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<\/p>\n\t\t\t\tGOLF IN MISSION AREA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS IN 2025<\/p>\n
Henry Alan Bulwer<\/p>\n
The Fraser Valley Record (FVR) October 11, 1967, published an article titled \u201cThree golf courses have had short-lived successes.\u201d The author claimed, \u201cThe first of these was a private course of unknown length laid out on the estate of Walter Bulver, who owned nearly 500 acres of benchland at Hatzic between 1885 and 1900. Since golf in those days was still a rich man\u2019s game, it is likely that Mission\u2019s first course quickly disappeared under the wild blackberry vines and alder bushes soon after the Bulwers decided to follow the birds to Vancouver Island.\u201d<\/p>\n
A simple genealogy search of the Bulwer family revealed Walter John Redford Bulwer, son Henry Alan Bulwer, wife Mary Bulwer, and daughter Helena Dorothy Maud Bulwer entered Canada at Halifax in 1888. The two families first appeared in the BC Directories in 1894 as fruit farmers in Hatzic near Mission, BC. For the next decade Walter and son Henry appeared as fruit farmers. In 1900 Walter is recorded as the Postmaster for Mission. From 1903 \u2013 1908 Walter and Henry plus their families resided at 1728 Georgia St. Vancouver. Walter remained in Vancouver until his death on August 7, 1911. In 1908 Henry moved his family to Victoria to assume a position with M des Brisay Co.. Henry died in Victoria on September 7, 1948. A search of the BC newspapers does not reveal the Bulwers were ever associated with any golf club in Vancouver or Victoria. Further evidence is required to substantiate the claim made in the FVR.<\/p>\n
Our investigation for golf in Mission began with an announcement in the Vancouver Daily Province April 11, 1925. \u201cAdam Slicer, formerly the assistant professional at the Calgary G&CC and lately attached to Davie Black\u2019s pro shop at Shaughnessy Heights, has been appointed the professional at the Mission G&CC.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAdam Slicer born July 1st<\/sup>, 1890, at 4 Viewforth, North Berwick was the son of Peter Slicer, a stonemason, and his wife Marion Jack. On leaving public school, Adam worked as a grocer’s warehouseman and resided with his mother at 8 Clifford Road, North Berwick. In 1913 Adam joined the golf ranks as a licensed golf professional on the North Berwick West Links. As this time, we do not know if Slicer worked for the famous North Berwick professional Ben Sayers. Ben operated a golf club manufacturing business. He trained several early Scottish professionals who immigrated to North America. The most well known in the northwest was Robert Johnstone, the Seattle Golf club professional for forty years. Adam Slicer emigrated to Canada sailing from Glasgow on the S.S. Cassandra. He arrived in Quebec on 1st October 1920. He travelled immediately to Calgary to work for Bob Smith. Shortly he relocated to Davie Black\u2019s pro shop at the Shaughnessy Heights GC in Vancouver. Adam constructed the first golf course in Mission in 1924. After Maple Ridge opened in September 1925 Slicer became the course professional. Research has not shown Slicer designed the new Harrison course in 1927, but he was their first professional. Next, he served the Revelstoke GC for 2 seasons 1928 and 1929 and spent four years (1930 \u2013 1933) at the Vernon GC. He may have worked in Edmonton for a season or two before moving permanently back to Vancouver in 1935. He died in Vancouver in 1940. But his unique name for a golf professional lived on in the newspapers for two decades. The newspapers frequently used him as an example in a column titled \u201cWhat\u2019s in a Name?\u201d Adam Slicer \u2013 golf professional.<\/p>\n A series of articles in the FVR showed the new course in Mission was located \u201con the prairie west of the CPR station and has a splendid entry for cars by Railway Street which is in fine condition.\u201d The organizers feared the area could suffer if the Fraser River flooded. \u201cThe property has been guaranteed not to flood by the owners who will build a dyke to protect the course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2018The organizing committee consisted of Messers King, Houghen, Mcquarrie, Alanson, and Duncan are taking steps to ensure a convenient and economical course. For the benefit of those who think golf is an expensive game, it might be mentioned that a set of the necessary clubs can be obtained for $11.50. A golf course is an asset to any town, and it is up to everyone to get in and boost it.\u201d<\/p>\n By May the club had six holes open for play and invited the Chilliwack GC members to join them for a match. \u201cThe club fee has been placed at $25, while the wives and daughters of members are charged at $15.\u201d Unfortunately, the mighty Fraser appeared stronger than the dykes. On June 13, 1925 the course laid submerged under six feet of water. (Note The second course mentioned in the FRV article had failed.) \u201cNot to be undaunted by this set-back, Mission golfers proceeded to look for new grounds. Through the energetic efforts of the President RP King a lease has been secured on the property known as the Morton estate. \u201cThis tract of land occupies Lot 165 (See Map). The club constructed the course on the high ground adjacent to the CPR line. Adam Slicer describes the new site \u201cas an ideal one, and when the regulation 18-hole course is completed next year, Mission City will have a golf course equal to the best in the province.\u201d This ambitious plan never materialized. Only a nine-hole course opened.<\/p>\n At the annual meeting on March 1, 1928 the membership decided to change their name to the Fraser Valley Golf Club. The Board hoped to entice new members from a larger geographical area. The club decided to relocate the course to the Robinson property. The newspapers provided no reason for the move. In March 1929 the President reported; \u201cThe golf club had decided to renew the lease on the Robinson property for another year. A committee was selected to keep the greens in good condition.\u201d<\/p>\n The Mission golf club flourished with about fifty members until the Great Depression hit the Fraser Valley. \u201cMission\u2019s golf links are being converted into a dairy farm. Members of the club have made a deal with F. Shook, famous raspberry and loganberry farmer, to have a new course laid out on the Shook farm at Hatzic. This course will consist of 18 holes and will be open May 1. 1931 Mr Shook was a pioneer in the berry industry of the Mission and Hatzic district. Low berry prices have driven him to accept the golf club\u2019s proposition.\u201d The Province March 14, 1931 The last reference to the Mission G&CC.<\/p>\n In 1931 apparently the old guard attempted to revive the old Fraser Valley GC. with no course in Mission golfers travelled to Maple Ridge in Hammond to enjoy the royal & Ancient game. This worked for two years. Perhaps due to travel distances between Maple Ridge and Mission, the final event for the Fraser Valley Golf Club occurred on November 17th<\/sup>, 1932. Golf in the Mission area probably failed in the early 1930\u2019s because the club never secured a permanent lease on a piece of property.<\/p>\n Two attempts to revive the Mission G&CC occurred in July 1946 and September 1950. Bob Hartley announced in 1946 the 80-acre Neale property would be the new home for the local course. In 1947 AC Andrews and V. Wallace are to seek members; H. Guest will fix handicaps and arrange matches.\u201d The Province July 3, 1947. The second attempt in the Hatzic area never materialized beyond the planning stages.<\/p>\n The original Mission G&CC received a charter in 1925. Organizers revived the original charter on June 15th<\/sup>, 1959. A golf committee approached the Mission council for support to establish a golf course in Mission. \u201cSeventy shareholders joined the newly formed Hillside Holdings Ltd to establish the golf course. The company signed agreements to lease forty-eight acres and to purchase fourteen adjoining acres on the old Silverdale Road.\u201d<\/p>\n The one-month campaign to sell shares in the new enterprise proved very successful. In May 1960 the club had 150 members. At the initial shareholder meeting the attendees elected FR (Bob) Hall President; don Jackson Vice-President; and George Furniss treasurer. The Board chose Ed Shaw, grounds and layout; Albert McMahon clubhouse construction; Vic Wallace greens; and Walter Pickersgill membership. In June the Board awarded the contract to construct the course to well-known golf architect Norm Woods. One year later under Woods\u2019 supervision, the property was cleared, the irrigation system was completed, the fairways, greens, and tees were prepared for seeding to begin. The first tournament on the new nine-hole Mission G&CC occurred on May 26th<\/sup>, 1962.<\/p>\n Art Chapman contributed to sports in basketball, rugby but served as pro at the Mission GC for about a decade. He was instrumental in turning the Mission Amateur into a successful annual event. The long-time golf reporter for the Vancouver Province newspaper, Roland Wilde in his book \u201cThe Loneliest Game\u201d claimed the Mission Golf course was the \u201cmost scenic nine-hole course in the province.\u201d<\/p>\n The success of the Mission G&CC lies with the members. In the troubling early years members purchased life long memberships to assist with the financial well-being of the club.<\/p>\n Iron Mountain Golf course<\/p>\n Billed as the \u201ctoughest golf course\u201d in the province the course satisfied the desire of a group of golfers at Mission G&CC to have a championship 18-hole golf course in their area. \u201cThe idea for the course on District of mission property spawned in 1977 when Mission Mayor John Agnew approached a group of members at the mission GC with the idea to develop a first-rate golf facility as the focal point of the designated recreational area.\u201d The group hired Bill Overdorf, a golf architect from Lynden WA, to oversee the project. Clearing and construction began in April 1978. Seeding for the 6812-yard course took place in the spring 1982. The course opened in April 1983.<\/p>\n Financing for the project came from many sources including: the sale of 100 $1,000 debentures, grants of $350,00 (federal) and $400,000 (provincial), $300,00 came from memberships and the company took out a $750,000 bank loan.<\/p>\n Bob Grant, Patty Grant Jonas\u2019 father, the manager described the layout; \u201cIron Mountain is a thinking man\u2019s course\u2026 if you can collect yourself after facing the frightening 1st<\/sup> hole.\u201d\u00a0 Local knowledge was key.<\/p>\n Perhaps due to distance from Vancouver, the project faced financial challenges from day one. In the spring of 1987, Wayne and Marlene Lindberg and their sons Brent and Clay assumed ownership of the course. At the time the family had experience operating the Tall Timbers golf course. In 1990 the course attempted to change its image by changing the name to 18 Pastures.<\/p>\n From the day it opened, the layout had the reputation as being extremely difficult for the mid handicap player. Success could be achieved if the player made careful notes about his round. Local knowledge was crucial. In particular, it was important to have enough confidence to leave your driver in the bag. On some holes an iron off the tee proved very successful. \u201cIts notoriety was the result of a combination of its inherent hidden challenges the layout had \u2013 its length over 6800 yards, its several steep side-sloped fairways, its many sand traps and the presence of heavy rough along the edges of the fairways.\u201d<\/p>\n Cedar Ridge Golf Course<\/p>\n After playing the Canadian Tour, Greg Currie in 2002 constructed his Cedar Ridge driving range. His new facility offered the Mission golfers the opportunity to hone their skills at a first-class facility under the direction of a former Canadian Tour player. To expand the opportunities for the beginning golf er to play a short course before graduating to a full size 18-hole course, the Curries opened the first eleven holes of their par 3 course on Aug 23, 2005. The course expanded to a full 18 holes in June 2006. The facility operates year-round satisfying the golfing needs for all skill levels of golfers.<\/p>\n MISSION AMATEUR<\/p>\n 1962 \u2013 1968 No results<\/p>\n 1968 \u2013 Charles Grant<\/p>\n 1970\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Bert Ticehurst 74-71<\/p>\n 1971\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rob Watson 71-69<\/p>\n 1972\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John Gentile 74-75 playoff Bill Dean<\/p>\n 1973\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Gary Puder 71-73 play-off Bob Moon<\/p>\n 1974<\/p>\n 1975\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Robert Hobbs 146<\/p>\n 1976\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Fred Kato 71 \u2013 71<\/p>\n 1977\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Lorne Rockwell 69-71<\/p>\n 1977\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Wells\u00a0 71 \u2013 67\u00a0 67 course record<\/p>\n 1978<\/p>\n 1979<\/p>\n 1980\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 John Gentile 70 \u2013 71<\/p>\n 1981<\/p>\n 1982<\/p>\n 1983<\/p>\n Brian Wells<\/p>\n 1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Wells<\/p>\n 1985\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Wells<\/p>\n 1986\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Wells 69-69<\/p>\n 1987\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Brian Wells 69-69<\/p>\n 1988\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rod Bolvin<\/p>\n 1989 \u2013 2004 NO RESULTS<\/p>\n 2005 \u00a0\u00a0 Greg Bismeyer\u00a0 70 \u2013 71<\/p>\n 2007\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Greg Bismeyer 142 (6th<\/sup>\u00a0 Mission Amateur title)<\/p>\n 2007 \u00a0\u00a0 Greg Bismeyer 140<\/p>\n 2008 \u00a0\u00a0 Jim Shaw<\/p>\n Jim Shaw on the left<\/p>\n In 2009 this advertisement shows this event was the 44th Mission Amateur<\/p>\n 2009 \u2013 No results<\/p>\n The Museum is attempting to update this list of champions for the Mission Amateur.<\/p>\n Can you assists us.<\/p>\n Contact the Museum at email; office@bcgolfhouse.com\t\t<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" GOLF IN MISSION AREA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS IN 2025 Henry Alan Bulwer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3513"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3513\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/itbcpro.ca\/bcgolfhouse\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.bcgolfhouse.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Mission-300x166.jpg\")
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