Historic grounds continue to welcome golfers

Who would have guessed, back in 1920, that a golf course rejected by voters in a referendum would be built anyway — or that it would become synonymous, almost a century later, with the top Canadian tour?

Way back when, Victoria’s voters were given a chance to have a municipal course on Hudson’s Bay Co. land adjacent to the new Uplands prestige residential development. They said no.

The United Services Golf Club, which had been playing in Esquimalt, stepped in, and negotiated with the Bay to establish new links on the Uplands property.

Tenders were called in June 1921, and after a year of clearing, grading, and landscaping, the new course was opened on July 1, 1922. The United Services club moved in and immediately changed its name to the Uplands Golf Club.

So that piece of property has a rich history as a golf course, and is a treasured part of our community. It shows that with spirit and commitment, a golf course can be created, and can thrive.

With the same level of spirit and commitment, a major tournament can thrive as well.

Uplands is the perfect location for the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open, the Victoria stop on the Mackenzie Tour-PGA Tour Canada. So the tournament, presented by the Times Colonist, is back at Uplands for the 10th year in a row.

The Victoria tournament is the longest-running event on the tour, and this will be the 16th time that it has been at Uplands.

The local tournament was started in 1981, with B.C.’s Dave Barr taking home the big prize. In 1984, the open was played at Uplands for the first time.

In 2008, after rotating between local courses, the tournament made Uplands its permanent home.

The manicured fairways and hard, fast greens at Uplands, set in a beautiful environment, are a delight, a challenge to golfers of all levels — but especially to the pros here for the Open.

Over the years, Uplands has seen great golfers such as Walter Hagen, Archie Compston, Aubrey Boomer, Moe Norman, Craig Stadler and Jim Rutledge.

The Bayview Place Cardtronics Open is a lasting success for many reasons, including the strong community support it gets from Greater Victoria. The event relies on about 250 volunteers.

The open has more than 50 sponsors, including the Times Colonist. We are all committed to making the tournament as successful as it can be.

The Bayview Place Cardtronics Open supports the Children’s Health Foundation of Vancouver Island, which raises funds to support Island children with disabilities and health challenges.

Thanks to everyone for your help and support for the Bayview Place Cardtronics Open. It is sure to be yet another outstanding tournament.

And to the golfers — on behalf of the Times Colonist, welcome to Victoria!