Essex Golf & Country Club
Encyclopedia
Essex Golf & Country Club is a private, 18 hole championship golf
course located in LaSalle, Ontario
, south of Windsor
.
In the fall of 1910 the club purchased the Colonel Alan Prince Farm in the town of Sandwich on Center Road, now Prince Road at its intersection with College Avenue, not far from the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit. The property consisted of 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land and a nine hole golf course was constructed in 1911. During construction, members were invited to play at the Walkerville Country Club, which started out as a tennis club, situated at the present site of Walkerville Collegiate in the Town of Walkerville
(now part of Windsor) founded in 1890 by the distiller Hiram Walker
. Mr. Hiram W Walker, a nephew of Hiram Walker and Mayor of Walkerville, became a member of Essex in 1914.
The growth of the community resulted in the club losing its country club
character, and the decision was made to relocate to a more rural
setting. In the mid 1920s 126 acre (0.50990436 km²) of wooded farm land was purchased in the Town of LaSalle. (Additional land was acquired along the north and south borders in the 1960s and 1970s to bring the total average to approximately 138 acres). The services of the legendary golf course architect, Donald J. Ross was retained and construction of a 6525 yards (5,966.5 m) course was commenced in 1928. Construction was supervised by John Gray who, like Ross, was a native born Scotsman
. Mr. Gray, who had been a greenskeeper
at the Prince Road course, remained so at the new course until his death in 1958 at age 73. Gray’s advice was sought by many because of his expertise. He was a charter member of the United States National Greenskeepers Association when the organization was formed in Toledo, Ohio in 1926.
The new clubhouse was modeled on an English
country house and was designed by the Windsor
architectural firm of Sheppard, Nichols & Masson. It opened on July 1, 1929. When the Detroit District Golf Association was formed in 1919 by 14 clubs, several of the founding clubs had Ross Courses, among which was Essex. It continued the connection through the years and still belongs to the Golf Association of Michigan as well as the Golf Association of Ontario
and the Royal Canadian Golf Association
.
payments. During the next several years, mutually satisfactory arrangements were made with the bondholders and in 1948 the club obtained a new charter and started to operate as the Essex Golf & Country Club on June 1, 1949.
From its birth, Essex was placed by knowledgeable golfers in the front rank of courses anywhere. This carried a lot of prestige since within a hundred miles are found Oakland Hills
, Detroit Golf Club
, Country Club of Detroit, Franklin Hills, Meadowbrook, all in the Detroit area and Inverness in Toledo. Very few courses surpass these in interest and character. They have provided enjoyable rounds for the club members and also have stood up to the talents of some of the finest golfers in the world in major championships, both open
and amateur
. Essex was played regularly by many great players who became club pro’s in Detroit, including Walter Hagen
, Al Watrous
, Horton Smith
and others. A frequent visitor in the thirties was “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias
, one of the greatest all around athletes of her time.
In 1915 Essex admitted Miss Kate Duncan who became the first Lady Member. By 1921, Essex had 10 Lady Members. Miss Duncan remained a member until her death in 1967. Kate Duncan Day was established in her memory.
Among its members, Essex has boasted some very accomplished players. Dr. George F. Laing, who was a fine senior player and seven times Essex Club Champion, Nick Weslock, a former Essex caddie who won many amateur tournaments and Rudy Horvath who was a prominent player on the PGA Tour until the 1950’s.
in 1964 and, at the top of the list, the Canadian Open in 1976. The latter event was won by Jerry Pate
, who established the official competitive course record of 63, shooting 69-67-68-63 = 267 (13 under par), over a field that included Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Johnny Miller, Jim Colbert, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Gene Littler, Bruce Lietzke and virtually all of the best tournament players of the day. (Pate's record stood until 2002)
The golf world’s attention was once again focused on Essex when Essex hosted the 1998 du Maurier Classic, the fourth “Major” on the LPGA Tour. The $1.2 million (US) tournament was held July 27 to August 2, a great financial success, recorded as one of the best run du Maurier events ever which broke an all time attendance record in the 25 year history of the event. The $180,000 (US) first place prize was won by Brandie Burton with an 18 under par 270, one stroke better than Annika Sörenstam
. The field included LPGA Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carter and Beth Daniel as well as the 1988 rookie sensation Se Ri Pak and all of the world’s finest LPGA players.
The highlight of the centennial year was the hosting of the PGA Senior Tour
’s 1.6 million AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship
, placing the club as one of the only three Canadian golf clubs to have hosted a PGA Tour
, LPGA Tour and a Senior PGA Tour event. Tom Jenkins
won the tournament over Bruce Lietzke
, Morris Hatalsky
and Walter Morgan
. A new course record was set when sixty-one year old Walter Morgan recorded an incredible 11 under par 60 in the second round of the tournament, improving on the 63 shot by Jerry Pate
in the 1976 Canadian Open.
, course maintenance facility and a total refurbishment of the clubhouse facilities. In 2002, the club’s 100th year, Essex embarked on a major kitchen
improvement plan, enlarging and equipping the existing facility with the most up-to-date conveniences. In addition, the entire roof of the magnificent structure was replaced.
During 2003, work was completed on a new million-dollar irrigation system. Essex was also privileged to host the Seniors Triangular Matches composed of teams from Canada and the United States and an international team from the British Isles
. The fall of 2005 saw the commencement of the Renaissance Plan, a project which included restoring the fairways and greens back to their original Donald Ross design as well as a rebuilding and restoration of the bunkers. The project was completed in the fall of 2006.
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
course located in LaSalle, Ontario
LaSalle, Ontario
LaSalle is a town in Essex County, Ontario, Canada, on the Detroit River. It is a bedroom community of the City of Windsor and part of the Windsor Census Metropolitan Area, and is located south of that city. LaSalle, along with Windsor, is the oldest French settlement area in Southwestern Ontario,...
, south of Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
.
History
The club was established in 1902 under the name of Oak Ridge Golf Club, and from that date until 1910 played over a 3400 yard nine hole course on the Farwell Farm in Sandwich. Mr. George Mair, the club's founder, was President.In the fall of 1910 the club purchased the Colonel Alan Prince Farm in the town of Sandwich on Center Road, now Prince Road at its intersection with College Avenue, not far from the Ambassador Bridge linking Windsor and Detroit. The property consisted of 40 acres (161,874.4 m²) of land and a nine hole golf course was constructed in 1911. During construction, members were invited to play at the Walkerville Country Club, which started out as a tennis club, situated at the present site of Walkerville Collegiate in the Town of Walkerville
Walkerville, Ontario
The former town of Walkerville Ontario, Canada is now a heritage precinct of Windsor Ontario. Incorporated in 1890, the town was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whisky. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ ) that would be the envy of both the region and the continent...
(now part of Windsor) founded in 1890 by the distiller Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker
Hiram Walker was an American grocer and distiller, and the eponym of the famous distillery in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Walker was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts, and moved to Detroit in the mid-1830s...
. Mr. Hiram W Walker, a nephew of Hiram Walker and Mayor of Walkerville, became a member of Essex in 1914.
Merger
The Oak Ridge Golf Club merged with the Walkerville Club and the name was changed to the "Essex County Golf & Country Club." The nine hole course was open for play in the spring of 1912 and was in use until the fall of 1914 when, additional land having been procured, an 18 hole course was built. During 1917 more land was purchased and the course was remodeled under the direction of Detroit golf course professional Ernest Way to make a longer 18 hole 5705 yards (5,216.7 m) course.The growth of the community resulted in the club losing its country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
character, and the decision was made to relocate to a more rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
setting. In the mid 1920s 126 acre (0.50990436 km²) of wooded farm land was purchased in the Town of LaSalle. (Additional land was acquired along the north and south borders in the 1960s and 1970s to bring the total average to approximately 138 acres). The services of the legendary golf course architect, Donald J. Ross was retained and construction of a 6525 yards (5,966.5 m) course was commenced in 1928. Construction was supervised by John Gray who, like Ross, was a native born Scotsman
Scotsman
Scotsman may mean:* a man from Scotland, in common parlance - see also Scottish people.* No true Scotsman, a common logical fallacy.*The Scotsman, a national newspaper based in Edinburgh, Scotland....
. Mr. Gray, who had been a greenskeeper
Greenskeeper
- Basic work description and duties :A professional who maintains a golf course or country club's grounds. This includes all cultural practices along with setting of pins and marking of hazards for regular club play along with tournament play. Greenskeepers work under the direction of the Golf...
at the Prince Road course, remained so at the new course until his death in 1958 at age 73. Gray’s advice was sought by many because of his expertise. He was a charter member of the United States National Greenskeepers Association when the organization was formed in Toledo, Ohio in 1926.
The new clubhouse was modeled on an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
country house and was designed by the Windsor
Windsor, Ontario
Windsor is the southernmost city in Canada and is located in Southwestern Ontario at the western end of the heavily populated Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. It is within Essex County, Ontario, although administratively separated from the county government. Separated by the Detroit River, Windsor...
architectural firm of Sheppard, Nichols & Masson. It opened on July 1, 1929. When the Detroit District Golf Association was formed in 1919 by 14 clubs, several of the founding clubs had Ross Courses, among which was Essex. It continued the connection through the years and still belongs to the Golf Association of Michigan as well as the Golf Association of Ontario
Golf Association of Ontario
The Golf Association of Ontario is a provincial affiliate of the Royal Canadian Golf Association.- History :he Golf Association as it is currently structured came into being in November of 2001, following the amalgamation of the Ontario Golf Association and the Ontario Ladies Golf Association...
and the Royal Canadian Golf Association
Royal Canadian Golf Association
Golf Canada, formerly known as the Royal Canadian Golf Association is the governing body of golf in Canada.-Beginnings:The RCGA was founded on June 6, 1895 as the Canadian Golf Association at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. The Royal prefix was granted to the CGA in June 1896 by Queen Victoria through...
.
Fame
In the early thirties, the club encountered financial difficulties and sought relief from the courts on interestInterest
Interest is a fee paid by a borrower of assets to the owner as a form of compensation for the use of the assets. It is most commonly the price paid for the use of borrowed money, or money earned by deposited funds....
payments. During the next several years, mutually satisfactory arrangements were made with the bondholders and in 1948 the club obtained a new charter and started to operate as the Essex Golf & Country Club on June 1, 1949.
From its birth, Essex was placed by knowledgeable golfers in the front rank of courses anywhere. This carried a lot of prestige since within a hundred miles are found Oakland Hills
Oakland Hills Country Club
Oakland Hills Country Club is a private golf club in Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, Michigan. It has hosted many prestigious professional golf tournaments throughout its history. The club consists of two 18 hole courses: the South Course and the North Course. The South Course has hosted all...
, Detroit Golf Club
Detroit Golf Club
The Detroit Golf Club or DGC is a private golf club located in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan in the midst of a neighborhood area on north side of the city near the University of Detroit Mercy and Palmer Woods Historic District. It began as a 6 hole course, the gradually improved to 9, then Donald...
, Country Club of Detroit, Franklin Hills, Meadowbrook, all in the Detroit area and Inverness in Toledo. Very few courses surpass these in interest and character. They have provided enjoyable rounds for the club members and also have stood up to the talents of some of the finest golfers in the world in major championships, both open
Open (sport)
An Open in sports terminology refers to a sporting event or game tournament that is open to all people, regardless of their age, ability, gender, or other categorization. Opens are usually found in golf, tennis, quizbowl, snooker, darts, volleyball, ultimate, squash and chess....
and amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
. Essex was played regularly by many great players who became club pro’s in Detroit, including Walter Hagen
Walter Hagen
Walter Charles Hagen was a major figure in golf in the first half of the 20th century. His tally of eleven professional majors is third behind Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods . He won the U.S. Open twice, and in 1922 he became the first native-born American to win the British Open, which he went on...
, Al Watrous
Al Watrous
Albert Andrew Watrous was an American professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour in the 1920s and 1930s....
, Horton Smith
Horton Smith
Horton Smith was an American professional golfer, who is best known as the first man to win the Masters Tournament.- Tournament career :...
and others. A frequent visitor in the thirties was “Babe” Didrikson Zaharias
Babe Zaharias
Mildred Ella "Babe" Didrikson Zaharias was an American athlete who achieved outstanding success in golf, basketball, and track and field...
, one of the greatest all around athletes of her time.
In 1915 Essex admitted Miss Kate Duncan who became the first Lady Member. By 1921, Essex had 10 Lady Members. Miss Duncan remained a member until her death in 1967. Kate Duncan Day was established in her memory.
Among its members, Essex has boasted some very accomplished players. Dr. George F. Laing, who was a fine senior player and seven times Essex Club Champion, Nick Weslock, a former Essex caddie who won many amateur tournaments and Rudy Horvath who was a prominent player on the PGA Tour until the 1950’s.
Tournaments and Championships
As a tournament site, Essex has provided a strong challenge to some of the top players in the world. It hosted the Ontario Open Championship in 1922, 1949 and 1951, the 1934 Ontario Amateur, the Canadian Women's AmateurCanadian Women's Amateur
The Canadian Women's Amateur is Canada's annual national amateur golf tournament for women. It is open to women from all countries and is played at a different course each year.-Winners:*2011 Rebecca Lee-Bentham*2010 Sydnee Michaels*2009 Jennifer Kirby...
in 1964 and, at the top of the list, the Canadian Open in 1976. The latter event was won by Jerry Pate
Jerry Pate
Jerome Kendrick "Jerry" Pate is an American golfer.Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. He attended the University of Alabama, where he played on the golf team. Pate had a distinguished amateur career. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1974, and the following year he was a member of victorious U.S....
, who established the official competitive course record of 63, shooting 69-67-68-63 = 267 (13 under par), over a field that included Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Tom Watson, Raymond Floyd, Johnny Miller, Jim Colbert, Tom Weiskopf, Tom Kite, Ben Crenshaw, Gene Littler, Bruce Lietzke and virtually all of the best tournament players of the day. (Pate's record stood until 2002)
The golf world’s attention was once again focused on Essex when Essex hosted the 1998 du Maurier Classic, the fourth “Major” on the LPGA Tour. The $1.2 million (US) tournament was held July 27 to August 2, a great financial success, recorded as one of the best run du Maurier events ever which broke an all time attendance record in the 25 year history of the event. The $180,000 (US) first place prize was won by Brandie Burton with an 18 under par 270, one stroke better than Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam
Annika Sörenstam is a Swedish-American professional golfer whose achievements rank her as one of the most successful golfers in history. Before stepping away from competitive golf at the end of the 2008 season, she won 90 international tournaments as a professional, making her the female golfer...
. The field included LPGA Hall of Famers Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carter and Beth Daniel as well as the 1988 rookie sensation Se Ri Pak and all of the world’s finest LPGA players.
The highlight of the centennial year was the hosting of the PGA Senior Tour
Champions Tour
The Champions Tour, a golf tour run by the PGA Tour, hosts a series of events annually in the United States and the United Kingdom for golfers 50 years of age and older. Many of the PGA Tour's most successful golfers have gone on to play on the Champions Tour.The Senior PGA Championship, founded in...
’s 1.6 million AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship
AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship
The AT&T Canada Senior Open Championship was a golf tournament on the Champions Tour from 1981 to 1985 and 1996 to 2002. It was played at a different golf course in Canada each year....
, placing the club as one of the only three Canadian golf clubs to have hosted a PGA Tour
PGA Tour
The PGA Tour is the organizer of the main men's professional golf tours in the United States and North America...
, LPGA Tour and a Senior PGA Tour event. Tom Jenkins
Tom Jenkins
Thomas Wayne Jenkins is an American golfer.Jenkins was born in Houston, Texas. He attended the University of Houston, where he was a member of the winning 1970 NCAA Division I golf team. He graduated in 1971 and turned professional. His only PGA Tour victory was the 1975 IVB-Philadelphia Golf...
won the tournament over Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Lietzke
Bruce Alan Lietzke is an American professional golfer who has won numerous tournaments at both the PGA Tour and Champions Tour level.Lietzke was born in Kansas City, Kansas...
, Morris Hatalsky
Morris Hatalsky
Morris Hatalsky is an American professional golfer.-Early years and amateur career:Hatalsky was born in San Diego, California. He started in golf at age 10, when his older brother bought him a set of junior clubs. As an amateur, he won the 1968 Mexico National Junior Championship...
and Walter Morgan
Walter Morgan (golfer)
Walter T. Morgan is an American professional golfer who has played on the Senior PGA Tour .Morgan was born in Haddock, Georgia, where he played baseball in his youth. He served 20 years in the United States Army including two tours of duty in Vietnam. He began playing golf at the age of 30 after...
. A new course record was set when sixty-one year old Walter Morgan recorded an incredible 11 under par 60 in the second round of the tournament, improving on the 63 shot by Jerry Pate
Jerry Pate
Jerome Kendrick "Jerry" Pate is an American golfer.Jerry Pate was born in Macon, Georgia. He attended the University of Alabama, where he played on the golf team. Pate had a distinguished amateur career. He won the U.S. Amateur in 1974, and the following year he was a member of victorious U.S....
in the 1976 Canadian Open.
Renovation
In 1998, Essex also undertook a massive renovation project to improve the club’s facilities, practice range, parkingParking
Parking is the act of stopping a vehicle and leaving it unoccupied for more than a brief time. Parking on one or both sides of a road is commonly permitted, though often with restrictions...
, course maintenance facility and a total refurbishment of the clubhouse facilities. In 2002, the club’s 100th year, Essex embarked on a major kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
improvement plan, enlarging and equipping the existing facility with the most up-to-date conveniences. In addition, the entire roof of the magnificent structure was replaced.
During 2003, work was completed on a new million-dollar irrigation system. Essex was also privileged to host the Seniors Triangular Matches composed of teams from Canada and the United States and an international team from the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
. The fall of 2005 saw the commencement of the Renaissance Plan, a project which included restoring the fairways and greens back to their original Donald Ross design as well as a rebuilding and restoration of the bunkers. The project was completed in the fall of 2006.