Excerpted  From  “A  Story  of  Whitlock”  is  this  Club  Member’s  Account  (1987)  of  the  Late    1950’s,  early  1960’s  Transformation  of  the  Whitlock  Golf  &  Country  Club  Golf  Course  

    “During   the  middle   and   late   1950's  Whitlock's   membership   was   active   and   expanding   in   most  categories.  Thus  in  the  early  spring  of  1958  when  an  opportunity  presented  itself  to  acquire  about  80  acres  of  property  bordering  the  south-­‐west  boundaries  of  the  course,  the  Directors  believed  it  wise  to  do  so.  With  building  lots  pushing  gradually  south  on  Birchill  Avenue,  it  was  realized  that  if  the  Club  did  not  move  on  the  opportunity  now  it  would   likely  never  have  the  opportunity  again.  To  receive  ratification  of  the  proposal  by  the  membership  as  a  whole  a  Special  General  Meeting  was  convened  at   the   Clubhouse   on   April   19th,   1958.   After   all   details   had   been   fully   explained   by   John   Lewis,  Chairman  of  the  Long  Term  Planning  Committee,  the  vote  was  unanimous  to  purchase  this  land  from  the  Wilson  estate  at  a  price  of  $55,000.  payable  over  a  fourteen  year  period.       In  the  Winter  of  1958  the  Directors  retained  the  services  of  golf  architect  Howard  Watson  to  begin  preliminary  planning  on  the  newly-­‐  acquired  Club  property.  His  assignment  was  two-­‐fold.  Firstly,  Mr.  Watson  was  asked  to  reorganize  the  layout  of  the  present  course  so  that  both  nines  would  start  and  finish   in  one  central   location   in   the  area  back  of   the  "Armchair"  green.  Secondly,  he  was  asked   to  provide  a  plan  for  a  third  nine  using  the  new  property  and  again  have  the  first  tee  and  ninth  green  located  in  this  same  area.  In  the  Summer  of  1959  a  second  Butler  building  was  erected  in  the  woods  to  the  right  of  the  18th  fairway.  This  site  offered  convenient  access  to  Cote  St.  Charles  and  would  be  centrally  located  in  relation  to  the  new  areas  of  the  course  where  work  would  be  concentrated  in  the  immediate  future.     In  September,  work  was  commenced  in  clearing  the  heavily  wooded  area  to  the  left  of  the  10th  fairway  preparatory  to  converting  the  10th  hole  to  a  "Par  3"  into  the  bush  and  a  dog's  leg  hole  out  again  and  down  to  the  10th  green.  Eventually  these  holes  would  be  played  as  Nos.  16  and  17.  Work  proceeded   quite   well   on   the   two   new   holes   that   had   been   started   but   it   was   decided   to   defer  seeding  the  fairway  or  green  until  the  following  year.  Another  important,  though  usually,  an  unseen  improvement  was  the  construction  of  a   large  concrete  block  Pump  House  on  the  south  side  of  the  Trout  Stream.  This  1960  project  was  handled  in  its  entirety  by  the  Jack  "of  all  trades"  Martin.       The  1961  season  marked  the  next  big  step  forward   in  new  course  development  -­‐  work  on  what  would  eventually  be  holes  Nos.  12  and  13.  On  completion  of  the  bush  clearing  and  rough  grading,  all  who  visited  the  site  were  in  agreement  that  they  were  typical  Whitlock  golf  holes  -­‐  tight,  tough  and  tremendously  picturesque.       In  1962,  well  before  Whitlock  celebrated   its  50th  Anniversary,   it  was  becoming  self-­‐evident  that  the   Clubhouse,  with   all   its   additions   and   renovations,   could   no   longer   cope  with   its   fast   growing,  more   active  membership.   A  more   affluent   society   with  more   leisure   time  meant   that  more   local  residents  were  ready,  willing  and  able  to  use  Whitlock's  facilities.  In  addition,  the  new  Trans-­‐Canada  highway   and   the   improved   2   &   20   route   with   twinned   bridges   at   Ste.   Anne's   and   Dorion   made  Whitlock  more  convenient   to  golfers  on   the  West   Island  and  even  Montreal   itself.  With  admirable  foresight  a  Long  Term  Planning  Committee  had  been  set  up  under  the  chairmanship  of  John  Lewis  in  1957.  From  that  point  on,  this  Committee  (original  members  -­‐  John  Lewis,  Jack  Wilson,  Ian  Craig,  Dick  White)   reported   regularly   to   the   Club   directorate.   One   of   its   first   recommendations   was,   as  mentioned  earlier,  purchase  of  the  80  acres  bordering  the  club's  south-­‐west  boundaries.       This  was   the   first  major   expenditure   by   the   Club   in  many   years.   Those  members  who   recalled  when  the  Club  was  $40,000.00  in  arrears  on  mortgage  interest  payments  not  too  many  years  earlier  had   ample   reason   to   be   astounded,   if   not   highly   skeptical   of   this   decision.   As   explained   at   the  meeting   the  purpose  of   this   land  purchase  was   for   the  eventual   construction  of   another  nine  golf  holes.  Acquisition  of  this  property  marked  the  beginning  of  about  six  years  of  constant,  sometimes  feverish  activity  culminating  in  the  completion  of  our  present  Clubhouse  in  1964.       In  the  late  fifties  a  great  many  members  were  becoming  increasingly  frustrated  with  the  "cutting-­‐in"  problem,  (players  wishing  to  play  only  9  holes  versus  the  18-­‐holers)  lack  of  adequate  locker  and  shower   facilities,   overcrowding   at   social   events,   etc.   On   the   other   hand   a   large   part   of   the  membership  felt  that  the  old  Cote  St.  Charles  Clubhouse  was  cozy,  comfy  and  had  served  them  well  for  over  half  a  century.  Why  should  it  be  discarded  like  an  old  shoe?  Impartial,  professional  advice    

 was  obtained  concerning  the  condition  of  the  old  Clubhouse  and  their  report   in  a  nutshell  told  the  Directors  they  would  be  throwing  good  money  after  bad  to  make  further  major  expenditures  at  this  location.       One   should   remember   that  Whitlock  was   in   an   entirely   different   position   than  were   our   good  friends   at   Royal   Montreal   and   Summerlea.   In   both   cases   they   were   situated   on   highly   desirable  properties  on  the  outskirts  of  Montreal.  They  were  being  squeezed  by  commercial  developers  and  ever   increasing   taxes.  Obviously   the   time  was   ripe   for  both  clubs   to  sell  out  at  multi-­‐million  dollar  price  tags  and  re-­‐build  at  their  present   locations.  The  cost  of  Royal  Montreal's  new  Clubhouse  was  over  one  million  dollars  while  Summerlea's  was  about  $750,000.00.       Whitlock’s   objective   at   this   time  was   to   build   a   new  Clubhouse   centrally   located   at   the   hub   of  eventual   three  9-­‐hole   layouts.  Apart   from  a   very   skimpy  balance   sheet,  Whitlock's  problems  were  magnified   in  having   to  erect  a  Clubhouse  more  or   less   in   the  middle  of   the  course,  build  new  golf  holes  to  compensate  for'  the  ones  being  taken  out  of  play,  all  the  while  trying  to  disrupt  members  play  on  the  course  as  it  stood,  as  little  as  possible.  The  revised  layout  for  the  present  eighteen  and  a  proposed  future  nine  was  drawn  up  by  Howard  Watson  of  Lachute.  After  several  meetings  and  much  discussion  during  tramps  through  the  woods,  actual  construction  was  finally  set  in  motion.       Meager  funds  were  available  at  this  stage  but  the  Club  was  able  to  make  favourable  arrangements  with   local   wood   cutters   to   slash   through   the   bush   and   sell   most   of   the   wood   to   the   mill   then  operating  at  Hawkesbury.  Grading  and  drainage  was  carried  out  largely  by  our  own  greens  staff  ably  assisted  by  the  know-­‐how  and  heavy  equipment  provided  by  club  member  Marc  Seguin.       The   first  project   tackled  was  slashing  through  the  bush  to  make  the  current  par  3  16th  hole.  At  about  the  same  time  construction  work  was  started  on  the  present  12th  and  13th  holes.  As  one  may  well  imagine,  clearing  and  draining  the  12th  hole  was  particularly  difficult  as  it  was  inundated  with  a  network  of  underground  springs  and  streams.  Work  proceeded  on  these  projects  through  the  1961,  1962  and  1963  seasons  with  minor  inconvenience  to  members  since  these  holes  did  not  come  into  play  at  that  time.         During  the  early  sixties  when  it  became  apparent  that  a  new  Whitlock  club  was  not  too  far  down  the   road   there  was  much   informal   chit-­‐chat  members   about   including   curling   facilities   in   the   new  Whitlock  Clubhouse  (many  curlers  were  also  Whitlock  golfers).  Subsequently  at  the  Whitlock  Annual  Meeting   in   March   1963   it  was   announced   that   a   letter   had   been   received   from   Gene   Hodgson,  President   of   the   Hudson   Curling   Club   suggesting   that   formal   discussions   might   be   productive  concerning  a  possible  merger  with  Whitlock.       Some  excerpts  from  the  comprehensive  report  presented  by  the  Long  Term  Planning  Committee  at   the   1963   Annual   Meeting   make   interesting   reading.  "Since   1958   the   Club   has   spent   or   has  committed   itself   for   additional   property   and   construction   of   new   golf   holes   all   out   of   revenue  for  $100,000.00.  The   estimate   in   completing   the   revised   layout   and   having   greens   and   fairways   in  playing  condition   indicates   that   the  earliest  possible  date  would  be  1965.  However  when   the  new  Clubhouse  might  become  a   reality  will  depend  upon   the  membership  at   large  and   the  directors   in  particular  to  implement  the  programs".       From   this   point   on,   plans   and   activities   accelerated   even   further.   At   a   Directors   meeting   on  September   6th,   1963   after   lengthy   discussion   of   revenues,   expenditures   and   capital   cost,   formal  approval  was  given  on  the  following  points:         1-­‐Proceed  with  sale  of  building  lots  on  Cote  S1.  Charles  perimeter  of  golf  course.         2-­‐Building  Committee  should  now  proceed  with  specific  plans  for  design  and  location  of         Clubhouse.         3-­‐Greens  Committee  to  proceed  as  rapidly  as  possible  with  field  work  to  complete         development  of  two  circulating  nines.       At  subsequent  Special  General  Meetings  all  proposals  of  the  Club  directorate  were  approved.  The  charter  of   the  new  "Whitlock  Golf  and  Country  Club"  was  applied   for  under  Part   III  of   the  Quebec  Companies  Act.  Applicants  for  the  new  charter  were  W.R.  Matthews,  John  Lewis,  Cyril  Woods,  James  Dudgeon  and  Howard  Putnam.    

  In  a  letter  dated  November  14,  1963  from  the  Hudson  Curling  Club  they  stated  that  at  their  recent  semi-­‐annual   meeting   formal   approval   had   been   obtained   to   merge   facilities   with   Whitlock.  Accordingly,  architect  Peter  Acres  amended  building  plans  to  include  space  for  4  curling  sheets.       In   January  a   formal  building  committee  was  set  up  and  detailed  planning  began   in  earnest.  This  committee  consisted  of  Howard  Putnam,  furniture  and  furnishings);  Gene  Hodgson,  curling  section;  Art   Bennett,   C.A.,   financial   control;   Bob   Layton,   engineering   consultant.   Ex-­‐officio   members   who  contributed   tremendously   to   the   project   were   John   Lewis,   Cyril   Woods,   Howard   Bremner,   Reg  Harvey  and  Mike  Monaghan.  Prior  to  the  start  of  construction  the  committee  visited  several  district  clubs  including  a  day  touring  the  Ottawa  Hunt  Club  (combined  Golf  and  Curling)  to  learn  from  their  experiences  and  try  to  include  some  of  their  good  features  and  eliminate  the  bad.       When  architectural  plans  first  were  sent  out  for  bidding  all  eleven  tenders  received  were  quite  a  bit  over  Whitlock's  budget.  Following  consultation  with  the  committee,  Peter  Acres  prepared  revised  plans  which  altered  certain  materials  and  eliminated  features  that  while  desirable  simply  couldn't  be  afforded  within  budget  limitations.  Ten  companies  were  invited  to  bid  on  the  second  round  and  the  lowest  all-­‐inclusive  bid  for  $359,000.  was  awarded  to  1.5.  Hewson  Limited.       The   first   heavy   equipment  was   on   site   April   28th,   1964   and   completion   date  was   estimated   at  December   1st.   With   a   little   luck,   good   weather   and   no   major   snags   the   Clubhouse   was   actually  completed  about  a  month  ahead  of  schedule  and  the  official  opening  was  held  on  November  24th,  1965.     Old-­‐time  members  will   recall   the  summer  of  1964   for   the   rather  strange  golf   layout  with  which  they  had  to  contend.  They  teed  off  at  the  old  No.1  (about  40  yards  east  of  the  present  7th  tee)  then  played   the   first   four  holes  normally.  Then   they  skipped   the   fifth  hole  entirely  because   the  present  Clubhouse  was  under  construction  where  the  5th  green  used  to  be.       They  then  played  the  5th  (now  the  10th)  and  6th  (11th),  7th  (l4th),  8th  (15th)  and  9th  (16th).  The  10th  hole  was  now  our  17th.  The  11th  hole,  (our  armchair  18th)  was  played  normally  but  on  the  next  hole  because  of  Clubhouse  construction  and  gravel  access  road  (roughly  where  entrance  road  now  is)  tee  was  moved  forward  about  50  yards  from  its  former  position.  This  made  for  rather  a  Mickey  Mouse  hole  to  the  original  green  situated  just  to  the  south  of  our  present  entrance  behind  a  deep  ravine.  The  13th  was  a  short  pitch  to  our  present  first  green  location.  From  there  on  everything  was  more  or  less  normal  back  to  the  confines  of  our  old  Clubhouse  located  on  the  knoll  just  to  the  east  of  our   present   4th   tee.   This   brief   explanation   of   the   course   re-­‐   arrangement   must   be   confusing   to  newer  members.  To  make  things  a  little  more  understandable  Bill  Cook  came  through  with  a  sketch  showing  exactly  how  the  present  course  superimposed  on  the  old.  Despite  the  many  inconveniences,  complaints  from  members  during  the  long  hot  summer  of  '64  were  minimal.  Progress  bulletins  were  sent   out   regularly   so   that  members   could   understand   the   difficulties   and   realize   there  was,   so   to  speak,  light  at  the  end  of  the  tunnel.       After  completing  the  new  Clubhouse  there  was  an  understandable   lull   in  expansionary  activities  while  efforts  were  generally  directed  towards  gradual  improvement  of  playing  conditions  on  the  new  holes.       As   condition   of   the   old   Clubhouse   was   rapidly   deteriorating   and   was   a   prime   candidate   for  vandalism,  demolition  bids  were  called  for.  The  once  grand  old  red-­‐roofed  building  was  finally  razed  in  the  summer  of  1965  with  all   remains  removed  except   for   the  field  stone  wall  at   the  south-­‐west  corner.  The  cost:  $500.00.