The story behind the start and development of Devil’s Pulpit Golf Club/Association is quite extraordinary and probably worth a few new questions in the next edition of Trivial Pursuit.
Trivial Pursuit was first conceived of on December 15, 1979, by Chris Haney and Scott Abbott. At the time, Haney worked as a photo editor at the Montreal Gazette and Abbott was a sports journalist for The Canadian Press. Chris was an avid golfer and friends told him to build his own course as he was frustrated in trying to get tee times at other golf courses. Haney accepted the challenge and began to search for a property in Caledon where he could build a world-class course. Haney located several sites, and walked them with Dr. Michael Hurdzan, the Columbus, Ohio-based architect he’d chosen. It took them two years to find the site that would become the Devil’s Pulpit. It had everything: diverse topography, easy access off Highway 10, and a perfect, high setting for the clubhouse. The parcel of land included 300 acres. Haney and Hurdzan were confident they could turn it into the total package ideal for golfers.
On Canada Day, July 1, 1990, Chris Haney and Scott Abbott took the first tee shot at Devil’s Pulpit which offered some of the most thrilling holes in the country. More than a million cubic yards of earth had been moved, 100 acres sodded, and millions spent to create what Golf Digest’s architecture editor called “the best earth sculpture the game has yet seen.”
To compliment the Pulpit, in 1992 Haney and Abbott added the Devil’s Paintbrush – a links style course that is highly ranked year after year.
In 2010, Chris Haney was suffering from a long illness and passed away at the age of 59, The former journalist was remembered by friends as a kind, generous man who brimmed with ideas and charm.
As we are about to enter the 2020 golf season it was confirmed earlier this week that a Caledon Investment firm, Longridge Partners entered into an agreement to purchase the Devil’s Pulpit Golf Association of Caledon, Ontario, on behalf of a member-based group. Included in the group are John Clark, Chairman, and Mackenzie Crawford, President and COO of Longridge.
The transaction is expected to close in April.
Longridge is an investment and property management company with offices in Toronto and Caledon.
Longridge, declared it is committed to preserving the stature of the DPGA as one of the best providers of excellent dual-course golf experiences in North America, said it will take advantage of an opportunity to expand the reputation and growth in services for members, employees, and investors.
