A BRIEF HISTORY

In the early 1900's golf was developing rapidly in the Victoria, British Columbia area. It was then that James Dunsmuir, along with co-founder Joseph Sayward, who were both members of the Victoria Golf Club, got the idea of forming a new club. In the year 1913, the reigning B.C. Amateur Champion, Mr. A.V. Macan was given the task of designing the championship course and construction was started immediately. The course covers 135 acres, and is virtually unchanged in design from the original plans of 1913. Mr. Joseph Sayward was the first president, holding office from 1913-1933.

The first clubhouse was constructed in the war years of 1914 to 1918. It was called "The Shack" and was replaced in 1922 by an imposing structure in time to host the 1922 PNGA tournament. Unfortunately that building burned to the ground in 1929. A replacement of Elizabethan style was soon built and was used until taken over in 1943 as an RCAF convalescent hospital. The club had a small temporary building through the remaining war years but returned to the "Old Clubhouse" in 1945. Financial pressures caused the club to sell the clubhouse and it was replaced by a new one in 1951. The present clubhouse was built in 1993, and formally opened by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, youngest son of HM Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal Colwood has over the years played host to many major golf tournaments, beginning in 1922 when the Pacific Northwest Golf Association chose to hold their tournament at Royal Colwood. Competitions included Men's Open, Men's Amateur, Ladies Amateur, and daily driving and putting competitions for both men and women. This Championship returned to Royal Colwood in 1927.

The B.C. Open Championship was contested here in 1934, followed in 1935 and 1955 by the Canadian Ladies Closed Golf Championship. In 1967 and again in 1976, the Canadian Amateur was awarded to Royal Colwood. The RCGA Canadian Seniors Championships were held in 1995. The CLGA brought the B.C. Ladies Amateur to Royal Colwood in July 1997.

The professional golf tours also recognize the championship quality of Royal Colwood. In 1985, the Payless Open was held at Royal Colwood when this tournament was part of the T.P.S. Tour. The T.P.S. Tour was the precursor to the Hogan/Nike/Buy.Com/Nationwide Tour. The Victoria Open returned to Royal Colwood in July of 2003. Canadian Tour rookie Patrick Damron won his first tour title with a score of 269 for four rounds, 11 under par.

This event was telecast by The Golf Channel ©.

HOW WE BECAME "ROYAL" COLWOOD

In 1929 the eldest son of HM King George V, HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, honoured the Club by becoming it's Patron. Edward was an avid golfer and frequent visitor to the Club while staying at Hatley Castle, the home of James Dunsmuir, which lies next to the golf course. As a result of this honour, the Club petitioned the Canadian Governor-General in April of 1929 for right to use the "Royal" prefix. Two years later on July 29th, 1931, the prefix "Royal" was formally bestowed on us by HM King George V .

The official letters from Buckingham Palace in London, and Rideau Hall in Ottawa, conferring the status of "Royal" on the Colwood Golf Club are proudly displayed in our clubhouse on the Heritage Wall along with our Armourial Bearings which were received in 1996. Also on display is the letter sent to Royal Colwood on the occasion of our 75th anniversary by, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.

Royal Colwood, Royal Ottawa , Royal Montréal, Royal Québec, Royal Regina and Royal Mayfair are the only golf clubs in Canada with the "Royal" designation from the Monarch, and are part of a select number of golf clubs worldwide with the same designation.

Royal Colwood fosters links with other "Royal" golf clubs around the world through our reciprocal golfing privileges with those clubs. Visit our reciprocal privileges page to link to our 'sister' clubs

Born in Dublin, Ireland in 1882, Vernon was a highly educated man. Being from a well-to-do family he was sent to one of England's foremost schools, Shrewsbury, and eventually read Law at Trinity College, Dublin.

All aspects of golf became his passion however, and he became one of Ireland's most prominent amateur players.

In 1908, "Mac" emigrated to Canada. By 1910 he had migrated to Victoria and joined the Victoria Golf Club, and soon made his presence felt by winning the B.C. Amateur in 1912 & 1913. In 1913 he also won the Pacific Northwest Amateur and the Washington State Amateur.

What was the philosophy of the busiest golf architect on the Pacific coast? "Au Naturel" is probably the most appropriate phrase. He loved the links course at St. Andrews in Scotland so much that it would serve as his guide. In a quote, he maintained two basic design rules: "All par 4's should require two well planned and played shots to the green" and "greens should not be flat but hogbacks, undulations and crowns should be incorporated to defy the backspin players."

Despite losing his left leg below the knee in the First World War, "Mac" played golf for many years to a 4-handicap. He was regarded as one of the purest strikers of the golf ball.

His solid reputation as a result of his Colwood design quickly led to appointments to design the layouts for Marine Drive in Vancouver, Inglewood in Washington State and to alter both Victoria and Seattle Golf Clubs. Fircrest in Tacoma, Columbia-Edgewater, Colwood National Golf Club in Portland and California Golf Club of San Francisco. Richmond, Shaughnessy, Nanaimo and the initial 9 holes of Cowichan were some of the other projects illustrating his vision.

In 1964, at the age of 82, A.V. Macan succumbed to a heart attack while hard at work redesigning the Sunland Golf Course in Sequim, Wa. During his lifetime Macan's talent and integrity were recognized as he became the first Canadian member of the American Society of Golf Architects. "Mac" was truly a most important figure in B.C. golf and Royal Colwood is very proud of his association with our course.

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