The formation of the Interior Women’s Golf Association (1921) and the Interior Men’s Golf Association (1923) encouraged other towns in the Okanagan to construct golf courses and to form golf clubs. The founding clubs included: Vernon, Kamloops, Kelowna, and Penticton. In 1924, Revelstoke joined.
The Salmon Arm Observer newspaper’s first reference to “golf coming to the local area” occurred in 1925. The newspaper announced three local citizens had taken an option on a local farm the municipality had placed on the market because of overdue taxes. A. Ferguson-Blaikie, Jack Jephson, and John Curor, all fruit farmers, arrived in Salmon Arm between 1924 -1925. These new residents likely had previous golf experience. Every golfer wants to continue his passion for the game. When the trio discovered a local farm was being sold for taxes, the partners took an option on the property. The meandering Canoe Creek would certainly attract anyone with golf knowledge. Nothing happened for the next three years. Research implies Jack Jephson slowly encouraged his new neighbours to form a golf club. His efforts came to fruition when the
Salmon Arm Observer on April 19th, 1928 made the following announcement:
“The proposal to form a golf club in Salmon arm assumed concrete shape when at a well-attended meeting held in the Orange Hall, on Saturday, it was decided to incorporate a company under the Salmon Arm Golf & Country club Association Limited. A large number of golfing enthusiasts from the Enderby district were present. J.M. Jephson who has been associated with J. F. Curor in bringing the proposition forward explained the purposes of the meeting and sated that is intended to form a holding company who would carry out the purchase of an already selected property from the Municipal council, undertake improvements necessary to convert it into a course and then rent the course to a golf club to be formed later. All permanent improvements would be done by the holding company., but maintenance would be in the hands of the golf club. Some discussion was held on the setting of the denomination of the share and it was eventually agreed that shares would be of the value of $25.00 each, of which $15.00 should be paid up and the balance on call. Capitalization was set at $10,000. The election of officers in the company resulted in Messrs Curor, Metford, Naylor, Richards, Pangman, and Jephson being chosen, and at a later meeting Jephson was elected President.”
On May 21, 1928 another meeting created the Salmon Arm G&CC. The attendees named the local MLA R.W.Bruhn from Sicamous as the Honorary President, Mayor Thompson of the City of Salmon Arm and Reeve Harbell of the Municiaplity of Salmon Arm as Honarary Vice-Presidents. For his tireless efforts to bring golf to Salmon Arm J.M.Jephson became the first President of the playing club. The executive included J.F. Curor, Vice-President; S.M.Cosier, Secretary-Treasurer. The Directors included C.E. Richards, R.H. fortune, A.G. Peake, and G. Kyle. Dues were set at: yearly membership fee $10 (men) and 45 (ladies) and playing dues for the season $6 (men) and $3 (ladies).
Within a month the
Salmon Arm Observer announced the course would open on June 20, 1928. MLA Bruhn had the honour of hitting the first drive down the first fairway. The original holes measured: #1 402 yards par 4, #2 – 70 yards, #3 – 310 yards, #4 – 180 yards, #5 – 80 yards, #6 – 170 yards. Like all interior golf courses, the layout had sand greens.
Considering the population for Salmon Arm in 1928 was 800, the town certainly supported the golf club. At the first annual general meeting, the Board announced the club had 94 shareholders. In 1928, the course attracted players from Enderby and Armstrong. After two seasons playing at Salmon Arm, the Armstrong golfers constructed their own course. These non-resident players paid $1.00 per day, $1.50 per week, or $3.00 per month. Encouraged by the strong loyalty shown by the regional residents, the golf club directors purchased a total of 160 acres from the municipality at a price of $875 – with five years to pay.
In the August 1928 issue of The Canadian Golfer Magazine, the editor recorded the Salmon Arm Club as a regular contributor to the hole-in-one club. The magazine announced Albert Bedford the local pharmacist, recorded the first hole in one on the course. Almost monthly thereafter, the magazine had another announcement.
After W.G. Stone hit his mighty drive of 280 yards on the first hole, the club secretary sent an inquiry to the Canadian Golfer Magazine. “What is the length of the longest drive recorded? When measuring the record drive is downhill slope or wind assisted drives taken into effect?”
When golf clubs formed in the Okanagan and the Kootenays it became very common for the local club to conduct a regional event. In 1930, Bob Fortune became the club’s first regional champion when he won the prestigious Interior Men’s Championship at the Princeton GC. The club proudly attracted golfers to their course for a weekend event. The local merchants enjoyed the increase in business. The Salmon Arm Golf Club started the annual Spalding Cup competition. To make their event different, the club conducted a two-player team event. Starting in 1929, the Spalding Cup competition is probably the oldest annual regional team competition in the province. The women held their first area tournament in 1930.
