Not sure if I ever posted this, so here it goes:
Ashburn Old - Halifax, Nova Scotia Course History
March 7, 1922 knowing there was no room for expansion possible at the Collins Estate combined with a dispute with the owners of the land, lead to a committee being appointed to look into the matter of acquiring property for a golf course. They considered six different properties before settling on the Ashburn site.
March 7th 1922, committee appointed to look into the matter of acquiring property for the golf course.
Stanley Thompson’s Involvement
May 15th, 1922, secured the services of Golf Course Architect Stanley Thompson
June 13th, 1922, report for Thompson that course will be 5,880 – shorter than club had hoped. The club had acquired 152 (142) acres of land for $33,600.
June 17th, 1922, Halifax Golf & Country Club was officially incorporated.
CG (Canadian Golfer) June 1922, Mr Stanley Thompson, the Toronto architect is being consulted in reference to the new course.
CG July 1922, Stanley Thompson of Toronto has laid out a most attractive looking course of almost 5,900 yards. Plan for nine holes by spring.`
August 14th, 1922, Work commenced with GJ Daniels as the on site superintendent of construction. Thompson’s crew consists of 150 men and thirty teams of horses
November 17th, 1922, nine holes finished and seeded.The board decided to terminate the contract with Stanley Thompson, possibly because the course turned out to be 400 yards shorter than the planned yardage.
February 8th, 1923 they paid Thompson paid his fee of $7,200. and Thompson ceases involvement with the club
Work definitely built by Thompson includes the current 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 16th green, 17th and 18th.
The holes - original 1st, 2nd and 3rd - at the clubhouse - lost to expropriation - were Thompson holes too.
Some of the remaining holes were laid out by Stan, but upper three holes 13, 14, 15 are Cooke holes
The Second Nine Holes
1923, construction of second nine begun under the supervision of Mr. Cosman, but he ran into financial and the board then assumed control of the remaining construction.
September 1923, August 10th (16th) (17th)1923 Governor General Baron Byng hit the very first tee shot over the first nine holes
Clubhouse finished in December 1923
CG February 1925: Further Construction work in August 1924 – four new holes finished and played on – three holes to go. Last two holes finished – should be ready for August 1st.
CG February 1926 The 13th and 14th (old numbering) were completed finishing the 18
CG March 1926, Situated generally on high ground with attractive ocean vistas, they combine rare beauty of scene with rolling fairways and interesting hazards. To play the course in anything like par requires hard straight hitting, because every fairgreen, while ample in width, is bordered by woods. Distant glimpses can be obtained here and there over Bedford Basin, towards Halifax and its Citadel and far out to the sea.
Note: no plan, but decent early aerial