HISTORY OF PINEBROOK

1886 was the year that the present golf course property was claimed as a homestead by Lieutenant Colonel Ernest G. May, newly arrived from England to locate land on which to prepare a home for himself and his Fiancée Eliza Mary Paice who was still in England waiting for Ernest to settle and prepare their future home. It was to be two years before the bride arrived for her wedding and her new life as a settler's wife.

Colonel May must have received quite a shock when he arrived in Calgary which at that time consisted of the Hudson's Bay Trading Post, the I.G. Baker Store, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Barracks and an area population of about 200. This was only three years after the Sarcee Reserve had been signed by treaty to the Indians and they still roamed freely about the area. However, he filed his claim at the claims shack and obtained this acreage in Springbank.

Eliza Mary left England by ship for Canada in May of 1888 and I will quote some excerpts from her diary as she wrote it on that journey. "Eventually we landed in Halifax. What a dirty looking place it is. The buildings are all made of wood! We purchased railway tickets and took a train that had seats on it by day and when turned over, became beds at night. We were wakened at 5 a.m. for breakfast, which consisted of some very tough beef with bread and butter. We stopped in Quebec for a day. Then we were on our way to the great West. I saw many Indians at the railway stations along the way who had come to see the big train go by. After an endless and tiring trip, I arrived in Calgary and was met by Ernest who settled me into the newly-built Royal Hotel, the stopping off place of many British Brides".

They were married the next day and went out to their new house and acreage. Her later diaries tell of the many trials that women faced in those years of the pioneer era. Trying to keep a house warm in the severe winters was a problem; unfenced range cattle created havoc with yards and gardens; there was a constant fear of prairie fire or chimney fire in the home. Many pioneer women were startled to discover a curious but friendly Indian standing in her kitchen and of course the great loneliness they experienced in this new country was very difficult for them. So many had come from heavily-populated countries and found themselves shut away from social contact. However, they also wrote about the beautiful rolling hills and the thrill of seeing the great sweep of the Rocky Mountains every day. The Mays discovered other fascinating things on this property. The large escarpment on the west side of the present clubhouse was used by the Indians as a buffalo run and they found a veritable stockpile of buffalo bones, arrows and arrowheads in the valley below. The Indians used to wrap their dead in buckskins and place them in the tree branches for burial. The Mays found many of these empty burial shrouds hanging from trees. They probably could have started their own museum of Indian relics.
Colonel May organized the Elbow River Rifle Club early in 1900 along the banks of the river in the valley below the present Clubhouse. Many men throughout the area became very fine marksmen and competed in the rifle competitions in Ottawa, and later excelled in the first war.

The Mays had three children one of whom was Roderick who after World War I service became Major "Dick" May. It was Major May who in 1947 built the original golf course on the property and called it Mayview Golf Course. He was severely handicapped with arthritis and confined to a wheelchair, so the course was never as beautiful as he dreamed it might be.

Major May also built the bandstand, buildings and tables in the picnic area along the river in the valley which became known as Sundance Picnic Grounds, which was rented to various groups for barbecues.  He also turned over the large barn and riding ring, which was located to the right of the present thirteenth fairway, to a branch of the Canadian Pony Club.  This was called Sundance Pony Club where for many years children from the southwest area learned the basics of English riding.

Major May never married and was quite lonesome at times for companionship and conversation.  Wilbur Griffith, being his closest neighbor, often spent time with him talking about his dreams for improvement, had he not been impeded by life in a wheelchair.

Major May passed away in 1965 without having fulfilled his dream of a better golf course.  The entire property was willed to his two nephews who then lived in British Columbia.  They came out to Alberta and tried to keep the golf course running.  Due partly to lack of interest and partly through lack of knowledge it became badly run down and in 1972, finally lost interest completely and elected to sell the acreage.  Wilbur Griffith, remembering Major May's dream decided to buy it and rebuild the entire course to make it one of the most outstanding golf facilities in Calgary.  In 1973, a golf course architect was hired and the rebuilding began.  The course was completed in 1975 and in March of that year, Clayton Robb became the Head Professional, the first Member of the Pinebrook staff.  Play was then by green fee, later by yearly fees and finally memberships were sold.  The building of the clubhouse began in 1976 designed by Gordon Atkins, a Calgary Architect.  It was completed in 1978.  By this time, the roster had grown to approximately 300 and an enthusiasm among its Members which still exists today.  During this time, Wilbur Griffith appointed Art Cox as head of a management committee to represent the Members and handle the increasing activities of the expanding operation.  The committee served until the end of 1979.

Pinebrook Golf & Winter Club was owned and operated by Wilbur Griffith until January, 1980 when it was purchased by the Members.  The name of the facility was changed to Pinebrook Golf & Country Club.

Pinebrook is financially stable, owned by 500 Shareholders, with an elected Board of Directors ensuring fiscal responsibility and understanding Members' needs.  Volunteer committees assume responsibility for the overall smooth running of everything from the clubhouse to the many tournaments enjoyed by Members.

Pinebrook boasts the finest practice facilities in the city.  Members have the use of a full size driving range with a grass practice tee and bunkers.  In addition there is a double size chipping green with sand bunkers and three bent grass putting greens.  Use of these amenities is included in the annual dues.

Pinebrook exists because a group of like minded, fun loving people chose to form a better club.  We invite you to join us!