The Daily British Whig wrote that the club was reborn in 1922. Frederick Charles Clayton was a banker, William Frost’s son-in-law, and Secretary of Smiths Falls Malleable Castings and Northern Buttons Limited. Monson Goudge Henniger was a builder of roads, railway, and bridges. Together with several original members, Clayton, in his role of Treasurer, and Henniger, in his role as President, revived and reorganized the club. Membership was composed of about sixty men and women and annual dues were an affordable $5.

A new course was designed which included a portion of the original. The starting point was moved to Brockville Street. The course extended down to Jasper Avenue and over to what is now Settlers Ridge Centre. The 1925 Smiths Falls Old Home Week Souvenir Programme tells us that progress was slow in 1922 due to the limited membership numbers and modest dues. Fortunately, a Mr. McLean, who held the lease on the property for pasturage purposes, kindly permitted the club to play on what was known as the “Tremaine” property at no charge the first year.

In 1923, a lease was obtained on a portion of the property and a fence was built to keep cattle off the course. The lease was renewed in 1924 and 1925. The course improved over time as the fairway was cleared of stones, dead trees, and stumps. The Frost & Wood Company provided a mower to keep the fairway cut.

Inter-club matches were arranged in 1924 and 1925 with clubs in nearby towns. At the time the Executive Committee of the Poonahmalee Golf Club were making “strenuous efforts to put the links into excellent shape” for the 1925 Smiths Falls Old Home Week celebrations. In 1926, the Government of Ontario published Canada’s Premier Province, a booklet designed to promote Ontario tourism to American tourists. It advertised that guests could play at the Poonahmalee Golf Club for $0.25 per day. The Poonahmalee Golf Club closed its doors in the late 1920s.

James R. Kennedy’s South Elmsley in the Making tells us that an early topographical map based on 1924 aerial photographs confirms that there was indeed a golf course where the Settlers Ridge Centre on County Road 29 is now located. Long-time Smiths Falls residents confirm that there are hills at Chimo School which were part of the Poonahmalee Golf Club, and they also share memories of a clubhouse on Broadview Avenue near Brockville Street.

Written by Ted Outerbridge for the Hometown News and shared with the Smiths Falls Digital Archive.