[Parker Page]

I recently had the opportunity to play St. Charles Country Club, and I was wondering if there was anyone on this board who might satisfy a bit of curiosity.  The club has three nines, one of which is a Ross, and another which claims to be the only Mackenzie in Canada.  I haven't played a ton of Mackenzie, so I was wondering if anyone knows the course and could speak to which holes retain the most Mackenzie character.  I thought 1, 2, 6, and 8 were of particular interest.  Did Mackenzie spend much time at the course?  Is there a reason (other than that a client didn't ask) that this was his only Canadian design?

[Wayne_Kozun]

Good questions - I can't help you directly but you might try searching in the online archives for the Canadian Golfer at https://heritage.golfcanada.ca/canadian-golfer/


Good question as to why MacKenzie didn't do more work in Canada.  Tillie didn't do much work in Canada either - he only seemed to do three courses here. 


Did you check out the MacKenzie timeline at http://alistermackenziefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Alister-MacKenzie-Timeline.pdf


From that it appears that he was at St. Charles:


September 18, 1928 -  St. Charles CC, Winnipeg, Canada. MacKenzie arrived in Winnipeg and departed the same day. Met at the train station in the morning and taken to Fort Garry, and then on to St Charles Country Club for luncheon. MacKenzie played in British Seniors’ team at St. Charles in afternoon matches against a team of Winnipeg seniors and MacKenzie lost his match against C. F. Joyce 1 down on the 18th, his putt to square the match lipping out. After dinner at the club, the British group caught a train at 10pm to Jasper Park Lodge.


1929 Early September St. Charles CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Club appoints MacKenzie as the architect for its new 9 hole course. Club History Book Ken Mould, Tyler Kearns,


1929 December St Charles CC, Winnipeg, Canada. Course reported as being under construction, and “The famous British golf architect, Dr MacKenzie, drew the plans.” Canadian Golfer, December 1929 Philip Young, Neil Crafter


1931 July 30 St. Charles CC, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. MacKenzie attends opening of his new nine holes. Shown in photo on p224 of DSH and p68 of the club history book, playing 2nd Hole on his North Nine in the Opening Tournament with A.C. Creed the grounds superintendent. At the luncheon Club President “paid high tribute to Dr. Allister McKenzie, widely known Scottish expert on construction of courses.” After the luncheon the new nine was officially opened. Doak Scott Haddock ‘Life & Work of Dr. Alister MacKenzie’ Club History Book Ken Mould, Tyler Kearns Canadian Golfer, August 1931 Philip Young, Neil Crafter

[Tyler Kearns]

Parker,


I helped do some of that research for the Mackenzie timeline for St. Charles by looking through old newspaper accounts of his time in the city - which Wayne has posted above. 


The Mackenzie nine at St. Charles is more intact than the Ross nine, and received some restorative work by Mike DeVries about a decade ago, which included expanding greens and bunker work on holes No. 1, 2, 4 and 7.  The major change to the Mackenzie nine is hole No. 3, which used to be a straight, drivable par four that plays to the current back tee on No. 7.  That tee was added in anticipation of the PGA Senior Tour event held at the club, so the green was re-located to the north to accommodate.  The sad irony, the Senior Tour didn't use that back tee!!  The 5th green was re-build in the past and expanded, although I'm not sure if the Mackenzie contours where retained.  Both of the par 3's, six and eight are wonderful holes.


Tyler

[Wayne_Kozun]

@Tyler - Did you look in the Canadian golfer issues through those years?

[Parker Page]

Thank you, Wayne and Tyler!  I had no idea those resources existed.  Definitely interesting.


Tyler, I agree about the two Mackenzie par 3's.  #8's green is wild!  I can't think of another green that's quite like it.  We played in a stiff wind that made #6 fascinating.  It was all you wanted at 130 yards, and I imagine that's the case even without the wind.  The story on #3 is interesting too.  As usual, I would have liked to have seen the old hole.  There's some strategy in the severe dogleg, but not much.

[Tyler Kearns]

@Tyler - Did you look in the Canadian golfer issues through those years?

Wayne,


I have not, but will look at the digitized versions you linked to.  My research was done looking at old Winnipeg newspapers that have now been digitized at our main library downtown.


Tyler

[Wayne_Kozun]

@Parker - I found my copy of Golf in Canada by Barclay and it has just a short mention of Mackenzie's work in Canada.  Hopefully this image works for everyone

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