Strong evidence now exists that several locals played golf in Nelson prior to 1910. The Victoria Golf Club invited players from Nelson to participate in the 1899 British Columbia Men's Golf Championship hosted by the Victoria G.C. Similarly, the Pacific North West Golf Association invited players from Nelson and Rossland to their annual outings (championships) in 1901 at the Spokane CC and in 1907 at the Victoria GC. The strongest evidence that players actively played the Royal & Ancient game in Nelson around the 1900 is found in a newspaper article published in the Vancouver Province newspaper on July 13, 1930. Douglas Lay, the resident government assayer in Nelson from 1900 - 1903, recounted his golfing experience in Nelson. Lay described the challenges he and his brother faced playing golf in early Nelson around 1900.
Vancouver Daily Province July 13, 1930
"They Laughed at B.C. 's First Interior Golf Course"
Douglas Lay, the resident mining engineer at Hazelton, recalled his early golfing experiences in Nelson.
"In 1899 my brother, the new manager of the Imperial Bank, in Nelson and I plus another Englishman, started the first golf course in the interior of British Columbia at Nelson. But we had to abandon the course owing to the crushing remarks made by the locals. There was no such thing as plus fours in those days and the absurd spectacle offered by three full-grown men with turned up trousers against the dewy grass proved too much for the spectators - too much, at any rate, for the golf enthusiasts. Our ardor became so thoroughly dampened that we finally gave up."
The Tribune (Nelson) April 8th, 1899 "Nelson Should Have Suitable Recreation Grounds"
For two years the citizens of Nelson attempted to have the council purchase a tract of land near Hall and Vernon Streets for a recreation grounds. In 1898 the Council planned to purchase land near the cemetery for recreation activities such as, baseball, tennis cricket, and golf. Finally in April a group of citizens placed an ultimatum in front of the council.
"There is a plot of land lying between the Hals Mine road and the train way, distant about one mile from the post office, that is suitable for all recreation activities. The land should be acquired by the city. , but if the council do not view the project favorably, then let the people themselves organize and acquire an area sufficient for all outdoor sports, including horse racing. Twenty acres would be ample for a half-mile track, a baseball field, tennis courts, a cricket field, and a golf link, the admirers of each particular sport improving their own fields, but the grounds to be held in common."
Judging by Douglas Lay's in 1930, the citizens or the council constructed a golf links.
From October 2 - 16, 1900 Spokane hosted their first Spokane Industrial Exposition. Judge Forin arranged a challenge match between a group of Kootenay golfers against members of the Spokane Country Club.
Nelson Daily Miner September 22nd, 1900
"Dear Mr. F.W. Bobbett, Spokane CC member.
I have been talking with a number of friends. How does the idea of an international golf match during the Spokane Exposition strike you? Talk it over with your golf enthusiasts, put up any kind of a trophy and I will try and get up a team of Britishers that will either pluck the feathers from your bald headed eagle or you can twist the lion's tail or it may be a little of both. Say the second week in October, when I think we can get a team of five or six players who only have past experience, for practice in the mountains is out of the question.
Yours truly,
Judge John A. Forin"
Mr. Hawley, the fair manager supported the idea: "He would do anything in his power to advertise the match in connection with the fair." Henry Hoyt, the most prominent golfer in Spokane, replied: " He believed arrangements could be made to put up a suitable cup or something of that kind that could betaken by the victorious team and held until the other team wins it back."
The Nelson Tribune Oct 8, 1900
"Judge Forin leaves this afternoon for Rossland to accompany the B.C. team to Spokane. The members of the Canadian Team include: Captain, Judge Forin, Mr. W. Dickson of Nelson, James Cowan, Alex W. McNaughton, and Peter McLarin Forin of Rossland, and Dr. J.B. (Jack) Carruthers of Revelstoke.
An article from the October 11th, 1900 The Spokane Review newspaper describes the match, the results, and biographical information for the B.C. players.
The Spokesman - Review October 11th, 1900 Spokane Won Golf Game forty-seven up on B.C. players
