Surrey Golf Club

Since his introduction to golf in the 1930's, Mr. Lando did more than his share in shaping the golfing landscape in British Columbia. Mr. Lando began his involvement in the golf business in 1944 He led a group of businessmen from Vancouver's Jewish community in their successful efforts to establish a golf and country club on the run down Gleneagles course in West Vancouver. Fifteen years later the Gleneagles members located some broader and flatter pastures for golf in Richmond and he was among the movers and shakers who developed the Richmond Country Club. His next involvement was in 1964 as a minor shareholder in the syndicate that built another Richmond landmark, Green Acres Golf Course. In the early 1970's, Mr. Lando, as a solo entrepreneur and assisted by his brother, Harold Lando, built the Surrey Golf Course near Fry's Corner in Surrey. A portion of the land was a dairy farm and portions, characterized as peat bog, were primarily used for duck hunting before becoming a golf course. The peat bog and wet conditions, created by a series of underground springs, constantly hampered course construction. After much hard work, the golf course was opened for play on July 8, 1971 followed by the opening of a Clubhouse in 1972. The Surrey Men's Club was formed shortly after the golf course opened with a robust membership of 400. Roy Ellis set the competitive course record in 1973 at 68 and, although a number of golfers have tied this record, no one has yet to surpass it. In 1994 the clubhouse was renovated from 6,296 sq. ft to 8,872 sq. ft. with a 3,456 sq. ft. outside patio. The renovation updated the Golf Shop and the Coffee Shop, increased the size of the Banquet room, which now has the capability of holding up to 150 people and increased the size of the kitchen facilities. Today, the 6,700 yard Championship lay out with it's pleasant blend of trees, water hazards and bunkers is regarded as a good test of golf. Over the years the club has garnered a reputation of having excellent greens and offering the core golfer good value in golf and clubhouse amenities. It also has the longest par 5 in B.C. measuring 630 yards from the blue tees.