Mylora Executive Golf Course

Course History:

John Bede Harrison (1915 - 2003), the founder of Mylora Organic Farm and later the Mylora Golf Courses, grew up in Sydney Australia and spent his summer holidays in New South Wales on his grandfather's sheep station called Mylora ( an aboriginal word meaning "deep pool"). He completed a two year course at the State Agricultural Experimental Station in Wagga Wagga, Australia, qualifing as a jackeroo or apprentice farmer. After gaining work experience, John decided to join his family who had already immigrated to Canada so that he could begin farming his own land. On October 23, 1938, he purchased 88 acres of farm land in Richmond and called his farm Mylora. He continued operating the farm as a dairy farm producing milk for the Vancouver market while he became acquainted with the local market, and then added the production of seed, oats, hay, corn, potatoes and the fattening of beef cattle. In 1947, he produced his first crop of strawberries and established a roadside marketing stand which he maintained for many years. After that strawberry crop and Influenced by Louis Bromfield's books Pleasant Valley and Malbar Farms, he began the long and lonely process of converting to organic farming. In time Mylora was acknowledged to be the first large and best known organic farm on the North American continent. By the mid 1960's Mylora Organic farm had found a niche market selling its organic produce in Woodward's stores in BC and Alberta and at our road side stand. In 1956, 12 acres in the center of the property were expropriated to build Hwy 99. This meant all equipment and staff had to make the 5 mile return trip, thus increasing production costs. The 1960's and 1970's saw farming costs increase while food prices remained low. Eventually organic farming was no longer an option; it was not financially feasible to carry on. At risk of losing the land he loved, John explored land use options under the newly implemented Agricultural Land Reserve policy(ALR) (1974) and decided on a golf course. On June 15, 1976, our first Mylora Golf Course (Sidaway) opened. In 1979, we opened a driving range, in 1984,we added a nine hole golf course and subsequently created the 18 hole golf course now known as Mylora on five. This page is mainly about Mylora on Sidaway. Today we are still open for business to provide our customers the best experience we can give to make sure all aspects of your day of golf are being taken care of to have the best relaxing day of golf. You as the "Golfer" have access to the Power Golf Carts, Pull Carts and Rental Clubs provided for the course. After your done your round of golf on the 18 hole executive golf course you can come on in to our clubhouse and enjoy a fulfilling meal and beverage at our 19th hole.