Guildford Golf and Country Club

Water comes into play on 14 of 18 holes

The Guildford Golf and Country Club in Surrey has a colourful history. There are stories circulating about lawsuits, lost golf carts, found money stored in tin cans and strippers performing on the 8th fairway. There may be a grain of truth in some of these stories, but many are best left to the imagination.

The location of this public golf course was at one time a forest and blueberry patch, with 152nd Street more of a path for wandering cows than a major road. An American veterinarian, Lorne Kittelson, purchased the land and in 1954 opened for business in what was the middle of nowhere. It really was, “build it and they will come,” a reference from a popular line in the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. There are 45,000 rounds of golf now played yearly at Guildford and the golfers continue to come.

The Anderson family purchased the course in 1986 and it has been a family business ever since. Beginning around 1989 the course underwent major renovations, with contributions from Rob McIIroy, who built the greens, Alfred Anhorn and the owners Raoul and Dan Anderson.   The present dual superintendents, Mike Cain and Chris Morach, who have been at Guildford for 21 and 24 years respectively, have made major contributions to the construction and topography of the course.

The evolution of Guildford

Today Guildford is a mature golf course that does not resemble the original. For example, the original 3rd Hole is now Hole No. 7. The present third hole replaced the 9th Hole. The present 8th Hole used to be Hole No. 4, a short par three. The 13th Hole became the present 10th Hole and has completely reversed directions. The only original green that remains is No. 14.   Gradually the old course became new. 

Superintendent Mike Cain felt the changes took the power lines out of play, lengthened the course and added character. Jokingly he said “we designed as we went along and then redesigned the design.”

Some major changes have continued over the last few years, including paved cart paths, new power carts, grass bunkers, rebuilt tee boxes and better yardage markers.

All food service departments are under the direction of Richard Mah. Greg Kallen, the head chef, has an impressive resume, having worked at Monk McQueen, the Guildford Sheraton and Memphis Blues. With a staff of seven, Kallen can handle a tournament of up to 200 as well as weddings and business meetings. For the record, the food is excellent.

Coordinating the business end of the golf course is the general manager, Brian Mossop. One of Mossop’s jobs is to market Guildford in a very competitive Lower Mainland market. Mossop explained that promotion depends on having online marketing with email specials and competitive green fees. Two can play with a cart after noon for $75 plus tax—an excellent price.

“We cannot provide the same product as a $100 golf course, but our goal is to provide better golfing value,” Mossop said.

Providing good golf

What Guildford is really about is good golf. The course is built on an escarpment that runs from Hole 2 to Hole 14. Water comes into play on 14 of 18 holes. Bear Creek meanders from Hole 14 across the course to Hole 1, forcing golfers to hit over the creek eight times. The front nine is relatively flat compared to the back nine, making the course play much longer.

The greens are large, tiered and undulating. Along the fairways golfers will find ponds, sand traps, trees, bumps and more bumps. Learning to hit off a slope is a necessary skill. The 8th hole is the No. 1 handicap hole, a dogleg left at 410 yards. Hole 9 is the longest par four at 432 yards. The par fives are relatively short and are birdie holes if you can reach the green in two. Many of the holes are risk and reward holes, including Holes 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 14 and 15.

The 16th hole is the signature hole, named The Augusta Hole. It is modelled after the par three 12th hole at Augusta National in Georgia. From the back tees it is 154 yards, usually into a wind, downhill and over water to a narrow green. There is even that stone bridge. This hole can make or break your round—just like Augusta.  

The course record is 60, held by Dan Swanson of the PGA, who played his junior golf at Guildford and was rookie of the year on the Canadian tour. Many of the BC Lions football team members regularly play at Guildford, but they are not a threat to the course record.

Par 72, 6,504 yards, CR 71.9, SR 128