Celebrating 50 Years Of Great Golf At The 'Pitt'
by Bryan Outram
The Pitt Meadows Golf Club is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year and it's sure to be a special celebration indeed.
If ever there was a golf course that made you feel at home it has to be Pitt Meadows.
The atmosphere and welcoming attitude by both the staff and the members is one of the enticing elements that make Pitt Meadows such an enjoyable place to play.
First opened in 1963 on the old Greybrook Farm property this course has continued to mature and improve under the care and attention of its members and outstanding greenskeeping crew led by superintendent Dave Zeiler.
A member-owned facility, Pitt Meadows Golf Club is located in an ideal setting with the picturesque backdrop of the Golden Ears Mountains and has a rich history in the golf community having hosted provincial championships on numerous occasions and will in fact once again play host to British Columbia Golf's Women's Amateur and Mid-Amateur events this summer from June 25-28.
The Club has seen many of its junior ranks develop into golf professionals over the years and boasts an impressive alumni including Canadian Golf Hall of Famer Jim Nelford, and honorary members including PGA legend Dave Stockton Sr.
The 'Pitt' as it is affectionately referred to by its members, continues to boast some of the best amateurs in not only British Columbia but all of Canada. One need look no further than longtime member Gudmund Lindberg a two-time runner up in the B.C. Senior Men's Championship in 2004 and '05 before winning the title for four straight years from 2008-11.
The golf course itself has seen some interesting changes over the years not the least of which include the building of its 25,000 square foot clubhouse, a new pro shop and improved practice facilities.
The 8,000 square foot chipping green and 9,000 square foot putting green are great compliments to the driving range which boasts both natural grass and covered artificial teeing areas.
Head Professional Neil Roberts has long been known for his people skills and very dry wit. He also holds the distinction of being the first BCPGA Pro to qualify for the former Greater Vancouver Open/Air Canada Championship PGA Tour event as the winner of the 1995 B.C.P.G.A. Championship.
He had a go at playing professionally for a time but he came to realize that wasn’t going to be his long-term connection with the game. “I knew I wasn’t going to subsidize my income by playing golf,” Roberts said, adding, “I wasn’t good enough to make it on the Canadian Tour or anything like that so I thought, ‘I’m going to have to spend my life behind the counter of a pro shop playing golf and teaching golf.
Which is what I’ve done for a long time and I just love it. I love being around people, I love being around the game of golf, I love teaching young people to play golf and keep them away from the street corners. It’s just a great place for anyone to be and I’ve met so many great people and made a lot of good friends.
A member of the CPGA for 36 years, Roberts says his greatest accomplishment in golf has been the associations and friendships he has forged during his time working at four different golf clubs.
It would certainly appear that being the Head Professional at Pitt Meadows Golf Club has added greatly to that accomplishment.
“The members here are the best,” Roberts says, “It’s the members that make a golf club. Our golf course is good, but it’s the people that make it such a desirable place to be.”
Of course a 50th Anniversary Celebration wouldn't be complete without a few commemorative events to mark the occasion and Pitt Meadows GC definitely has that covered.
For starters on Thursday, June 6th golfers can tee it up at one of the Lower Mainland's finest layouts for a mere $19.63 - and we're pretty sure you can figure out how they came up with that number.
There are other events planned as well, including an open house from 5pm - 9pm on Friday, June 7th with wine and cheese for everyone (This is open to the community as well as all members to meet and greet. No charge to attend).
On Saturday the 8th there's an evening reception with dancing to the music of 'Tillers Folly' for members and their guest, while on Sunday the 9th a Junior clinic and family fun at the range is being held from 1:00pm – 2:30pm.
There's also a BBQ for the juniors and a trick shot exhibition by lifelong Pitt Meadows member and BC Tournament director for the CJGA, Brad Ewart (bradewartgolf.com). Open to all juniors.
For complete details on times etc., call the Pitt Meadows Golf Club office at (604) 465-5431 or the pro shop at (604) 465-4711. Be sure to check out the website as well and see about membership opportunities by visiting www.pittmeadowsgolf.com