New clubhouse marks milestone for Eagle Crest

BY JOHN DECOSTE

Kings County Register

While Osbourne Ward had big dreams for the future of the Eagle Crest Golf Course when it opened in 1994, he “never would have expected growth like this.”

From humble beginnings, Eagle Crest has grown to the point where it now has 450 members, including some from as far away as Halifax.

Now, with the opening of a new clubhouse – another dream of Ward’s – the future appears bright for the Centreville course, which borders Saxon Street and Sherman Belcher Road with a new entrance off Lakewood Road. “We’ve grown, not necessarily because we wanted to, but because people have demanded it,” Ward says.

He added, “around 25 per cent of our membership is from Halifax, and probably 40 per cent of our annual revenue is coming into our area from outside. A lot of these people are looking for a golf destination, and we’re one of several good courses in our area, within a 20-30 minute radius.”Asked if the growth of Eagle Crest has increased competition with other local courses, he suggested, rather, “I find we’re trying to work together more to attract golfers to our area.”

The recent provincial Men’s Four-Ball tournament was jointly hosted by Eagle Crest and Berwick Heights. As well, Eagle Crest, Annapolis Royal, Eden and Paragon are working together to offer a discounted green fees card. “You have to be a member of one of the courses, and the card is good at any of the four.”

One of the big advantages of the new clubhouse is “we’re able to host more higher-profile tournaments.”

Eagle Crest will host the Nova Scotia Ladies’ Two-Ball championship June 29, another provincial event to add to its growing resume.

The Men’s Four-Ball attracted 188 two-player teams, the highest total ever for the event and an increase of 53 teams over the previous year. “It was just a matter of a few phone calls and making it work.”

Ward says there had been pressure on him to build a new larger clubhouse, and now it has become a reality, “people are saying they just love it - especially the view of both mountains from the driveway. “I envisioned this from the start. We owned the land, including the right of way (from Lakewood Road), but it had to be rezoned, which took a while, but it’s come full circle and it’s finally here.”

The clubhouse is roomy, including a meeting room overlooking the 18th green. “All our holes are still the same, though some of the numbers have changed” in order to have the starting and finishing holes (1, 9, 10 and18) all near the clubhouse. “We’ve blended in new holes with old holes, into the woods and back out,” he says, with the result he feels Eagle Crest is now “on a level playing field” with other Valley golf courses.

Ward started out with a nine-hole course in 1994, expanding to 18 holes in 2000, “but we’ve been without a proper clubhouse (until now). “Now, our members will be able to relax after their round, and actually feel like they’re part of a club,” This, in turn, “will add to the social aspect (of membership), which is important for golfers.”

Former club professional Alex Jewers is gone, but Andrew Isenor, formerly of Avon Valley, is helping out, along with former provincial ladies’ amateur and junior girls’ champion Laura Harris of New Minas. Former Acadia goalie Lanny Ramage is also part of the course staff this summer.

As for the future, Ward admits, “we’ve done most of what we wanted to do. Now our focus will be more on the social side of golf, more interclub events and more member events.”

He is also collaborating on a Kids Golf Free program through his membership in the National Golf Course Owners Association, and has other things planned “to try and get more young people involved in golf.”