Celebrating golf tradition in West Paradise
Eden holds weeklong festivities to mark 75 years of ‘good times and great people’
They’ve packed a lot of golf into 75 years – and a lot of memories.
Eden Golf and Country Club marked its 75th anniversary with a week-long celebration that started with a gala soirée July 18 that saw the unveiling of a monument marking threequarters of a century.
The golf club was incorporated on June 11, 1941, and the original board consisted of Kenneth L. Crowell, Owen W. Graves, Henry B. Hicks, Paul W. Longmire, Dr. Walter E. Harlow and Capt. A.M.O. Gold.
On hand to help unveil the granite slab set to one side of the clubhouse were Judge Ken Crowell, son of Eden’s founder Ken Crowell; Gordon Graves, great-nephew of Owen Graves; Ann Cottenden, niece of Henry B. Hicks; and Amy Harlow, granddaughter of Dr. Harlow. They were piped in by Andy Kerr.
When the special guests uncovered the commemorative stone draped in Nova Scotia tartan, the inscription read: “In recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Eden Golf and Country Club and the original board of directors,” along with the names of the board members.
Special place
“As most of you know, Eden is special,” said current president Wayne Buckler to a crowd gathered outside the clubhouse - and not just because of the beautiful location, he added, but because of the people.
“In part, that is what makes Eden unique in my opinion. It is welcoming, full of good times and great people, dedicated staff and a strong sense of ownership – not because of being a shareholder, but for the love of the club.”
Looking back through the records, he said, there is a host of well-known people who served in a variety of volunteer capacities since the idea of building a golf course was born until the present day.
“People volunteer their time because they have pride,” he said.
To prove his point, he asked those in the crowd to put up their hand if they were a volunteer on the board, in the kitchen or at tournaments. The majority of hands were raised.
Nova Scotia Golf Association president Ernie Muise congratulated Eden on its historic milestone and lauded the NSGA relationship with the club over the years. He also read a letter from Golf Canada President Ronald Deveau.
“Reaching such a milestone speaks to the success and growth of golf in this country over the past 75 years; a growth that can be attributed to the collective efforts of fine clubs such as Eden Golf and Country Club,” Deveau wrote. “It is clubs like Eden that honour golf’s traditions and foster development of the game that have helped our sport reach the level of participation and prominence that it now holds in Canada.”
Muise presented Barb Lycett, chair of the week-long 75th-anniversary celebrations, with the Golf Canada and Nova Scotia Golf Association plaque.
Plenty of changes
“I have to brag just a little bit,” said Judge Crowell. “I left my mark on this course over the years. Had a hole in one on old number four. Had a double eagle on old number seven. Had a lot of wet feet in other years.”
He can remember, as a teenager, coming up to West Paradise with his father when the old farm house was there and the additions and improvements. And his father coming up with money.
Buckler noted that there were some great deals in the 1940s. “For example, the annual dues was $25 plus $10 for each additional family member,” he said. “Guest fees were $1 a day.”
The event also included a golfing demonstration by Paragon Golf and Country Club general manager Gerry MacMillan and Eden’s own Daniel Morley, both multiple NSGA champions and hall of famers. The duo hit balls for the delighted crowd, talked about golf and their experiences, and praised Eden.
The evening a toast by board member Ed Eby, while the cakecutting honours fell to Matthew Pembleton, the oldest current playing member, and Ron and Lois Lister, who aren’t too far behind Pembleton.
The evening was just a prelude to a week of activities that included a special ladies’ day, 1941 green fees of $5, a men’s breakfast, junior tournament, mixer night, club golf tournament scramble and a 75th-anniversary dinner July 24 with closing ceremonies.