“June 3, members and friends flocked in large numbers for the grand opening of Lookout Point Country Club. Champions pronounced the course one of the finest on the continent. Some 290 members are enrolled, and it is expected the membership will largely increase now that the links are open to the followers of the game.” - June 1922, Welland Evening Tribune

It began in the early 1920s and started at the Welland Club. The idea for the establishment of a country club in the nearby community of Fonthill came from a group of businessmen who enjoyed the sport of lawn bowling.   

They agreed to purchase two farms totaling 106 acres of lush agricultural soil on the side of the Niagara Escarpment. From the highest point of this property, the Niagara River and the mists from Niagara Falls could be seen in the distance.  Lake Ontario could be seen on the left and Lake Erie to the right.  The vantage point had originally housed a government observatory and was known as both “Observatory Hill” and “Pelham Heights”.  Parties, picnics, dances, and other social events were held on the grounds.  The plan was to build tennis courts, a golf course, and a clubhouse for members of the Welland Club and their families.

In 1920, the group reached out to Walter J. Travis. He had already completed 12 golf courses in the United States and consulted on a dozen or so other projects. He was quickly building a reputation as a course architect and leading expert on course maintenance.

“I have played over nearly all of the famous golf courses on both sides of the Atlantic. But I have yet to see any course on this side of the pond which will in any way surpass that of the ‘Lookout Point Country Club'. It has all the attributes of a real championship course. The contours and natural features are all that could be desired. The soil conditions are most excellent for the growing of golf turf. The location of the property is most charming."

- Canadian Golfer - December 1921 - Vol. VII No.8 - Welland’s New Golf Club

At first, only four holes were available, all in the lower area of the present course, radiating from the site of the present pond. In late 1921, The Board of Directors of the Welland Golf Club had decided to complete the construction of an 18-hole course, instead of a 9-hole one, believing that the wonderful site and the membership prospects would justify this. By the date of the official opening on June 3, 1922, there were 10 holes available, and shortly thereafter the full 18.

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to play golf with a hundred-year-old golf ball?

In this video, Rick Shields, PGA Golf, gets out on the golf course with a golf ball that is 100 years old!