Ken-Wo Country Club
a thinkers course
Ken-Wo Country Club, incorporated in1921, has progressed,
over the years, to become one of the finer layouts and popular courses in
Atlantic Canada. It’s tough enough to offer the expert a great
challenge...but, forgiving enough to offer the beginner an enjoyable round!
A very busy golf course, with 570 adult and 140 juniors calling it their
golfing home, Ken-Wo also registers about 7,500 to 8,000 green fee rounds
each season. Known as a “thinkers course,” with tree lined fairways and
tricky greens, many golfers have been humbled by “Death Valley!” …the five
great finishing holes. Ken-Wo’s Steve Ward owns the course record of 63,
while Charlottetown’s Chris McGregor holds the competitive record of 64,
shot in the 1993 Apple Blossom Tournament. Jessica Shepley of Oakville,
Ontario fired a 67 and set the ladies course record during the 2002 Canadian
Ladies Amateur.
Besides
the many rounds played by club members and visitors, Ken-Wo has always been a
very hospitable community. Each year their various divisions host the Apple
Blossom Tournament, Ladies Field Day, Valley Seniors, Ken-Wo Texas Scramble
Pro-Am and the Valley Harvest event. Many provincial championships have been
hosted, over the years, including seven during the 1990’s. Nationally, Ken-Wo
was the venue for the 1985 Canadian Junior Girls, the 1996 Canadian Club
Champions Championship, the 2001 Canadian Junior & Juvenile Boys Championship
and the 2002 Canadian Ladies Amateur Championship.
Ken-Wo’s doors have often been open to host and assist with
several fund raising events, including, Children’s Wish Foundation, Crohns &
Colitis, Big Brothers and Sisters, Breast Cancer Research, the Nova Scotia
Hearing and Speech Foundation and the Peter Gzowski Literacy Foundation.
The club expanded its layout to an 18-hole course in 1964. The
original pro shop was located where today’s clubhouse sits and the old clubhouse
was approximately 150 feet south, about where today’s flagpoles are situated. In
1978 the original pro shop was demolished and a new pro shop was built. Minor
improvements were made to the original clubhouse, however, the building was very
old and frail and everyone realized that a replacement would soon be needed. In
1987 the shareholders approved a long-range plan, determined that improvements
would be made to the course to help maintain their commitment to excellence. In
1990 it was decided to build the present clubhouse and pro shop facility.
Construction started in October 1990 and the new building was opened in May of
1991. The project included relocating the former pro shop building to the back
of the parking lot, where it now serves as a maintenance building.
During
the golf season, mid-April through mid-November, Ken-Wo employs forty to
forty-five people within the club’s operation of greens maintenance, proshop
operation and food and beverages services. A Board of Directors and the
involvement of many committees have successfully managed the course, throughout
the years. The club’s Management Team consists of the course superintendent,
head professional and the general manager and chief operating officer.
With a blended focus on today’s needs and Ken-Wo’s future,
club management continues to look for ways to improve the facility.
The pro shop has four CPGA golf professionals on staff
providing all membership services. The fully stocked shop offers top name golf
equipment and accessories at excellent prices. Other pro shop services include
club storage, cart fleet, club cleaning, club repair, club fitting, club
re-gripping and shoe cleaning and re-spiking. Lessons are available for
individuals and groups - call 681-5388 to make a lesson appointment. Driving
range balls are available by the bucket or you can purchase a season’s driving
range membership.
