entrance was the backdoor to the basement. Green-fees and balls were purchased over the counter which was setup on the left-hand side after entering. Bill was first to hit. Each boy in turn either used the driver Bill had or borrowed the brassy from Billy. The first hole was a par four and if one could catch the hill running the full length down the left-hand side of the fairway, a good run could be expected to carry the ball all the way down to the gully which cut across the fairway at about the 200 yard mark. There was a little tree set just on the other side of this gully which made a
good target for those inclined to use such aids while golfing. Most of the boys
had no trouble getting a good roll off the hill on the dry grass to make the
gully on their first try. There are those, who claim some people are natural golfers; there are others, who claim boys simply put the golf ball down and hit it. Whatever it is, these lads had no trouble getting around the course in fine order in spite of, or because of, the limited number clubs carried by each. Much to the boys surprise and delight, when they completed the ninth hole and returned to the clubhouse for a drink of water, Mr. Young was most agreeable and inquisitive about the success of their game. Each lad in turn explained how they had enjoyed it and hoped to return some day for another round or two. While Mr. Young addressed the boys, the men gathered in the clubhouse drinking what looked like cold beer, smiled in agreement. Having young boys out on the course in the hope of some day mastering the game was a good thing.
"Follow me, lads, I may have something for you." roared the Old Man. Not unlike the Pied Piper, the four boys followed along behind Mr. Young pretty much single file in pecking order of the group, Bill Barker leading the others, of course.
When Mr. Young swung the doors open wide, even the boys could see no car had seen the inside of this building in the past twenty-years. The floor and the three walls were covered in golf clubs. Old clubs, new clubs, woods, irons, putters; some clubs in bags some laying about. The walls had clubs hanging and in bags-full from floor to ceiling. Some parts of the side and back walls, had clubs stacked in three rows: one circling around the perimeter on the floor, one row around the middle and another row up against the rafters at the top. "O.K., now, you boys pick yourself out a set of clubs and a bag and when you're done you bring them in for me to take a look at." Wow. Was this the Old Man Young we had heard the terrible stories about? Must have been since he is the only Mr. Young who's operating this golf course. The boys were so happy and excited. Each boy rummaged through the mixture of steel and wooden shafted clubs until they each had their own hand-picked set of golf clubs. Well, that was how golf started for at least four Doncaster District boys. What more does a lad need than to be given a set of golf clubs at age eleven-years to get him interested in this wonderful activity?
Bill Barker and Billy Irvine became fast friends and continued to golf and hang around the old house on Finlayson Road. There was no free lunch nor free golf at Cedar Hill Golf Links. The two Bills had to hustle to make money to cover the cost of their golfing so when the necessary funds were accumulated, it was golf from sunup to sundown to get their monies' worth. Seventy-two holes a day was played on a fairly regular basis during the summer when all the boys had to do was find the money and golf. Green fees were 50 cents a day and 75 cents on weekends. It was late in the summer in 1948 when Mr. Young left and the new lessee arrived, Lyle D. Barnes, with his wife, Leona and a one-year-old son, named Greg. It wasn't long before Lyle noticed the two boys who were there regularly even after the summer ended and they were back in school. There was always time for some golf. When Lyle was lessee, he paid the property taxes and an additional $5500 per annum rent to the McRae family.
When not golfing the course or helping with some maintenance chores, The two Bill's were often asked to baby-sit Barnes-the-younger: Their only child: Gregory. After spending so much time around the clubhouse, Billy was surprised to learn that Lyle had a real passion for tennis. Lyle used to spend what little free time he had, bouncing tennis balls off the side of the garage from the paved area behind the house. Perhaps, this physical activity was a diversion from anything related golf, although it should be mentioned, Lyle was an excellent golfer and instructor.
Cedar Hill really came into being as a golf-course in 1921 when George McRae was a young man of 21 years. His family had owned the property and it was still a viable dairy farm business when is was agreed to lease part of the property out to set up a nine-hole golf course. George was born in the McRae farmhouse January 27, 1900, on land his father had cleared with the help of horses and Japanese labourers. The first lessee and professional was Eddie Eve and after him came a gentleman named Robinson (but he didn't stay long) and then came Harry Young about 1936. Harry Warren Young was born in Dublin, Ireland and is credited with starting the Cedar Hill Golf course as a viable business. He died in Victoria May 28, 1972. He left his loving wife, Agnes, at the residence, 4030 Lockhaven Drv., It appears the Youngs had no children. check date ) Lyle Barnes was the lessee through 1951 when it became an 18-hole layout and operated by the Municipality of Saanich.
The Development of Cedar Hill Park - an essay in the 1976 Saanich Historical Essay contest by a school student: In 1966 the negotiations leading to the purchase of the McRae Estate by the Saanich Municipality in 1967 began. After many months of negotiation, a price of $1.2 million was decided upon for the remaining 132 acres (53.4 Hectares) of the McCrae property. The following year the name of the property was officially changed by Reeve, Hugh Curtis and Council, to Cedar Hill Park which still included the golf course. The selling price was set by Victoria Law Courts after a lengthy and expensive court battle; the judgment came down about $450,000 more than Saanich had offered the McCraes for the 132.6 acres but only about one-third of the McCraes' initial asking price. A capital spending budget adopted by Saanich ratepayers in December 1965, set aside about $900,000 for the deal, but Reeve Curtis announced the $1.2M price could be met. The Victoria Law Courts' judgment also had Saanich paying the $70,000 legal costs. The McRae family had owned this property since 1885.
(confirm dates ca. 1970) Also, it was decided at this time, that part of the McRae Estate lying on the eastern side of Cedar Hill Road would be sold-off for townhouse development and the northern boundary of the estate remain as natural park lands. Saanich Planning Committee further recommended the sale of 10 acres (4 Hectares) to the Greater Victoria School Board to be used for a new school and recreational park. Other sections were sold for residential use; this included that part lying east of the 5th and 18th fairways. This has made the present Cedar Hill Park property significantly smaller than at the time of its purchase from the McRaes. by Grant Soutar, Grade 6, Doncaster School. (get photo)
Dogwood Star, February 15, 1968 by A.W. (Bud) Mesher see scan dogwoodstarmesher) What Shall We Do With It? Now what to do with it would seem to be the question of the day. Already we are told portions of the land are to be or have been sold off for housing and an additional ten acres is to used for school use. Presently, a large part of the estate is taken up for gold course use which has been in existence for many years which provides a monetary return to its owners of about $10,000 per year. While supplying recreation for a small percentage of our residents, the golf course can never be expected to justify the nearly 1,300,000 plus costs which could well exceed another $200,000. Therefore, it is plane to see some other use for the benefit of more people must be found either in addition to golf course, or as an alternative. Whatever the final use for the McCrae Estate will be, lets hope it will be the best sue and for the benefit of all and worthy of the huge purchase price. New Irrigation Watering System for Cedar Hill Golf Course - excepts from Norm Gidney's Times-Colonist article April 3, 2004. Starting in the winter of 2004, Cedar Hill Golf Course Manager, Gary Kelly, announced Saanich would undertake a $2.1M dollar project to tap into the underground water supply with the installation of an extensive irrigation system the likes of which Cedar Hill Golf Course has never seen. So extensive is the undertaking, says Kelly, it may take more than two-years to complete. Work will be carried out mainly during the winter months when there is less golfer traffic using the course. The work, projected to be completed by the spring of 2006, coursed an increase in green-fees to $38 per regular round and $23 per twilight round. A full-privilege annual pass rises by $60 to $915. The use of well water will permit the golf-course to be watered even when local watering restrictions are usually implemented during the summer months. Holders of both full and partial privilege annual passes generate an income of $530,000 per year for the Saanich coffers. In 2003 Cedar Hill Golf Course earned a profit of $166,000 on more than 75,000 rounds of golf and is the only municipal recreational centre to operate in the black.
Review, December 3, 1970 The action by Saanich to take over operation of Cedar Hill Golf Course was spearheaded and supported by Alderman William (Sandy) Noel, himself an avid golfer at Cedar Hill Golf Course. He was instrumental in seeing the course continue as an 18 hole venue when the voices of many were calling for its reduction back to a nine-hole course. A new course layout was implement which saw fairway13 become fairway No.1 enabling players to start their game just below the new clubhouse. (get layout of course from various years) Bill Goldsworthy became pro at Cedar Hill Golf Course in June 1965 when the green-fees were $2.50 for weekdays and $3 for weekends. Assistant pro was Jimmy Girard. Four-and-a-half years later a new $36,000 clubhouse was opened beside what is now the (check 1970 layout) green. It housed a coffee-shop, run by Marion Longmoore, a members' lounge and a storage area for members' clubs. The pro shop was used a separate building. The new clubhouse building was designed by Wagg & Hambleton and constructed by Bird Construction Co. Ltd..
Review April 30, 1970 The Development Plan for Cedar Hill Park was before Saanich Special Committee, Monday evening, April 27, 1970. It was agreed the Cedar Hill Golf Course would be operated by the municipality starting in January 1971. Alderman Sandy Noel presented a strong case against using land north of the Tattersall extension for park use. He argued it would not be possible to build the class of golf course Saanich residents deserved if this meant, " chopping off the sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth holes." He continued his argument by reminding councilors Cedar Hill Golf Course is the only Saanich recreational facility which generates a profit and would amortize its cost of $1.2M over a twenty-five year period. Various points of view, including hiring or not hiring a professional golf course architect were bandied about by Alderman Bill Campbell; Ald. Foster Isherwood; Ald. Ald. Les Passmore and Ald. Mrs. Gunning. It would appear from viewing comment recorded in council minutes, it was Ald. Mrs. Gunning who processed the most vision regarding the future use of Cedar Hill Park. Another recommendation from this meeting was that the southwest corner of the property be used to build a recreational centre.
Gordon Head News Vol.2 No.31 August 12-18 1987 (reference only, written by Bill Irvine 2006) Moving Third Tee No Fair Way to Settle Problem, Golfers Say
Some Saanich Council meetings were very heated. The upshot of the whole thing was to build a large, netted fence along the fairway's edge and in front of the many homes. For the golfers -- who claimed the golf-course predated the housing by decades -- this was a better solution than having the long par-5 shortened, as the many homeowners supported. One council meeting was attended by so many interested parties, the chamber and hallways were filled to overflowing with the remainder outside filling the entire Saanich Municipal Hall stairway all the way down to the parking lot. The council proceedings were piped outside by loudspeakers.
== 1993 -- Council passed a new fee schedule for Cedar Hill Golf Course at the November 29, 1993, meeting. Regular green fees will increase to $22 while twilight will rise to $18 starting in January 1994. A full-privilege, annual pass will cost $600. The prime-time pass restrictions implemented in 1993 will continue in the hope the resulting increased revenues will be sustained.
== 1994 == Old Driving Range Remains Empty Way to improve the use of the driving range beside teh 10th fairway are being discussed, said Mayor Frank Leonard. January 21, 1999 - Jeff Bell T-C Decision near to use driving range for short-game only practice.
May 13, 1996 Clubhouse Burns Down T-C May 14 (written by Bill Irvine) An early Monday morning arson attack on Cedar Hill Golf Course's clubhouse destroyed much of it. The alarm came into Saanich fire Department, Monday at 12:22 a.m.. The tragedy couldn't have come at a worse time with the Cedar Hill Open Tournament scheduled for this weekend. Damage is estimated at $550,000 which includes the destruction of the new $32,000 roof. The pro shop, housed in a separate building, was not damaged. Club President, Stan Gibb, stated the Cedar Hill Open Tournament would go ahead as planned with a few innovations incorporating the use of the Cedar Hill Rec Centre and the Pro-shop. The 25-year-old building (completed 1971) is insured for 750,000 for the building and loss-of-business stated the Municipal Administrator, Bob Sharp. "It is literally the hangout for hundreds of people," stated Keith Barwick, course manager. Every day sees 300-400 golfers on the course playing a total of 90,000 rounds per year. Saanich Fire Capt. Ron Cullis, says they are investigating other suspicious fires set in the area the same evening and two youths were apprehended for questioning by police already. The investigation is continuing. Councillor, Bob Gillespie noted that once the insurance adjusters have filed their findings the decision to rebuild or start anew will be made. A new clubhouse would costs about $2 million he said. At a subsequent Saanich council meeting in September it was decided to build a new clubhouse at an estimated cost of $1.3 million. The new structure would be self contained unit with pro-shop, lounge, meeting rooms and restaurant to better serve its users and generate more income for Saanich. Projections indicate present profits of $124,000 per year could increase to $500,000 once the new facility is up-and-running, stated Park & Recreation Director, Don Hunter.
Times Colonist August 22, 1998 Top Junior Title Goes to Cedar Hill Golfer Gordie Scutt won the Canadian Junior and Juvenile Golf Championship, Friday, August 21, 1998 held at Levis, PQ. Scutt who learned as a junior at Cedar Hill Golf Course, carded and impressive one-under par 287 over the four-round event. Gordie will be taking up residency in September at the University of Washington on a golf scholarship.
Wednesday, September 6, 2000 Saanich News p.21 Matt LeBlanc returned to the site of his 1999 Cedar Hill Junior Club championship triumph in fine style August 21 to 24 narrowly defeating Adam Sullivan by two strokes to take the 2000 title. LeBlanc carded a 272 which included a hole-in-one at the 15th par three. Bibliography: Cherie Barthwick
This page was last updated on 09/13/11.
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