Mrs. Whitlock, tending to her garden at “Fernleigh,” the name given to her home on Main Road. Still visible today, Fernleigh backs onto the fairway of 5 North, and this portrait, painted by Whitlock’s first Club Captain, Frederick W. Hutchison, hangs in our clubhouse foyer. The ‘Lady of the Manor’ on which our club was founded, Whitlock proudly carries her name.

Arthur J. Darling, Whitlock’s first Club President. It was at his home on the 21st of September, 1912, that the first meeting of record was held for the purpose of organizing a golf club in Hudson Heights and at which the purchase of land from the Whitlock property was approved by eighteen founding members. In recognition of his and his proud lineage’s many contributions to Whitlock, our formal dining room is named in honour of the Darling family.

W. George Kent (right), often referred to as “the father of Whitlock” for his integral contributions in laying the groundwork of what would become Whitlock Golf Club, and Charles Murray (left), who, with his brother Albert, designed the original course.

Mrs. Whitlock playing the first ball at the informal opening of Whitlock Golf Club, 24 May 1913, with Club President, Mr. A.J. Darling, acting as her caddie. From a newspaper clipping of the day’s events, it was proclaimed that “never was any course laid out so quickly and so found to be in such perfect condition.”

Whitlock’s early days involved a more primitive game played over rough terrain with minimal maintenance—a far cry from today’s lush, watered fairways and manicured greens and tees. A hard and fast course in those days, it was extremely tight with narrow fairways and ferocious rough.

Barney, a white working horse, served Whitlock faithfully for many years before tractors took over in 1924. Appropriately, his picture still hangs in the front office, alongside the above poem by past member, E.D. Ring.

Through the twenties and thirties, Hugh Jaques (centre of left photo) was a dominant figure around Whitlock. He was by far the longest hitter of his time, and the rest of his game left little to be desired as attested by his two Quebec Amateur Championships and six Whitlock Club Championships.

Hanging on the east wall of the Hunter Lounge, this large oil painting was presented to the club by member and local artist, Frederick W. Hutchison, in the 1930’s. Over the years, there has been much speculation as to exactly what part of Whitlock it portrays, but to each site suggestion and every attempt to get a specific response out of the artist, Fred would simply reply—in his slow drawl—“It’s Whitlock.”

Awakening nostalgic memories of Whitlock, this 1944 poem was received with Christmas greetings by members serving overseas during the Second World War, encouraging them all to “hurry back home.” Aptly reflecting the heart of our club identity, the sentiment and several lines of this poem—believed to have been written by past member, Nancy Rankin—are echoed throughout our current website.

Over four decades, Tom Hunter crafted a distinguished golfing career including 8 Provincial titles and the 1984 Canadian Senior Championship on top his unprecedented twelve Whitlock Club Championships and ten Senior Club Championships. A plaque commemorating Tommy’s golfing achievements lies in front of the oak tree planted in his memory to the right of the silver tees on 1 North, and our clubhouse lounge is named in his honour.

Producing more than her share of amateur Champions over the years, Whitlock’s competitive success reached a pinnacle with 1956’s “Grand Slam Year.” Pictured here (from left to right) are: Tom Hunter, Quebec Four-Ball Champion; Judy Darling, Quebec Junior Champion; Remi Lefebvre, Quebec Junior Champion; Mary Pyke, Canadian Close Champion; and Joe Leblanc, Quebec Open & Quebec Amateur Champion.

Perhaps the most prominent of the Darling dynasty, Judy (Darling) Evans won three Quebec Junior Championships, the last of which came in a banner 1957 season that saw her also capture the Canadian Junior and her first of five consecutive Quebec Amateur Championships. Back-to-back Canadian Open Champion in 1960 and 1961 and three-time Whitlock Club Champion, Judy is enshrined in both the Quebec and Canadian Golf Halls of Fame.

Whitlock reached 18-hole status in 1923, incorporating the design of renowned golf architect, Willie Park Jr. With minor changes, this layout remained as is until major renovations and a reorganization of the course led by Howard Watson in the early 1960’s culminated in the current North and South courses beginning with the 1965 season.

Whitlock’s original clubhouse started out as a humble bungalow but was expanded quickly with the demands of a growing and active membership. With the opening of the present clubhouse in the winter of 1964, the once grand red-roofed building was razed in the summer of 1965 with the fieldstone wall on the knoll east of the tee at 4 North all that remains of the old clubhouse.

In the early sixties, a weird and wonderful crow that members named Sebastien would join one and all on Whitlock’s first tee, where he made a habit of stealing tees, scorecards and any loose change lying around. A regular golf devotee, Sebastien was made an honourary member of the club.

Over the years, Whitlock has enjoyed a rich tradition of dedicated head professionals who integrated themselves in the local community and became an essential part of the fabric of the club. Pictured here are: Frank Grant (1912-1925); George Elder (1926-1939); brothers Arnold (1946-1954) and Jim McLean (1955-1972); and Chuck Tekenos (1979-2002); not pictured but just as deserving of mention is Christian Lavoie, who served from 2003 through Whitlock’s Centennial in 2012.

A thoroughly community effort, the Hudson Curling Club was formed in 1952 with humble beginnings at the site of the present Hudson Legion. With the curling and social activities of the club rapidly outgrowing their original location, the Hudson Curling Club was incorporated into Whitlock Golf & Country Club in 1963 and building plans for the new clubhouse were amended to accommodate four sheets of ice.

A member of rinks representing Quebec in the 1961 Briar and twice capturing the Quebec Senior Provincial Championship (1968 & 1969), John Crombie is pictured above (left photo: second from left, and right photo: third from left). Along with family matriarch, Dorothy—affectionately known as “Mother” and member of the 1976 Quebec Senior Provincial Champion rink—and son, Jack—a very accomplished curler in his own right—the Crombie family has been integral to Whitlock’s curling lore.

Skipping rinks to the Quebec Provincial Championship (1968) and Quebec Senior Provincial Championship (1976), Peggy Bradshaw also excelled as a golfer and actively participated in the sport as Club Captain in 1968 and Club President in 1972. Peggy curled into her 90’s and delivered the first stone at Whitlock Curling’s 60th Anniversary Bonspiel in 2012 at age 94. Her picture, taken at this event, hangs on the wall of the Bradshaw Room named in her honour.

Among the many legacy initiatives on Whitlock’s grounds, members and guests are greeted by the fieldstone gates at our front entrance, built in celebration of the club’s 75th Anniversary in 1987, and by the blue spruces that grace the winding drive from Côte St-Charles up to the clubhouse, planted in commemoration of Canada’s Centennial in 1967.

Rising to stardom as a junior, Mary Ann Hayward went on to distinguish herself as one of North America’s greatest amateur golfers. With 10 Whitlock Club Championships and an astounding twenty-six Amateur and eighteen Mid-Amateur National and Provincial titles to her name, Mary Ann is the only Canadian ever to win the US Mid-Amateur Championship. A member of the Quebec, Ontario and Canadian Golf Halls of Fame, Mary Ann is an honourary life member of Whitlock.

*Portrait by Reg Finlayson

Art depicting some of Whitlock’s most iconic vistas—painted and donated by past members—adorns the walls of our clubhouse. Pictured here (from left to right) are: the infamous Arm Chair green of 9 South with overlooking clubhouse, by Nancy Rhind; 9 South from the tee and 9 North with clubhouse, by G. Gratton; and the Old Clubhouse, by John F. Lewis.

Integral to achieving Whitlock’s certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Susan Jacobsen served as Chairperson of the club’s Environmental Committee for much of the 1990’s. In recognition of her significant contributions, a plaque commemorating “Lake Susan” is positioned at the foot of the pond on 9 South.

In 2008, Yohann Benson became just the second Quebec golfer ever to qualify for the U.S. Open. Honing his game at Whitlock before turning pro and making Quebec Golf History, Yohann won Whitlock’s 2004 Club Championship—10 years after his grandfather and longtime member, Tom Benson (centre), won his third Senior Club Championship.

Designed by Hall of Fame golf course architect and Hudson native, Graham Cooke, the West course was opened to play in the summer of 2008. Completing Whitlock’s current 27-hole layout, the West course offers breathtaking sightlines, abundant natural hazards and dramatic contouring that—in typical Whitlock fashion—challenge and delight golfers of all skill levels.

Ken Darling—nephew of A.J. Darling and Whitlock’s oldest serving member at the time—breaking ground on and cutting the ribbon to officially open the West course; pictured at both occasions with Howard Martin, who, in his six years as Club President, was a pioneering force in bringing this long-awaited vision to fruition.

Carved into the slope adjacent the green on 9 South, Whitlock’s Centennial Park is named in honour of Miriam McAlary—a proud member of the club for 57 years—and offers a lovely vantage point from which to watch incoming golfers, or brief respite after climbing “cardiac hill” up to the green.

Introduced in 2012, Whitlock’s Centennial Logo—a stylized woodpecker—is seen here alongside the club’s original emblem and the shield that replaced it when Whitlock incorporated curling into its Official Charter in 1963. Representative of the unmistakable pileated woodpeckers native to Whitlock, this contemporary design—like the club itself—is perpetually looking forward.

One of Whitlock’s unofficial club historians, Jean Dorval is the craftsman behind these beautiful displays adorning the walls of our clubhouse. Member contributions such as these and the invaluable efforts of Tim Wallace in compiling Whitlock’s Centennial Anniversary book are essential to connecting present-day Whitlock with the stories and artefacts of generations past.

Highlighting the club’s Centennial Anniversary celebrations in 2012, an Edwardian themed Gala d’Époque fancifully transported Whitlock back to an earlier era with elegant vintage cars and golfers clad in period attire: gentlemen in caps, jackets and knickerbockers; and ladies in hats, blouses and long skirts.

A crowning monument of our 2012 celebrations, Whitlock’s Centennial Clock is emblematic of the club’s past, present and future—classically designed, firmly grounded, built to last, and always moving forward. A stately eleven feet tall, it stands as a bastion of pride for our wonderfully deserving community of members and serves as both a reminder and a promise of times well spent.

As Howard Putnam wrote in the club’s 50th Anniversary book, “Whitlock has always been richly endowed with people—people whose sense of dedication and unselfishness has guided its destiny from the very beginning.” Too many to even begin to properly mention or thank them here, the story of Whitlock surely would not be complete nor would it be possible without the many memorable personalities and selfless contributions of our staff and members over the years.