Written by staff blogger, Vicky
How is it you can live in a place for more than a decade and not know something exists?
How?
How is there a golf course in downtown Dartmouth, and I had no idea?
Where have I been?
Not playing golf in Dartmouth, apparently.
And Brightwood! What a lovely name. I wonder where that came from?
Let's find out!
Henry Elliot and The Big Ol' House
Henry Stephen Collins Elliot was born in Dartmouth on January 25, 1824 to Jonathan and Charlotte (nee Collins) Elliot. Henry grew up in a family of woodworkers. His father owned a large lumber yard on what is now Edward Street in Dartmouth; the yard supplied his primary business as a contractor. Henry's step-grandfather, Nathaniel Russell, was a carpenter out of Russell Lake (and yes, it was named after him!). With these influences in his life, it is easy to understand why Henry also took an interest in the building trade. Howeve,r Henry would lean more towards design than construction itself.
As an adult Henry became an architect. He was well known for his use of both Italianate and Picturesque architectural styles. His designs often included towers, cupolas, and richly decorated window and door frames. He designed several well known buildings in both Dartmouth and Halifax, including "Seaview," a home for his brother Francis Coffin Elliot on Church Street, Dartmouth (demolished 1965); "Evergreen," now the Dartmouth Heritage Museum on Newcastle Street, Dartmouth; the "Octagon House" on Dahlia Street, Dartmouth (demolished 1969); and"Pine Hill" on Francklyn Street in Halifax (demolished c. 1954). Although Henry, his wife Elizabeth (Bowes), and their children lived for many years at 22 North Street in Dartmouth, by 1868 the family had moved to an estate on the north side of town that they called "Brightwood."
The Brightwood Estate was located off of School Street just behind the Dartmouth Common. The above map from 1878 suggests that the property was still quite forested, but over time Henry utilized the property as a "gentleman's farm" or a hobby farm. And, of course, Henry did not skimp when it came to Brightwood House.
Brightwood House was simple compared to some of the designs Henry had made for other estates, but what it lacked in embellishments it made up for in size. Brightwood was a large two-story farmhouse with an extended covered porch and, of course, a classic Henry Elliot tower which added additional height and grandeur. After Henry's death in 1892, his daughter Bertha lived at Brightwood until the early 1900s when the property changed ownership.
Play A Round and Find Out
The game of golf got its start on the east coast of Scotland in the 15th century. What began as a pastime of hitting pebbles over small hills and tracks with curved sticks grew into a Scottish sensation, so much so that it caught royal attention. At first, the reaction was not positive. The game was banned by King James II of Scotland as he thought it caused men to neglect their military training. However, by the 16th century King James IV had taken up the sport and golf received the royal seal of approval. Golf then spread through Great Britain and Europe, and made its way across the world; technology improved, the rules were perfected, and over time the game became what we know today. Perhaps because of its royal endorsements, golf became associated with the upper class, and golf and country clubs where memberships were a requirement began to form.
The beginnings of golf in Halifax began - to the surprise of no one - with three Scottish bank clerks in 1873. The men took to Halifax's South Common and created a three hole course. It is unclear how long this course was maintained, but by the turn of the century Halifax had its first official golf club, the Gorsebrook Golf Club, which took its name from the estate of Enos Collins, former owner of much of the Club's property. This was excellent news for golf enthusiasts in Halifax, but a bit of a cumbersome trek for those living in Bedford, Sackville, Dartmouth, or any of the other settlements outside of Halifax proper who wished to play. By the early 1900s, some folks in Dartmouth wagered they could bring golf a little closer to home.
In December, 1913, a group of golf enthusiasts held a meeting to discuss the idea of forming a golf club in Dartmouth. One of the major players in the new business endeavour was Colonel Isaac Watson Vidito. Col. Vidito came to Dartmouth by way of Nictaux in the Annapolis Valley, and served with the 63rd Regiment in Halifax. He was well known about town as the president of M S Brown & Co Ltd., a jewelry store on Granville Street that would later be purchased by Birks, and also as Dartmouth's Mayor from 1921-1922. It was Col. Vidito who campaigned for investors in the project and helped get Brightwood Golf Club off the ground. During the meeting, the group collected investment funds totalling $22,000 (or approximately $597,600 today). In the new year, they formed an investment group called the Brightwood Golf Club and purchased upwards of fifty acres of land in the heart of Dartmouth, which included Henry Elliot's Brightwood lands and homestead.
With the grounds complete and Henry Elliot's former home serving as the Club House, the nine hole Brightwood Golf Club opened to great fan fair in the summer of 1914. The inaugural swing from the first tee was taken by none other than Prime Minister of Canada, the Honourable Robert Borden on July 3; the full course opened two weeks later on July 17. The entrance fee at opening was $10, (or around $270 today), and the club offered both mens and ladies divisions ensuring the game of golf was available to all members (although for many years, women could only play at certain times of day). Many well known names in Halifax/Dartmouth were members of the Brightwood Golf Club, including the Honourable Chief Justice Robert E. Harris, William Henry Dennis (Controller of the Halifax Herald), James G. Farquhar (Farquhar & Co. Ltd. Shipping Fish and Provision Merchant), J. W. Moir (Moir Ltd. Manufacturers of Biscuits, Confectionery and Chocolates), and John Plummer Derwent Llwyd (Clergyman, Cathedral of All Saints).
Despite having good support, Brightwood did face financial difficulties. It was expensive to maintain the Club and grounds, and so investors never saw a return on their capital. The dues and membership fees were just enough to keep Brightwood open. Col. Vidito would eventually become the Club's official owner by putting up $40,000 of his own money to ensure it did not close. Not to be forgotten by history, Col. Vidito donated a trophy to the Club to act as the prize for the Club Championship, aptly named The Vidito Cup.
In 1919, the course was updated by Willie Park Jr. Born in Musselburgh, Scotland, Willie was part of a golfing dynasty. His father, Willie Park Sr., was a four time British Open Champion, and his Uncle Mungo Park Sr. also claimed a British Open Champion title. Willie followed in their footsteps and also won the British Open title for himself. Willie Jr. designed his first golf course in Innerleithen, Scotland in 1886. As demand for golf courses grew, so did demand for Willie Jr.'s skills. He designed courses across the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States earning the title "the doyen of course architects" (Evalu18). Willie himself stated: "The situation at Brightwood is very fine, and they will have a first-class golf course when the suggested alterations are carried out" (Brightwood Golf). Having Willie involved in the redesign no doubt made golf aficionados turn their eyes towards Brightwood.
In the early 1920s, the Ashburn Golf Club in Halifax opened and created additional competition for local golf course supremacy. Located on Joseph Howe Drive, Ashburn consisted of an impressive eighteen hole course. Not to be outdone, the Brightwood Golf Club investors purchased additional lands in order to expand Brightwood to eighteen holes. This expansion and a redesign of the first nine holes was done by Donald Ross. Donald was born in Dornoch, Scotland and spent his youth learning not only the skills of the game, but also groundskeeping and club making. In the late 1800s he came to the United States and began working for the Oakley Country Club near Boston, Massachusetts. During his time at Oakley, Donald redesigned the courses. He was so successful in his work that he caught the eye of other golf clubs across the United States and Canada and spent the rest of his life both designing and redeveloping golf courses. Between 1912-1948, Donald was considered to be America's most prolific course architect, and so it was no small thing to have his involvement in the Brightwood expansion. Donald favoured a natural feel to his designs. He was well known for creating courses that challenged all of the skills required of a professional golfer rather than focusing on a specific skill or a specific type of shot. That's not to imply that his courses were easy to play. Donald built in moguls - a series of small hills - that created a rippled terrain on the fairway. He also built false fronts - a ledge or a ridge - leading up to the green; these cause the ball to roll backward if not approached correctly. In short, Donald's style might best be described as serene, but sneaky.
Through the 1920s, the membership at Brightwood continued to grow. In 1922 there were two hundred seventy-eight members, but sources say it reached as many as four hundred. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 and the War Years took their toll on membership, and in 1939 a fire destroyed the caddyhouse causing $1000 (or $21,000 today) worth of damages. However, despite life's challenges, the Club remained active and was a favoured institution for local golfers and visitors alike.
Mid-Century Modern
Although the Brightwood courses and greens have retained much of the architectural changes Donald Ross designed in the 1920's, the same cannot be said for the Club House. By the 1960's, the house that Henry Elliot had designed - though beautiful - was thought to no longer serve the needs of the membership. Although not all members of the club were in favour, it was ultimately decided that after the 1966 season was complete that Brightwood House would be torn down to make way for a new facility.
At a cost of $351,000 (or around $3,300,000 today), Brightwood Golf Club constructed a new, modern Club facility: "All uncertainty about the new quarters, expressed by some Brightwood regulars, disappeared when they got a glimpse of the warm, beckoning rooms" (Dartmouth Free Press, July 27, 1967, pg. 11). The new facility featured a large banquet hall, a sizable outdoor patio, an apartment for the live-in manager, the 19th Hole Lounge, and - of course- stunning views of Dartmouth and Halifax Harbour. Over the years, the Club House has been renovated to include a meeting space named after Col. Vidito, as well as more and larger windows to take better advantage of the surrounding views.
As the city of Dartmouth grew, the Brightwood Golf Club became surrounded by suburbia. Homes and schools, apartment buildings, and small businesses enveloped the Club and brought with them both blessings and curses. Many people had purchased homes near Brightwood specifically because of their interest in golf and the Brightwood Club (despite the occasional rogue golf ball damaging nearby property; there are nets to catch them now!) but this border of rooftops and picket fences meant that Brightwood could no longer expand. As years passed, this became an issue for Brightwood hosting professional game play.
Since opening, Brightwood has played host to six National Golf Championships. However, according to the Canada Professional Golfers' Association (Canada PGA), modern competition standards at the national level require that a tournament site must not only be eighteen holes, but it must also be 5800 - 7200 yards in length depending on the type of tournament (men's, women's, senior's, etc.). Brightwood is only 5,554 yards long. This meant that the Club could no longer host national competitions. Being unable to host at the national level combined with expensive upgrades required for courses' irrigation system led Brightwood leadership to contemplate building a second golf course.
In the 1950s Brightwood had purchased four hundred acres of land near Spider Lake and Waverley Road. They intended to build a second golf course on the land, as well as a residential development. However, in 1986 a large portion of the area was declared a protected watershed. Part of the plan for the proposed new course included filling in some of the waterways; this would no longer be possible due to watershed protections. Brightwood leadership continued to consider the site an option, as the plans for the new courses could be altered to allow for the waterways to remain, but environmental groups including the Dartmouth Board of Health petitioned against the development. The groups argued that golf courses rely heavily on pesticides to keep their grounds clear of unwanted pests and weeds, and there was a strong fear that the pesticides would leach into the ground and contaminate the watershed. Questions regarding how the development could be done in an environmentally safe way dominated much of the discussion around the project.
However, during this time another serious question arose: if Brightwood opened a second larger golf course near Waverley would they need the downtown Dartmouth location at all? Lengthy discussions began regarding the sale and redevelopment of the Dartmouth Brightwood Golf Club property. This talk became more and more serious as yet another potential site was considered for a new club.
When is a Park not a Park?
By the 2000s, Brightwood was eyeing a site to the south-east of the land near Spider Lake. Nestled between Bedford and the Burnside Industrial Park, a 103 acre property near Anderson Lake was a strong contender for a new course. A deal was negotiated with Clayton Developments and Dexter Construction to exchange the downtown Brightwood location, as well as the four hundred acres near Spider Lake, for the Anderson Lake land and the full construction of a new eighteen hole golf course and club house. In October 2005 the proposal was presented to the Brightwood Club's membership. A vote was held to decide if the club should stay downtown or move to Burnside. The vote passed with 85 percent of those who voted saying yes to the move (Bornais, The Daily News, October 5, 2005). But this support for the move not the end of the discussion. In fact, it was only the beginning.
Since the 1970s, all golf courses in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) have been zoned as parkland. This means that even though Brightwood is a private Club, the land is a green space and therefore cannot be used for residential development. The land could theoretically be rezoned, but during an HRM Council meeting held in February of 2006, Council members decided that they would not entertain discussion regarding rezoning the area (The Burnside News, pg. 5). Brightwood then changed their strategy.
Despite being a private club, Brightwood has a significant cultural presence in the greater community: "Brightwood has been a tremendous corporate citizen during its almost 100-year history, allowing the golf course to be utilized for recreational purposes (hiking, dog walking, coasting, cross-country skiing, skating, etc.)" (Horner, The Chronicle Herald, Jan. 14, 2006, p.A11). It is partly for this reason that three thousand Dartmouth citizens signed a petition against the Brightwood redevelopment. Knowing the social and cultural ties the community had for the Club, Brightwood approached Council with a new plan. They proposed that HRM purchase the property - which was at the time valued to be worth $15-20 million - and turn the area into a proper public park (Lightstone, The Chronicle Herald, May 6, 2006, pg. B1). Although the idea was considered, no deal was ever made and the Clayton Developments/Dexter Construction deal fell through. Central Dartmouth remains Brightwood's home to this day.
More than a Century Celebrations
Alex Joseph is a fifty-five year member of Brightwood, a former employee, a former Club President, and Brightwood's unofficial Club Historian. With the help of members, owners, and staff Alex has made it his mission to preserve as much of Brightwood's history as he can. A quick walk through the Club House demonstrates this work:
In 2014 Brightwood celebrated its 100th Anniversary. Alex chaired the centennial anniversary committee. To mark the occasion, a mixed golf tournament was held that required no entry fee, and had the luxury of snacks at each hole. One Hundred and forty-four people ranging from junior to senior golfers divided into teams of eight and played for centennial glory. The festivities also included the Night of Champions, a glamourous evening that celebrated previous Club, Provincial, and National Champions. Bagpipes and a red carpet welcomed winners to a steak/lobster dinner hosted by Dartmouth's own Paul Hollingsworth, CTV news reporter and author.
Brightwood Highlights
1917 - A Hole-in-One Competition was held at Brightwood where Mrs. E. M. MacLeod attempted the feat at the Club's eighth hole. In sinking her shot, she received a free membership for the upcoming year and gained the honour of being the second ever women to register as having made a hole in one in Canada (Canadian Golfer, November 1917, pg. 353).
1917 - All of the dishes, china, and glassware belonging to the Club were destroyed as a result of the Halifax Explosion on December 6, 1917.
1920 - Gerald C. Mielke wins the first Vidito Cup.
1927 - The first Men's Nova Scotia Amateur Championship is held. Frank Miekle (brother of Gerald C. Mielke) won the event (Brightwood Golf).
1928 - During championship play, Mrs. Guest from the Ken-Wo Golf Club in New Minas "...performed a feat that is perhaps unparalleled in golfing annals in this or any other part of the world. In taking her shot on the fairway of the twelfth hole at Brightwood, Mrs. Guest shot her ball directly into the sweater pocket of Mrs. W. L. Muir who was playing ahead of her. This then begged the question of how play was to proceed as Mrs. Muir had already continued on to the green and taken the ball with her: "... finally the ruling was made that Mrs. Guest's ball had struck a moving object and she was permitted to drop the ball without penalty" (Canadian Golfer, July 1928, pg. 246).
1931 - The Maritime Seniors' Golf Association Tournament was held at Brightwood where G. M. Howard of Halifax took the Championship (Canadian Golfer, November 1931, pg. 473).
1937 - Mrs. F. S. Coombs won her 5th Ladies Club Championship.
1940 - During the Second World War, many local golf clubs refrained from hosting most of their traditional tournaments in lieu of supporting the war effort. However, many clubs, including Brightwood, did host field days to keep up the spirits of local residents.
1946 - The Divot was the name of the Brightwood newsletter. The newsletter would change names over the years and also be known as The Birdie, Date Line Brightwood, and Down Memory Lane.
1953 - Rex Joudrey and Peter Doig represent Brightwood at the Willingdon Cup tournament in Montreal.
1963 - The Nova Scotia Men's Amateur Tournament is held at Brightwood with member Don O'Hearn winning the day.
1968 - Lawrence (Butch) O'Hearn is awarded his PGA playing card, the first and thus far only Maritimer to do so.
1975 - Brightwood member Dave "Ducky" Webber is selected to play on the Canadian Commonwealth Team in Durban, South Africa.
1976 - Brightwood member Andrea Rushton wins the Nova Scotia Junior Girl's tournament held at the New Ashburn.
1986 - Jennifer Baker wins her first Provincial Junior Girls title. She would go on to win five consecutive titles.
1989 - Brightwood celebrates its 75th anniversary.
1992 - Brightwood hosts the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship.
1997 - Eighteen Brightwood members record landing a hole-in-one.
2006 - The first annual Friends of Dartmouth High School Gold Tournament is held at Brightwood.
2009 - Local sports hero Gordie Smith is inducted into the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame. Gordie spent his formative years on the Brightwood Golf Course and would go on to win amateur titles in 1981, 1982, and 1985.
2014 - Brightwood hosts the Men's Amateur Championship for the first time since 1972 to celebrate its one hundredth anniversary.
Famous Visitors Include: NHL hockey players Paul Henderson, Bobby Orr, and Andy Bathgate; composer and pianist Haygood Hardy; fried chicken king Colonel Harland Sanders of KFC; Scottish folk music duo The Alexander Brothers; former tv personality Don Cherry; the Stanley Cup and the Memorial Cup; and many more.
The Finishing Lines
The Brightwood Golf and Country Club isn't just for golfers. Its green lawns and walking paths are a welcome spot where members and non-members alike can enjoy scenic surroundings in the midst of a bustling city. Without a doubt Brightwood's history and its connection to the community make it a gem in the heart of downtown Dartmouth.
Library Sources
The Burnside News (Issue February 2006)
Golf Gleanings Old and New, and the History of the Maritime Seniors' Golf Association
Halifax Central Library Vertical File - Golf
Inside Burnside Magazine (Issues February 1995; April 1995)
Newspapers on Microfilm (The Dartmouth Free Press, The Daily News, The Chronicle Herald)
Newspapers Online (Via Eureka, The Daily News, The Chronicle Herald)
Additional Sources
Special Thanks to Alex Joseph and the Brightwood Golf and Country Club
The Art of Don Ross - Discovering the Architect Behind Legendary Golf Courses, The Golf Academy
"Brightwood", Canadian Golfer, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Brightwood, E-News, December 2022, Sam Austin, Dartmouth Centre
Canadian Golfer, Canadian Golf Hall of Fame
Dartmouth Elected Officials, Halifax Regional Municipality
Donald Ross Could Golf His Ball, Pinehurst Southern Pines Aberdeen Area
Elliot, Henry S., Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950
Evergreen, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Helen Creighton Nova Scotia Archives, 1987-178 number 271
Golfing, Brightwood Golf and Country Club, Halifax Municipal Archives, 101-80C-8-4
Golfing at Brightwood, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Information Service, Nova Scotia Archives number 13329
Henry Elliot, Architect, Dartmouth Heritage Museum
Henry Elliot House, Canada's Historic Places
The History of Golf, Historic UK
Inflation Calculator, Bank of Canada
Kelly, Sean T., Gear Shifts: A Brief Chronology of Golf's Game Changers, Linked Golfers
Mielke, Gerald, Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame
New Brightwood Golf Club House, 1967, Halifax Municipal Archives 101 80C 8 4, published in the Dartmouth Free Press, July 27, 1967, pg. 11
Nova Scotia Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Nova Scotia Archives
Octagon House, Halifax Bloggers
O'Hearn, Lawrence "Butch", Nova Scotia Port Hall of Fame
Our History, Brightwood Golf and Country Club
Places: Halifax, Halifax Co.: Houses: Pine Hill, Nova Scotia Archives Photographic Collection
Ross, Donald, American Society of Golf Course Architects
Smith, Gordie, Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
A Timeline of Golf History in Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame
Whos' Who in Canada, Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Edition, International Press Limited, 1927
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