What do Jasper’s golf course and 160 acres of Edmonton farm land have in common?
They share the same soil.
In the 1920s, the Canadian National Railway purchased land in Edmonton, dug it up and transported train cars full of soil to Jasper to be used on the fairways of the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge golf course.
It was a huge expense, but without that nutrient rich soil, there was little chance the land adjacent to the lodge would produce the lush green grass needed for a world class golf course.
Originally, the Dominion Parks Branch—now known as Parks Canada—dreamt up the idea of a golf course along the shores of Lac Beauvert and in 1922 it hired a golf pro from Banff to design a simple nine-hole course.
But the budget was small, so the project progressed slowly until CNR approached Parks, offering to take over the project.
That’s when world renowned Canadian golf architect, Stanley Thompson was brought in and the course we see today was developed, showcasing the surrounding mountains and taking inspiration from their beauty.
This year, Jasper’s golf course—which was named Canada’s No. 1 golf course by ScoreGolf Magazine in 2014—turns 90.
In celebration, the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives has curated a brand new exhibit, full of artifacts gathered from numerous private collections and the golf course itself.
The museum’s Exhibits Designer and Coordinator, Carla Slover, credits Brenda Dew, Bob Milligan, Bob Baxter and Dave Yachyshen for many of the items on display, including everything from a set of hickory golf clubs to an original sterling silver trophy from the Totem Pole Tournament.
The tournament began in 1926, a year after the course was built, and carried on until 1991.
The trophy is a sculpture that replicates a well-known Haida ceremonial totem and is surrounded by four bears, one on each corner of the statue’s base.
The Totem Pole Tournament was a huge event that brought people to Jasper from near and far.
In 1947, it even attracted a celebrity.
After filming Emperor’s Waltz in the park the year before, Bing Crosby returned to Jasper just to compete in the 18th annual tournament. And he won!
In the exhibit are photos of Crosby at the golf course, as well as one of him accepting his trophy.
Following the tournament that year, Crosby was asked to pick the winning raffle ticket for a set of brand new, state of the art, golf clubs with fibreglass shafts and out came Sandy Robinson’s ticket.
The Jasper local said he used those clubs—which are on display in the exhibit—for 40 years, although he admits they didn’t help his game one bit.
Robinson has donated an original painting of the 11th hole to be raffled off as a fundraiser for the museum. The 15x30 framed watercolour image depicts Pyramid Mountain in the background, as well as the green and sand traps on the way to the hole.
The winning ticket will be drawn in October.
The museum will hold an opening reception for the exhibit Friday, June 19, beginning at 7 p.m. Robinson will be there, along with a few other long-time Jasperites, to share stories from the old days.
The evening provides free admission to all of the museum’s exhibits, which showcase everything from the 75th anniversary of the Icefields Parkway to a look at mountaineer Frank Smythe.
There will be snacks and a cash bar.
Note: Special thanks to Sandy Robinson for the headline.
Nicole Veerman
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