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1 2 A masterpiece of design, Capilano Golf Course has remained true to the genius behind it.

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Draining the rainforest
Capilano is located in a rainforest and receives between 100 and 125 inches of precipitation a year, so not surprisingly the most important aspect of course maintenance is drainage. Thanks to glacial movements thousands of years ago, an alluvial deposit of sand runs in a seam through the course, giving the property a natural drainage feature no amount of money could build.

When Thompson walked the land for the first time, he was well aware that getting the water off the course would be key to keeping the fairways and greens in playable shape, and so set about incorporating the 160-acre site's natural stream system into the drainage plan. From a high point of about 700 feet above sea level to a low point of 377 feet above sea level, the natural slope of the course lends itself to good runoff.

However, nearly 50 years into its life, Capilano lost a battle with the elements when a stream overflowed and completely destroyed the 14th green. In addition, organic matter used as infill during the course's construction degraded to the point that major renovation was required in the early 1990's.

A program of "sympathetic restoration"
Since that time, the 'sympathetic restoration' has included new tile drainage in a number of areas, restoration of every bunker on the course and the replanting of some greens. An ambitious four-year plan spanning 2000 to 2004 saw total refurbishment of all the tee boxes, and the addition of Thompsonesque bunkers on holes 5, 7 and 8.

As much as water is bountiful at Capilano, both from the skies above and Lake Elveden to the north, man-made irrigation systems have been integral to keeping the course in tiptop shape. The first such system went in during the 1960's and was totally updated with a state-of-the-art computer controlled version in the early 1990's.

A major tree inventory and cutting program in 2004 also played a big part in preserving the integrity of Thompson's layout. The tall West Coast trees that define Capilano and add to the breathtaking mountain scenery also pose problems to the course as it ages, or more specifically, as the trees age.

Though the architect incorporated many of the pines, firs and cedars into his design, and was clever enough to account for their maturing over time, after six decades of growth some of the taller trees were causing more harm than good. Certain greens were permanently cast in shadow, and the airflow around these and other holes was minimal. Over the winter of 2003-04, some 200 trees were cut down, and just months after the fact there was a noticeable improvement in the drying in and around greens, particularly the 15th and 17th.

With most of the major work on the 'sympathetic restoration' complete, the club's longterm plan includes the kind of fine tuning Capilano's designer and Capilano's guardian would approve of, though it's likely Stanley Thompson and Jock McKinnon would find little fault in the course as it plays in the summer of 2004.

Today in the planning stage is a major realignment and renovation of the driving range, as is tile drainage work on the approach to the 17th green and addressing the greens on 9 and 6. While black covers shroud sand traps and temporary greens are in play during the winter months, it's business as usual at the Capilano practice range. Featuring two ranges in one (one covered and with mats, the other uncovered and with grass), the facility is scheduled for a major redesign in the near future, with an improved teaching facility and other amenities planned.

"Every club in the bag"
As one-time Augusta Masters champion George Archer put it after a casual round at Capilano: "Apart from its natural beauty, this is an ideal golf course because it is a fair test for the members from the middle tees, and is easily transformed into an excellent championship course from the back tees without tricking up the greens or the rough or the approaches."

U.S. Open Champion Lee Janzen paid the course the ultimate compliment when following a round at Capilano he said, "I used every club in my bag".