Column: Kim Swan On Belmont Club’s Legacy

Mark Twain & President to be Woodrow Wilson help set the stage

The love Mark Twain had for Bemuda led him to spend a total of 187 days on vacation between 1867 and 1909. Even dining with Woodrow Wison, the Governor of New Jersey and future President of the United States, who ironically was reported spending considerable time at ‘Shoreby’, Newstead, Paget.

Among those notable persons also spending time in Bermuda at the turn of the century was C. B. Macdonald, who would later build the Mid Ocean Club and own a Bermuda property in Tuckers Town ‘Old Battery’ overlooking his famous cape hole #5, which winds around Mangrove Lake.

Influential businessman saw the potential that existed in Bermuda and envisioned golf as being a major product to be developed that will attract discerning visitors.

Source: Wikipedia

To have the high profile vacationers choosing Bermuda was a ringing endorsement for Bermuda and greatly assisted efforts to raise awareness about our beautiful country.

1913: Golf Growing in Popularity

By 1913, local hotels were seeing a demand for the game of golf. Local hotels with discerning guests were taking advantage of the Garrison Golf Links.

In America the game was rapidly growing- especially with the fairytale win by amateur Francis Ouimet over British greats Harry Vardon and Ted Ray in the 1913 US Open at The Country Club, Brookline, Massachusetts.

1921: Former President William Taft Golf’s in Bermuda after WWI

After World War I, the world entered into a period of transformation.

“The aftermath of World War I saw far-reaching and wide-ranging cultural, economic, and social change across Europe, Asia, Africa, and even in areas outside those that were directly involved. Four empires collapsed due to the war, old countries were abolished, new ones were formed, boundaries were redrawn, international organizations were established, and many new and old ideologies took a firm hold in people’s minds. “ [Source: Wikipedia]

Eight years after vacating the White House President in 1913, President William Taft sails to Bermuda on board the SS Victoria for a vacation that included golf from the outset. Ironically, staying at ‘Tralee’, Paget, already a popular parish for the former President [Woodrow Wilson] whose visits were quite the talk of society.

Presidents Taft an avid golfer

For Bermuda to have two former US Presidents vacation on our shores between 1908 and 1921 was a huge endorsement for a country actively looking to become a tourism destination. Bermuda had already been put on the map by the writings of Mark Twain and William Shakespeare, but to have a golf enthusiast in the former President of the United States making Bermuda his place of respite was a huge endorsement.

The presence of high profile leaders frequenting Bermuda also meant that significant relationships had been established that would benefit Bermuda.

Garrison Links [Prospect] & Garrison Links [St. George’s]

Golf in Bermuda Pre-1920, before the advent of the plethora of courses after 1920 [Mid Ocean Club, Riddell’s Bay, Grassmere-Fairylands Golf Club, St. George’s Hotel Golf [Rosehill], Shore Hills Hotel Golf Club, Castle Harbour Hotel & Golf & Franscati Hotel & Golf Club] was limited to golf at of British military

These golf links were conveniently located near the British military outpost. One in Prospect, Devonshire on what is now Ocean View Golf Course west of Barkers Hill and the other in St George on the eastern side of St. Regis, Five Forts Golf Course. There are also suggestions which requires verification of a golf course at Government House and in Ireland Island where the Royal Navy was located.

Garrison Links [Prospect]

Prior to Ocean View Golf Club leasing the property the golf course was only west of Barkers Hill using large double greens that are featured on links courses in the UK.

Garrison Links [St. George’s] “The Million Dollar Golf Links

When the St. George’s Hotel was built in 1906 it had the benefit of the nearby British military Garrison Golf Course – located to the east of the Hotel on Rose Hill nearer Tobacco Bay and Naval Tanks Hill. St George’s Hotel would market golf until it built it’s own 9-hole golf course in the 1920’s.

The St. George’s Hotel & Golf Course