NEIL HORNER
news@pqbnews.com
I
t may have been 100 years ago when the first ball landed in the cup at the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course, but when you read Claud Buchanan’s book, you can almost hear the putt going in.
Buchanan’s book, 100 years of Golf in Qualicum Beach, outlines the long and interesting history of the municipal course and then fills in that sketch with photographs, anecdotes and details that bring the historic facility to vibrant life.
For that reason, the 142-page coffee table book is a must-read for both fans of the beautiful game and for those more interested in the history of the community in which they live.
As is made amply clear in the book, the history of the Qualicum Beach Memorial Golf Course and Qualicum Beach itself are intimately interwoven, as one would expect in a community which has a main access road — Memorial Avenue — that bisects the course.
The lively, well-written text is set off with crisp, evocative, photographs in both colour and black and white. Of particular interest to local golfers, the book contains photographs of each of the course’s holes, along with profiles of some of the facility’s leading lights.
As former councillor and golf fan Jack Wilson put it so well in his foreword, “This book documents the long history of the course’s place in the community and the people who have contributed to its development in various capacities.”
Whatever your angle, 100 Years of Golf in Qualicum Beach is a must-read for anyone who wants to get a little more context about where they live — or who just want a good, interesting read.