Turf

VICTORIA Golf Club Victoria, British Columbia • 6,174 yards (back tees) • 5,260 yards (forward tees) • Par 70 • 18 holes • 75 feet, 6 inches (Elevation of Victoria) • 80,017 (2011) (Population of Victoria) 250-598-4322 proshop@victoriagolf.com Names of the holes at Victoria Golf Club An aerial view of Victoria Golf Club shows the beauty of the course. April 1896, the first hand mowers were purchased along with rollers, flags and poles. Turf management was well on its way and course conditions improved. The following year, there was a first mention of the need for improved drainage on the fairways. Jump a few years forward to May 2, 1904, 10 years after the club was opened. A horse and mowing machine was put in place to maintain the turf. The early days of Victoria Golf Club turf management was sparse but things progressed just like any other club of its time. The club had a few small changes over the years, but in 1929 the holes were named. While the origins of most of the names are obvious, others tend to be obscure. I have played golf on five continents and played several clubs that have named holes but Victoria Golf Club has some abnormal names for its holes. That's for sure. This club is an exceptional club and I can only think of the conversations that took place when naming these holes. Number 6 is named Vimy Ridge and members caused a bit of an uproar with that name. It was the name of a dreadful slaughter in wartime. The Battle of Vimy Ridge was a military engagement fought primarily as part of the Battle of Arras, in the NordPas-de-Calais region of France, during the First World War. The main combatants were the Canadian Corps, of four divisions, against three divisions of the German Sixth Army. The battle, which took place April 9-12, 1917, was part of the opening phase of the British-led Battle of Arras, a diversionary attack for the French Nivelle Offensive. 1. Lighthouse 2. Calamity 3. Road Hole 4. Olympics 5. The Bay 6. Vimy Ridge 7. Mt. Baker 8. Land's End 9. Gibraltar 10. Dardanelles 11. Blink Bonnie 12. Tipperary 13. Combe's Carry 14. San Juan 15. Tattenham Corner 16. Waterloo 17. Newport 18. Plateau The Canadian Corps captured most of the ridge during the first day of the attack. The town of Telus fell during the second day of the attack as did the crest of the ridge once the Canadian Corps overcame a salient of considerable German resistance. Canada lost 3,598 men and had 7,004 wounded. The battle was the first occasion when all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle together and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. The members felt the name was inappropriate for the peaceful setting of a golf course, but the committee stood firm and the name remains today. The first professional greenskeeper was hired in October 1903. He was expected to work long hours and teach golf from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m. The maximum Winter 2013 17

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