Fifty years of golfing among dinosaur bones.
On Sunday, October 4, the Dinosaur Trail Golf and Country Club (DTG&CC) celebrated its 50th birthday.
Golf in the Drumheller area began in 1919 when Drumheller’s first golf course was opened. Since then several golf courses have tried to survive but the DTG&CC has been the longest running so far.
When the country club was first incorporated in 1965 it had eight executive members; Harry Gough (Sr.), John Winkelaar, Robert Sutherland, George Mackie, Donald McKenzie, Duncan Brown, Roy Little and Russel Horley. On top of this executive team, many other community spirited individuals and businesses gave money, labour and equipment to help the project be completed.
The course began as just nine holes. The plan to build a back nine was a bit complicated because those designing the course were faced with jagged hills, ancient boulders and cacti.
A palaeontologist was needed to help supervise construction because the back nine was being constructed where there were 75 million year old dinosaur bone beds. This included a complete reconstruction of the 11th hole because there was a possibility of dinosaur skeletons buried in the hillside.
The back nine was finally completed and opened in 1996 and features tee boxes mounted above cliffs, from which a golfer's ball must land on the fairway or fall mercy to a coulee.
DTG&CC president Greg Morrow said he is “honoured” to be a part of the celebration.
“It is my honour and privilege to be not only serving as president, but also a member of the executive committee in the year this event is occurring. It is a milestone and is something that is honorably recognized as the 50th anniversary,” said Morrow.
The club celebrated the milestone with birthday cake.
