The year 2006 marks the 100th anniversary of the Galt Country Club Limited.

It was on June 8, 1906, when the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club Limited (now the Galt Country Club) received its operating charter from then Lt. Governor Wm. Mortimer Clark.

Continuous improvements to the Galt Country Club have occurred throughout its 100- year history. Despite the many changes that have transpired over the years, it is worth noting that the Club has remained on the same physical site since it originally opened - a rarity for a turn of the century golf club.

What follows is a brief history of the club capturing many of the significant events that occurred over the last 100 years.

THE BEGINNING

Andrew Groff first developed much of the land that the Club stands on. In 1881, Robert Dawson took over ownership of the property. Dawson owned the land for only a few years before selling his interest to Andrew Oliver, who farmed the land up until his death.

On July 13, 1906 the land was acquired from the Oliver estate by a group of prominent local businessmen who believed that the property would be desirable as a golf course. Approximately 86 acres were purchased for $5,500.00 to build a nine-hole course.

The location for the Country Club was important. At the time, the population of the area was not significant. Galt had 8,600 residents, Preston 2,700, Hespeler 2,300 and Berlin (Kitchener) 12,000. The small number of area residents meant that the Club did not have an instantly large membership, but the relative proximity to a number of population centres and the fact that the railway and a road ran directly adjacent to the property made it easily accessible.

On June 8, 1906, Lt. Governor Wm. Mortimer Clark granted a charter to the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club Limited. Interestingly, it came with a proviso, which stated, “should anyone be caught dealing in, bartering, trafficking in or disposing of spirits, spirituous malts or intoxicating liquors the charter would be revoked.”

Percy Barrett, the professional at the Lambton Golf Club (Toronto), was given the task of designing the original nine-hole layout. Construction of the course and clubhouse began in 1906 and was completed early in 1907. The reported cost to build the golf course was $11,500. The clubhouse cost was $8,500.

The original golf course was a nine-hole, par 34, 2754-yard layout and remained largely unchanged when the golf course was expanded to 18 holes in 1929. It was not until 1952 and again in 1965 when significant changes were made to the original holes. Although the condition of the new golf course was not yet up to acceptable standards, play commenced on May 24, 1907 with the official club opening.

Waterloo County Golf and Country Club

1908 – 1919

By the end of 1908, the Club had 140 shareholders. Expenditures for course operations provide an interesting insight into golf course maintenance at that time.

Golf Course Maintenance

Hauling Sand and Manure…………………….$86.92

Horse Shoeing & Repairs……………………..$75.00

Feed for Horse………………………………...$126.03

Greensman Board……………………………..$110.00

Barrett’s Expenses…………………………….$13.00

Seed…………………………………………...$47.50

Horse Hire…………………………………….$71.75

Clock Golf…………………………………….$14.30

Wages…………………………………………$634.91

Laying Water Mains & Piping Greens………..$201.76

Wooden Bridge over ravine…………………..$110.58

Total………………………………………….$1491.75

Almost 100 years later, the club’s annual greens expenditure is over $800,000.

Improvements were made to the course as the years progressed. To help fund some of these improvements the club introduced its first assessment, $10 to each member, in 1909.

The first members would have travelled by train or horse and carriage to the club. The introduction of the automobile increased mobility of the local population. In 1913, the Galt-Preston Road (now Coronation Blvd.) was enhanced to make it a “model” highway.

There was excitement at the Club on June 15, 1918 when royalty came to the area. The Duke of Devonshire and his daughters visited the area and enjoyed lunch at the club.

A significant tree-planting project was undertaken at the Club in 1919. As part of its Arbor Day festivities, the Club was presented with close to 300 trees from the province. The species of the trees was varied: 50 scotch pine, 50 Austrian pine, 50 Douglas pine, 25 Douglas fir, 25 white spruce, 50 white cedar and 25 Bull pine were planted in clumps around the course. Many of these trees remain standing to this day.

Waterloo County Golf and Country Club

1920 – 1929

Activity at the Club greatly increased following the war. The gentlemen golfers were not alone in their enthusiasm for the game as many women also enjoyed the game.

It was important that golfers dressed appropriately for a day on the links. At this time the professional did not offer clothing for sale, his activities were focused on lessons, building clubs and taking care of the greens. Golf attire was purchased at local clothiers. One clothier, Club member W. W. Wilkinson, sold two-piece golf suits from $22.50 to $25. These suits were made of tweed and had 3 button cuff knickers with side pleats for ease of movement. A tweed golf cap ($2.50), wool socks ($2.75/pair) and a roomy golf shirt ($2.25) with a soft collar and rolled french cuffs completed the outfit.

Golf equipment was made by local professionals prior to the later introduction of mass manufacturing and marketing of equipment. An iron club could be purchased for $2, drivers for $4.50 and golf bags for $7. Golf balls ranged from 50 cents to $1.

In 1923, for some unrecorded reason, the members decided to change the name of the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club to Riverview Golf and Country Club. This name was used until 1930.

H.P. Long of Paris, Ontario created a new event for competition among ladies from area clubs. The Long Trophy event was established in 1924 for lady golfers from Waterloo, Oxford, Brant and Norfolk Counties. This event included individual and team medal play as well as long drive and approach and putting competitions. Ladies competed annually for the Long Trophy until the 1980s. The Long Trophy is to be competed for again in 2006 in honour of the Galt Country Club’s 100th anniversary.

Ben Kerr became the Club’s professional in 1926. Likely wanting to create a good impression on the members as the replacement for the popular departing pro Jim Johnstone, Kerr generously donated prizes valued at $12 on the opening day. He also left his mark on the course, adding a number of traps and bunkers to increase the difficulty of the course.

As the sport grew, the Riverview nine-hole layout handled ever-increasing hours of playing time. Membership grew and it became difficult for new golf enthusiasts to join the Club. As a result, in the fall of 1928 a group of local players formed the Galt Golf and Country Club. They purchased 110 acres of land (the former Bernhardt farm) south east of Galt near Sheffield. Noted golf course architect Stanley Thompson was retained to design the 18-hole layout.

The threat of the new Club was of significant concern to the Riverview Club members. They were concerned that the proposed cost of membership at the new club and its 18-hole layout would attract members away from the Riverview Club. There was also much discussion about the ability of the local area to support two golf clubs, in spite of the growing popularity of the sport.

In late 1928 discussions began in earnest between the two clubs. The outcome of these meetings was that the two clubs agreed to amalgamate. Shortly after the agreement to amalgamate was reached, work began to prepare the new acreage. The land purchase was concluded on February 15, 1929 at a cost of $8,380. The major redesign and expansion of the course began in the spring of 1929. Stanley Thompson was in charge of the design. The work on the new layout was completed in August of 1929, and play commenced on the new course in 1930.

Waterloo Golf and Country Club

1930 - 1939

Much excitement surrounded the club in 1930. The new course opened for play and a much larger membership was able to enjoy the new links. In 1931, the members decided that the Club would once again be known as the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club.

By 1933, the full effects of the Depression on the Club were being realized. For the first time, the Club permitted non-member golf and dinner functions at the Club.

Memberships fees in 1934 were reduced to $80 for a family membership, $50 for a man, $25 for a lady, intermediate $30, veranda $22 (plus 50 cents/day for each day golf played). As an extra incentive to join, these fees were reduced by 20% for first-time members joining the Club. This membership fee structure was kept in place until 1941.

By 1936, the country was recovering from the Depression and the club was again beginning to thrive. To mark its 30th anniversary, the clubhouse went through a renovation to enlarge the lounge area and dining space; on the course about 300 trees were planted.

Waterloo County Golf and Country Club

1940 – 1949

In 1940, the Club built a new practice putting green. Members were also encouraged by the positive impact of the tree-planting program that had been in place at the Club since 1919. The trees were now coming into play, making the golf course more challenging and adding to its beauty.

The effects of the war on the Club and its members were significant. Despite holding fees at 1936 levels, membership revenues declined through the war years, eroding the surplus that had accumulated in the latter 1930s.

For the first time in the history of the Club pay as you play green fee rates of 75 cents per were introduced in 1942 to encourage local residents. This pricing strategy continued for the next three years. Golf professionals were also hard hit by the war. Many left the profession or were not retained at country clubs. Waterloo County did retain its pro, however he was given added duties to help defray expenses.

The war also meant rationing of all commodities, in particular rubber. The Wartime Prices and Trade Board placed a restriction on the number of golf balls produced, sold and the price they were sold at. Old balls were gathered and recycled by the pro shop.

Golf balls were in limited supply and were indeed a treasured commodity; they were used as prizes in club golf events and were “valued to golfers just like bank notes”. It was not until August 1945 that all restrictions on the use of Balata and Gutta Percha rubber were removed and the manufacture of golf balls could resume.

In preparation for the 1943 golf season, club champion Bill Martin came upon an idea…a pull cart. There was a shortage of caddies through the war years, so Martin built a cart that resembled “a two wheeled rig that is used by street cleaners”. At the time Martin was the brunt of some jokes, however, history would prove otherwise. In addition to his ‘invention’, Martin continued fine golf into his later years. In 1963, at the age of 61, he won the Canadian Senior Amateur title played in Quebec City.

Much of the social activity that had been cancelled during the war resumed in 1946. Dances and bridge and dinners again became popular. On May 24, 1946 the Club officially opened with over 200 participating – a club record.

Sandy Leiper was the pro in 1948; however he left after one season at the Club and was replaced by Arthur Hunt. Hunt was to be the pro at the Club until his retirement in 1970. ‘Affable Arthur’ encouraged the continuation of long running club events such as weekly sweeps, and mixed two-ball foursomes and introduced new events to the Club like the “Stag” tournament.

As the decade closed, the Club was faced with a significant challenge when a portion of the Club property was targeted as a good location for a new South Waterloo District Hospital.

Waterloo County Golf and Country Club

1950 – 1959

As the communities around the Club continued to grow, the need for a new, centrally located hospital was evident. On Jan 12, 1951 a judgment was passed expropriating about 15 acres of Club property. The South Waterloo District Hospital had thus acquired the land it wanted for $59,858.30. Of that amount the Club immediately used $24,093.82 to retire the mortgage on the property. The balance was in large part used to establish a reserve fund for future development.

A new phase in the operation of the Club also occurred in 1950. The Club made the decision to return to its ‘private’ status, eliminating pay as you play which had been introduced in the war years. Also, the decision was made to take over the food and beverage operation. A steward and stewardess continued to be retained in the ensuing years; however the Club now took over the profit and loss of this aspect of the operation.

Two new par-3 holes were constructed. One was a par-3, which played from the area near the current hospital emergency parking to the current target practice green by the Club entrance. The other par-3 played from a tee located in the area of the current 14th green to a green located in the area of the current 15th tee. The new layout, a par-69, was opened for play in May 1952.

In 1954, the club made further improvements including the capital expenditure of $26,000 on a new men’s locker room. Up to this time, the locker room was in the basement of the clubhouse. To accommodate the new men’s locker room, an addition to the clubhouse was built. The basement space made available with the new addition was used as a pro shop and for storage of the ever-increasing number of pull carts.

Waterloo County Golf and Country Club

1960 - 1969

The Club had watched its finances carefully through the 1950s and at the same time had attracted more members. This placed a strain on the Clubhouse facilities. In 1962, the Club took out a $27,000 loan to help finance a $35,000 renovation to the clubhouse. The renovations included a new bar and lounge area, expanded kitchen, more locker room space and an addition for a men’s lounge.

At this time, the Club was granted a liquor license. In prior years the Club had only been permitted to serve liquor on Wednesdays and Fridays through a special banquet permit. With the building expansion the Club also made the decision to remain open year round.

The impact of the renovations on the Club was immediate. In 1963, membership increased, house revenues improved and the Club improved its financial position. With these encouraging results, the Club formed a curling planning committee to investigate the possibility of expanding the operation to include curling.

With financing in place, all the clubhouse, curling and golf course plans were finalized in the early part of 1965. The most ambitious project at the Club, since the 1929-1930 expansion to 18 holes, was ready to commence.

Moote Bros. Architects were retained to design the new course. They were known for their appreciation of Stanley Thompson designed courses and were anxious to retain as much of the Thompson features as possible in the new layout.

The entire layout was changed, with many new holes, greens and tees constructed and the irrigation system expanded to make sure the entire course received adequate water coverage. Over 50 new trees were planted and 24 new bunkers were added at strategic locations on a number of holes. The changes increased the course yardage from 5,600 to 6,100 yards, and changed the par from 69 to 71. Aside from a redesign of the 14th hole in 1970 and rebuild of the three new valley holes in 2004, the 1965 course layout remains unchanged today.

Play continued through 1965 on the existing layout while work was completed on the new one. The new golf course layout opened for play in 1966.

Galt Country Club Limited

1970 - 1979

On February 11, 1970 the Club received approval through supplementary letters patent to change its corporate name to Galt Country Club Limited. The Club changed its name to recognize its close association with the City of Galt.

In 1970 the 14th hole was redesigned. Prior to this time, the 14th hole was a short par-3 that played from in front of the present 14th green, to a green that was located near the 15th tee. The hole was completely reversed and lengthened to the hole in play today. Today the 14th hole is considered by many to be the club’s ‘signature’ hole.

Arthur Hunt, the Club professional since 1949, retired in 1970 from his position at Galt. As a show of gratitude for his years of service to the Club, Hunt and his wife were made honourary members and the men’s lounge was renamed the Art Hunt Room. The closing men’s field day is also named after Art as a show of thanks to him.

There was much excitement around the club in August 1974 when the Club hosted the Canadian Professional Golfers Association Senior Championship. This event, sponsored by Spalding of Canada, attracted 56 professionals who played for the $1,500 first prize.

Of particular note was the entry of Al Balding. Balding was considered the man to beat because of his past successes on a number of professional tours, including the U.S. PGA Tour. At the conclusion of his practice round, Balding said of the course “I think Spalding should be congratulated for picking this course for seniors. It’s a perfect track for us. It’s the toughest short track I’ve ever seen.” Balding was correct in his assessment. At the end of three days of play, Balding had a total score of 223. Bill Kozak of Westbrook Golf Club, Welland, emerged the winner with a 6-over par score of 216.

Galt Country Club Limited

1980 – 1989

The club celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1981.

Ian Leggatt took home the Men’s Club Championship honours in 1986, 1987 and 1988. In addition to his Club Championship record, Leggatt set a new course record 62 on August 11, 1989. In 2002, he won for the first time on the PGA tour, capturing the 2002 Tucson Open. His PGA Tour profile lists Galt Country Club as his home course. For Leggatt’s achievements and long-standing connection to the Club, he was honoured with a life membership in 2003.

Galt Country Club Limited

1990 – 1999

Carrick Design was retained to assist with the development of a long-range plan for the golf course. Carrick is known for his work on Stanley Thompson courses and is faithful to Thompson design features, one of which is dramatically shaped bunkers meant to test a player. The new bunkers were faithful to a Thompson design, much to the consternation of some members. In 1994 the greens committee went to the members looking for more money to finish the bunker restoration. The request was approved, but only on the condition that the bunkers not be as severely shaped as those completed in 1992.

In July 1996, the Club played host to the Ontario Senior Ladies Championship. Gayle Borthwick, who defeated Marlene Streit in a seven-hole playoff, won the three-day event. Also of note during the championship was the new ladies course record 69 that Streit set on the second day of the event.

Streit was no stranger to Galt. As a teenager in the late 1940s, Streit (then Stewart) won the Waterloo County Ladies Invitational. She would go on to worldwide prominence in amateur golf, and in 2004 was elected into the World Golf Hall of Fame.

On April 30, 1999 the membership voted 85% in favour of the construction of a new clubhouse. The $2.2 million contract to construct the new 25,000 sq ft building was awarded to CRD Construction of Guelph. Furnishings and kitchen costs brought the total project cost to $2.75 million. The demolition of the old clubhouse commenced September 27, 1999. The building came down quickly and construction of the new building followed immediately after demolition.

Galt Country Club Limited

2000 - 2005

The Clubhouse was officially opened with a ‘black tie optional’ gala on August 12, 2000.

In 2003 the Club was honoured to host the Canadian Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Over 90 women came from across Canada and the USA to participate. The champion of the 54-hole event was Lynda Palahniuk, of Kelowna, B.C., with scores of 75-74-73-222.

Course improvements continued to be made in the early 2000s. The Valley Hole project was the Club’s most ambitious course redesign since 1965. It called for the redevelopment of holes 15, 16 and 17, leveling the 10th fairway and the introduction of a pond separating holes 15 and 17 for their entire length. The new pond and views of the Grand River would become the significant design features of the new holes. The pond would also allow the new irrigation system a source of cleaner water. In addition, the 17th hole fairway would be elevated over one metre to eliminate the flooding that plagued the valley holes every year.

The two projects commenced in August 2004 and were completed by the end of the year at a total cost of $1.3 million. The new holes opened for play with temporary greens early in the 2005 season with play commencing on the new greens in July 2005.

For much of the early 2000’s the members had endured a significant amount of inconvenience created by the building of the new clubhouse, the irrigation system installation and major improvements to the golf course. As the 2005 season closed, the Board of Directors announced that no further major work is immediately required and that members can look forward to a ‘construction free’ facility for some years to come.

As it enters its second 100 years, the Galt Country Club is well positioned for its members to enjoy.


Galt Country Club – The Architects

Percy Barrett

Percy Barrett was born in Hudderfield, England in 1880 and immigrated to Canada in 1903 when Lambton Golf Club in Toronto put out a call for its first head professional. Barrett was a protégé of the great professional Harry Vardon at Ganton, and it was with Vardon’s blessing that Barrett initially accepted the position for a season. He remained with the club until 1914 before moving on to the newly opened Weston Golf Club as head professional. He would later work at Uplands GC and the Lakeshore G&CC, where he was head pro until his death in 1927.

His fellow professionals reckoned that Barrett was their finest striker of a ball. He was perhaps the longest driver of his day. One of his carries off the 14th tee at the 1904 Open was measured at 240 yards. Barrett was the runner-up in the 1904 Canadian Open and the 1905 U.S. and Canadian Opens. Two years later, he went on to win the Open championship at Lambton GC. In all, he competed in 11 Canadian Opens, finishing in the top-six eight times. He also won the Canadian PGA club pro championship in 1923 and 1925.

Barrett designed the original nine-hole layout at Galt Country Club, which was established in 1906 and opened in 1907 under the name of the Waterloo County Golf and Country Club. At the same time, he’s credited with designing the original nine at Mississaugua G&CC in 1906. Both courses would later call upon Stanley Thompson to expand the courses to 18 holes. Barrett holes still in play today at Galt CC include the third green and the fourth and fifth holes.

Stanley Thompson

From coast to coast no one has created a finer collection of golf courses than legendary Canadian architect Stanley Thompson. From Capilano G&CC in Vancouver to Highlands Links in Cape Breton National Park, Nova Scotia, it’s Thompson who is credited with laying the foundation for the thousands of golf holes that challenge and entertain golfers across this country. Between 1920-53, the Toronto-born Thompson fashioned a string of pearls across Canada. He is credited with designing or remodelling some 145 courses in Canada, the United States, Brazil, Columbia and Jamaica including St. George’s G&CC, Thornhill CC, Islington GC, Ladies Golf Club of Toronto, Bayview GC, St. Thomas G&CC, Westmount G&CC, Banff Springs GC and Jasper Park Lodge GC.

More importantly he left a legacy to a group of associates including Robert Trent Jones, Howard Watson, C.E. (Robbie) Robinson, Geoffrey Cornish, Norman Woods and Bob Moote who went on to become recognized architects. They in turn produced the next generation of Canadian designers including Doug Carrick, Graham Cooke, Les Furber, Tom McBroom, John Watson, David Moote, Ted Baker and Bill and John Robinson.

Born in 1893, Thompson was the third youngest of 10 children, six boys and four girls. He first caddied as a youngster at Toronto Golf Club. During the First World War he served at the Front as a lookout for the gunners, where he was severely shell-shocked and probably gassed. Upon returning to Canada, Thompson attended the former Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph, before launching his golf course design business. Thompson was also an accomplished amateur player along with brothers Bill and Frank while Nicol made a name for himself as a club professional. Stanley didn’t have any children.

“Many people don’t know what a fine golfer he was. He was the best of the five brothers (the sixth died as an infant). The leading amateur at the Canadian Open one year,” says, author and Canadian golf historian, James Barclay, who spent two years researching Thompson’s life for his book, “The Toronto Terror”, published in 2000.

He was either wealthy or he was broke, more often broke. Thompson was among a group of businessmen who purchased Guelph’s Cutten Club in 1940. He lived and worked there until his death in 1953. He died penniless, owing his creditors some $300,000, but all his debts were forgiven as they realized he’d given Canada more than he had taken. He’s buried in the Mount Hope cemetery in Kitchener.

The major redesign and expansion of Galt CC began in the spring of 1929. Thompson was in charge of the design and Trans-Canada Construction Co. was the contractor on the project. In addition to expanding the course, an irrigation system was installed on some of the new holes, with water pumped from the Grand River. The work on the new layout was completed in August of 1929, and play commenced on the new course in 1930. Thompson was the first to venture into the river valley along the Grand River. He added nine holes to the original Barrett nine with many of the holes renumbered for flow of play. Thompson holes still in play today include No. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 18. These holes are the same layout, although many of the greens have been rebuilt and bunkers added.

R. F. Moote and Associates Ltd.

Robert F. Moote was born in Dunnville, ON in 1924. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in agriculture and ornamental horticulture from the Ontario Agriculture College in Guelph in 1948. His first job was for Stanley Thompson, supervising projects in Canada, Jamaica and the U.S. In 1951, he went to work for the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, where in his spare time worked on a series of modest golf courses in Quebec, Ontario and the Maritimes. In 1957, Moote assumed the role of construction supervisor for the third nine at Oakdale G&CC in Toronto and stayed as the club’s superintendent for 20 years. During that time he worked occasionally for architect C. E. Robinson. He also practiced course design with his brother David S. Moote. In 1976, Robert entered private practice as a full-time architect under the name R. F. Moote and Associates Ltd. In the early 1980s, his eldest son David L. Moote joined him in the design business. “I think I carry a lot of Stanley in me today,” says Moote who is semi-retired, lives in Brampton and is a member of the Stanley Thompson Society.

Moote has designed and remodelled well over 100 courses over the years. He assisted Robbie Robinson at Beverly GC, Craigowan GC, Twenty Valley G&CC and Trafalgar G&CC to name a few. He worked with his brother David S. Moote at Barrie CC, North Halton G&CC and Galt CC among others.

In 1964, the Moote brothers were hired to reroute the golf course after the Cambridge Hospital expropriated some golf course land for future development. They were known for their appreciation of Thompson-designed courses and were anxious to retain as much of the Thompson features as possible in the new layout. The irrigation system was expanded to make sure the entire course received adequate water coverage. Over 50 new trees were planted and 24 new bunkers were strategically added on a number of holes. The changes increased the course yardage from 5,600 to 6,100 yards, and changed the par from 69 to 71. (The 18th hole was originally a par 5; it was changed to a par 4 in the 1970s, lowering the par to its present day 70.) The new layout also meant the player had to shape tee shots in both directions compared to the old layout that set up for only draw shots (for the right handed player). Aside from a redesign of the 14th hole in 1970 and the rebuild of the three new valley holes in 2004, the 1965 course layout remains unchanged to this day.

Carrick Design

Doug Carrick was born in Toronto in 1956. Following graduation from the University of Toronto’s School of Landscape Architecture he gained experience on several golf course projects and on a wide variety of land planning and recreational projects. During this time Carrick developed a close working relationship with C. E. Robbie Robinson, one of Canada’s leading golf course architects. Classical influences are a strong part of Carrick’s work. Since establishing his own practice in 1985, Carrick has been involved in the planning and design of over 50 golf course projects including Bigwin Island Golf Resort, the two courses at Angus Glen GC, the three courses at Osprey Valley Golf Resort, King Valley GC, Magna GC, Copper Creek GC, Eagles Nest GC and others. Carrick Design is also well respected for its redesign and remodelling efforts at courses like St. George’s G&CC, Weston GC, Brantford G&CC, Brampton GC, Summit G&CC, Peterborough G&CC, Oakdale G&CC, Mississaugua G&CC, Burlington G&CC, The Cutten Club, Islington GC, Thornhill CC, Lookout Point CC, Toronto Golf Club, Rosedale GC, Credit Valley G&CC and Bayview CC to name but a few.

In 1992, Carrick Design was retained by Galt Country Club to assist with the development of a long-range plan for the club and remains the club’s consulting architect today. The firm is respected for its work on Thompson courses and is faithful to retaining the integrity of Thompson design features such as dramatically shaped bunkers. Carrick completed a bunker restoration plan at Galt between 1992 and 1994. Course improvements continued to be made in the early 2000s. By 2003, many of the improvements identified in the club’s long-range plan had been completed. The 7th green was rebuilt; greens 1, 5 and 13 were enlarged; the 8th tee was enlarged; new forward tees were added on many holes; target greens were added to the practice area; the retaining wall by the 11th tee was replaced and the 2nd and 5th tees were raised and enlarged, with the hill in front of these tees shaved to improved the site lines.

The one significant project in the long-range plan that had not been completed was the rebuilding of the valley holes and a new irrigation system. By 2002, the club started to seriously look at renovating the valley holes – its most ambitious course redesign since 1965. It called for the redevelopment of holes 15, 16 and 17, levelling the 10th fairway and the creation of a pond to separate the 15th and 17th holes. The pond would also provide a source of cleaner water for a new irrigation system. In addition, the 17th fairway would be elevated over one metre to eliminate the flooding that had previously plagued the valley holes. Golf course architect Doug Carrick supervised the $1.3 million renovation project by his former associate Ian Andrew and their work has received rave reviews from the Galt CC membership for having modernized the golf course while simultaneously maintaining the club’s atmosphere and tradition. The new holes were opened for play with temporary greens early in the 2005 season. Regular play commenced on the new greens in July 2005.