Course History
A Storied History
Origins in the Roaring Twenties
The Osprey Ridge Golf Course has its roots in the great North American golf boom of the “Roaring Twenties”. It was during that storied sports era of Bobby Jones, Jack Dempsey, and Babe Ruth that the Bridgewater Golf Club was created. In 1927, a 9-hole course was carved out of Bridgewater’s highest hill in the then undeveloped northern edge of town.
Evolution into the Bridgewater Golf and Country Club
Later renamed the Bridgewater Golf and Country Club (BGCC), it served the area well for 70 years. During this time, the club became a cherished part of the community, hosting numerous events and providing a scenic and challenging course for local golfers.
The Dream of Osprey Ridge
In the last great continental golf boom of the 1990s, the dream of a high-caliber championship course finally took shape. Despite numerous frustrations and setbacks, the vision for Osprey Ridge was realized in 1998. Expanding the old course proved impractical, leading to the decision to create a new one.
Design and Construction
With most of the financing in place, Coldwell engaged internationally renowned golf course architect Graham Cooke to design and oversee the project. The course finally opened in May of 1998, marked by the sight of a pair of Ospreys soaring above. From the beginning, it was evident that Osprey Ridge was a unique and special golf course that met or exceeded member expectations.
Early Challenges and Developments
The initial facilities at Osprey Ridge were humble. A trailer next to a port-a-potty above the first tee served as the pro shop and restaurant/bar, while the office was housed in a cow barn. A pot-holed, often dusty entrance road led to an equally dusty parking lot, which often left undesirable first and last impressions.
Enhancements and Additions
Significant improvements were made in the first few years, including the construction of the clubhouse and extensive paving, including the cart paths. In 2006, the Miriam Penney Room was added, readily accommodating general meetings, wedding receptions, and other social events.
Osprey Ridge Golf Course has come a long way since its humble beginnings, continuously evolving to provide an exceptional golfing experience and serve as a beloved venue for community events.
Through all of those early years, Osprey Ridge gained growing recognition both in Nova Scotia and beyond as a high quality attraction that offers golfers a worthy challenge whatever one’s skills. Its prominence in the golfing community has been amply demonstrated by its selection to host two national tournaments and the Nova Scotia Amateur in the last several years.
Finally, an economic impact study in 2010 called Osprey “an economic engine of Lunenburg County” concluding that “Osprey Ridge provides an important economic impact that benefits the community at large, notably in terms of employment, expenditures by visiting golfers, generations of tax revenues, fund-raising for local charities, and the attraction of new residents who create substantial economic activity”.
Facing financial difficulties the Course turned the Golf Course over to the local Municipality Government who ran the Golf course for a few years. The Municipality searched for a buyer to take over the Golf Course. On April 2016 the Municipality of District of Lunenburg announced at an open special meeting that they sold the course to a new Company, Osprey Ridge GP Limited owned by Bill Sampson and Victor Kielbratowski. Osprey Ridge Golf Course became a privately owned course and open to the Public for Tournaments and green fees. The new owners wasted no time in renovating the club house and made many improvements and changes throughout the Golf Course. Osprey Ridge Golf Course is recognized as one of the best Golf Courses and Value in Nova Scotia. The new owners have also purchased an adjacent parcel of land with plans for a housing development in the near future.
Osprey Ridge has etched itself in community history and also the golf community as a whole, and will continue to do so for many years to come.
A big thank you to member John MacDonald for your input in helping to recall Osprey Ridge’s past history.
For more information, checkout this article presented by On The Tee Magazine: Osprey Ridge Golf Course.