PGCC top ranked when it opened
Part 1 of a 2-part excerpt from the new book Peterborough’s Golf Story ... and More, by Ed Arnold and Roger Self
The women of the new Kawartha took a backseat to the men for decades getting poorer facilities and, just like at Peterborough, were allowed only tee-off times after the men had selected their prime times.
Meanwhile the completed PGCC was being compared to other great courses in Canada. It was a 6,330 yard par 70 course. The Examiner described the distance of each hole and said there were some ‘tricky holes”
“It is moving out of the ‘baby class’ of golf courses and definitely donning long pants. The club did not stop, but climbed right into the front ranks of Ontario courses.”
It stated only three holes had remained as they were. It said the longest hole was the 16th with 452 yards but in its list of distances it had the following for each hole: 1. 609 2. 400 3. 439 4. 190 5. 363 6. 168 7. 351 8. 167 9. 355 10. 620 11. 184 12. 319 13. 120 14. 442 15. 182 16. 452 17. 441 18. 328 These figures only added up to 6,130 yard and included two 600 plus holes which as far as we can determine didn’t exist.
In those days Peterborough was attracting 75,000 people to the Peterborough Ploughing match on the Torrance Lillico farm featuring more than ploughing but “talkies” as well as the Kiwanis Club’s Produced in Canada week, and the annual indoor October fair held in the Armoury while the Welsh Brothers put on a rodeo at the Brock Arena with all proceeds going to the underprivileged children and summer camp at Jackson Park.
The most recent city census showed a population increase of 1,295 to 22,289 which would help the revenue of downtown stores such as Selkirk and Elliott selling men’s Dedicator Eight cars for $1,425 on Hunter Street and Grafton’s selling ties for 50 cents, suits for $18.50, shirts for $2 and hats for $1.
By 1932 the Webber farm was transforming into “a beautiful country club”. The clubhouse was completed in June with a heated and enclosed vverandah on three sides of the house 20’ by 120’. The house had 200 panes of new vital glass “pervious to the ultra violent rays” of the sun; and four clay floodlighted tennis courts (which lasted until 1955). Workers had laid 3,000 feet of tiles, 9” to 4” under eight fairways. The “black muck” around #2 and #3 tees had been drained and replaced by sand then topsoil.
Dynamite blasting the previous fall was done to get rid of stone fencing south of the house. That stone was crushed for use as a driveway and parking lot which was scheduled to become a skating rink in the winters. An artificial lake was planned for the ninth hole with a 25’ high geyser fountain shooting out every two minutes.
The first nine holes of the course were doubtful for play that season but there were four practice greens and an 18-hole putting green.
Meanwhile PGCC opened its season on May 28 with a mixed two ball event starting it off at 50 cents a person with a cup of tea for 25 cents where they could sit and discuss the news of the day.
People were amazed that Amelia EarharthadflownacrosstheAtlantic while also reading that Highway 7 from Actinolite to Perth was completed cutting the Peterborough to Ottawa trip (which still didn’t have Highway 7) from 225 miles to 179 miles.
An advertisement in The Examiner pleaded for people to shop locally stating, “If you buy out of town, and I buy out of town, what in thunder will become of our town. Ever think about that?”
Quaker Oats was selling pancake mix and corn flakes, Ed Riley started his own clothing store after six years as Riley and Hickey’s; the Rye Pavilion was still holding free nightly dances with the Ted Hathaway Orchestra, while Bohemian Girl played at the Grand Opera for $1.50 and 25 cents admissions. Ladies perms were $3 to $7. Fresh ham cost 13 cents a pound, bacon 15 cents, loin pork chops 16 cents, Mother’s Day Flowers $1.50 for a dozen roses and men’s summer YMCA memberships were $5 where they could swim and shower.
By the first year of the temporary Kawartha nine hole golf in 1933 it had only 121 members.
It wasn’t until 1934 the Peterborough community finally had two playable golf courses. PGCC was now a grand 18-hole course getting rave reviews across Canada while Kawartha opened as a nine hole on May 24 with an 18-hole twoball foursomes match.
While they were hitting the ball that summer criminal John Dillinger was escaping capture in the U.S. and Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker were being gunned down while Hitler was president and chancellor of Germany.
By 1935 the United Church was condemning women for wearing shorts and being “half naked” smoking, while also playing games and acting “like wild Indians.”
Beaver Meadow was still going strong charging 50 cents for a round while Lex Robson of Islington captured the Ontario golf title.
In 1936 Australian American golfer Joe Kirkwood came to Peterborough to play against the PGCC’s pro William Fairweather. Kirkwood had won the Canadian Open twice and was appearing with Abbott’s old friend U.S. pro Gene Sarazen. The club charged $1 plus tax to see them play.
Kirkwood also did some trick shots stated The Examiner such as “hitting six balls so fast they were are all in the air at the same time. He can drive off hard with so much backspin that the ball falls behind him.”