St. George's Golf and Country Club
Encyclopedia
St. George's Golf and Country Club (originally The Royal York Golf Club) is a golf course
and country club
located in Etobicoke, Toronto
, Ontario
in the west end neighbourhood of Islington. The club was established originally in 1909 by Robert Home Smith from Stratford-upon-Avon
, England who originally purchased the area of land which was located on the banks of the Humber River
.
The club was built in co-ordination with the construction of the Royal York Hotel
, which was being designed in downtown Toronto, with the plan being that the golf facilities would be necessary for the guests staying in the hotel. Leading the construction of the hotel was Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty
, who was known to be acquainted with Smith. Leading construction of the golf course was Stanley Thompson
, the leading Canadian golf course architect. At its Islington Avenue location, the course opened in 1929. The course, under the Royal York name, hosted the Canadian Open in 1933. However, in 1935 Smith died, and his executor trustee Godfrey S. Pettit, became president of the club.
In 1946 the name of the country club was changed from The Royal York Golf Club to St. George's Golf and Country Club as a result of the financial arrangement with the Canadian Pacific Railway
(of which Beatty was president) ending. The club has been rated several times in the top three of Canada and amongst the top 100 in the world
St. George's has hosted the Canadian Open five times:
In recent years, the club has extended its length, to 7,025 yards, par 71, with the hope of attracting the Canadian Open once more. While the course is universally regarded as outstanding, issues of logistics, access, and available space in a crowded neighbourhood may make hosting a tournament of this magnitude somewhat problematic. However, the Royal Canadian Golf Association
announced on June 26, 2008 that the club would host the 2010 Canadian Open. Among the logistical steps taken for the 2010 Open are: closing the busy thoroughfare Islington Avenue before and during the tournament, using the nearby Islington Golf Club's practice facilities, shuttling the players back and forth to Islington Golf Club, limiting the number of spectators who can access the course, and starting play for the first two rounds from the 1st and 9th tees (normally it would be the 1st and 10th tees).
The club has also hosted the Canadian Women's Open
five times: 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, and 1984. The club also runs a curling
program during the winter months.
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
and 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...
located in Etobicoke, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
in the west end neighbourhood of Islington. The club was established originally in 1909 by Robert Home Smith from Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
, England who originally purchased the area of land which was located on the banks of the Humber River
Humber River (Ontario)
The Humber River is one of two major rivers on either side of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the other being the Don River to the east. It was designated a Canadian Heritage River on September 24, 1999....
.
The club was built in co-ordination with the construction of the Royal York Hotel
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, formerly the Royal York Hotel and still often so called, is a large and historic hotel in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 100 Front Street West. Opened on June 11, 1929, the Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway...
, which was being designed in downtown Toronto, with the plan being that the golf facilities would be necessary for the guests staying in the hotel. Leading the construction of the hotel was Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty
Edward Wentworth Beatty
Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty, GBE was a Canadian lawyer, university chancellor, and businessman. He was president of the Canadian Pacific Railway from 1918 to 1943, chancellor of Queen's University from 1919 to 1923, and chancellor of McGill University from 1920 to 1943.He studied at Upper Canada...
, who was known to be acquainted with Smith. Leading construction of the golf course was Stanley Thompson
Stanley Thompson
Stanley Thompson was a Canadian golf course architect. He was a co-founder of the American Society of Golf Course Architects....
, the leading Canadian golf course architect. At its Islington Avenue location, the course opened in 1929. The course, under the Royal York name, hosted the Canadian Open in 1933. However, in 1935 Smith died, and his executor trustee Godfrey S. Pettit, became president of the club.
In 1946 the name of the country club was changed from The Royal York Golf Club to St. George's Golf and Country Club as a result of the financial arrangement with the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
(of which Beatty was president) ending. The club has been rated several times in the top three of Canada and amongst the top 100 in the world
St. George's has hosted the Canadian Open five times:
- 1933, won by Joe Kirkwood
- 1949, won by E.J. "Dutch" Harrison
- 1960, won by Art Wall, Jr.Art Wall, Jr.Arthur Jonathan Wall, Jr. was an American golfer.Wall was born in Honesdale, Pennsylvania. He attended Duke University, graduating in 1949 with a business degree....
- 1968, won by Bob CharlesBob Charles (golfer)Sir Robert James Charles, ONZ, KNZM, CBE is a New Zealand professional golfer whose achievements over five decades rank him among the most successful left-handed golfers of all time, being the first lefty to win a golf major, winning more than 70 titles, and beating his age twice during a...
- 2010: won by Carl PetterssonCarl PetterssonCarl Pettersson is a Swedish professional golfer.Pettersson was born in Gothenburg. His father was a Volvo executive who was transferred internationally, so Carl lived in England from ages ten to fourteen and spent his last two high school years at Grimsley High School in Greensboro, North...
In recent years, the club has extended its length, to 7,025 yards, par 71, with the hope of attracting the Canadian Open once more. While the course is universally regarded as outstanding, issues of logistics, access, and available space in a crowded neighbourhood may make hosting a tournament of this magnitude somewhat problematic. However, 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...
announced on June 26, 2008 that the club would host the 2010 Canadian Open. Among the logistical steps taken for the 2010 Open are: closing the busy thoroughfare Islington Avenue before and during the tournament, using the nearby Islington Golf Club's practice facilities, shuttling the players back and forth to Islington Golf Club, limiting the number of spectators who can access the course, and starting play for the first two rounds from the 1st and 9th tees (normally it would be the 1st and 10th tees).
The club has also hosted the Canadian Women's Open
Canadian Women's Open
The CN Canadian Women's Open is a women's professional golf tournament managed by the Royal Canadian Golf Association. It has been Canada's national championship tournament since 1973, and is an official event on the LPGA Tour.-History:...
five times: 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, and 1984. The club also runs a curling
Curling
Curling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
program during the winter months.