Founding, Stages Canadian Amateur
The first meeting to discuss the formation of a Canadian Golf Association was held on June 6, 1895 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club. The secretary of the club, Alex Simpson, was a strong proponent of organizing a national organization to conduct national championships. In 1895 he invited clubs from across Canada to attend “the first national golf championship”, and to discuss the organization of an association with the mandate of conducting such events. It was agreed that such an association should be formed, and would hold its first Annual General Meeting on September 27, at the time of the Interprovincial Matches between Ontario and Quebec.
The constitution drawn up for the purpose stated the objectives of the organization as: "promote interest in the game of golf; the protection of the mutual interests of its members; establish and enforce uniformity in the rules of game by creating a representative authority,; its Executive Committee to be a court of reference as a final authority in matters of controversy; to establish a uniform system of handicapping; to decide on what links the Amateur and Open Championship shall be played."
The constitution was signed by the following ten clubs from across Canada:
Royal Montreal Golf Club
Royal-Quebec Golf Club
Royal Ottawa Golf Club
Kingston Golf Club
Toronto Golf Club
Rosedale Golf Club
Hamilton Golf and Country Club
London Golf Club
Winnipeg Golf Club
Victoria Golf Club
The first officers of the organization were:
| President: | Hon. George A. Drummond, Royal Montreal Golf Club | |
| Vice Presidents: | Lt-Col. D.T. Irwin, Royal Ottawa John Hamilton, Royal Quebec Golf Club |
|
| Hon. Secretary: | W.C.J. Hall, Royal Quebec Golf Club | |
| Members: | Charles Hunter, Toronto Golf and Niagara-on-the-Lake Lt.-Col. Cotton, Kingston Golf Club J.F. Kirk, Rosedale Golf Club J.L. Morris, Royal Montreal F.P. Betts, London |
The prefix Royal was granted to the RCGA in June 1896 by Queen Victoria. There were two categories of membership in the RCGA when it was formed; Allied which meant it was a regularly constituted golf club in Canada, and Associate which was also to have a golf course, clubhouse and at least 25 members.
Membership in the RCGA was:
| 1895 | 10 clubs | |
| 1898 | Associates: Allied: |
11 3 |
| 1902 | 20 | |
| 1905 | 33 | |
| 1961 | 512 | |
| 1990 | 1500 |
Read more about this topic: Golf Canada
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