A Proud Heritage
Dundas Valley was established by a group of local businessmen. In the late winter of 1929, they purchased the 144.5 acre Woodley farm for a $100 option.
One of the original founders J. L. Grightmire was known to have said, “the course was built for the working man with fees to be kept as reasonable as possible.” Times have changed since that year when proposed annual dues were $40 for men and $20 for ladies. Sales were brisk.
Things went well for the group and membership. It was ‘anticipated that the course would be ready for play by Empire Day, May 24, 1930′ – July 1930 was when the course was officially opened.
In 1936 the first permanent Clubhouse was built, one of the finest in its time. Built on the same elevation as the Club today, offering one of the most breathtaking views in this part of the province.
The Clubhouse opened July 1, 1937. The Silver Anniversary of the Club was celebrated in 1954 by 600 members. The Dundas Club, known throughout Hamilton as the “friendly club” was very community-minded and did much to further the game of golf in this area.
The apparent foresight and inspiration made the Dundas Club a leader in many ways, as in 1955 the first curling club in Canada to be combined with a golf club was opened at Dundas. The curling club was in operation for four years before the name was officially changed in 1959 to the Dundas Valley Golf & Curling Club.
Fate dealt the Dundas Golf Club a crippling blow in the early morning of Saturday, December 8, 1962, when a fire destroyed the Clubhouse and gutted the lounge in the curling section. All they saw was the skeleton of the Clubhouse, the first built-in 1936.
The phrase etched on the mantel of the giant fireplace in the old Clubhouse was more prophetic than people could have realized: “Doubt Vanishes with Smoke and Hope Begins with Flame”.
In 2012, the Clubhouse underwent a massive renovation and now features modern amenities, full accessibility and 270-degree views of the Niagara escarpment.
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