Longtime Edmonton golf course designer and developer Sid Puddicombe dies at 85

Source: Edmonton Sun
By Curtis Stock

Golf lost one of its legends last week with the passing of Sid Puddicombe.

Beginning his career in 1947 at the Saskatoon Golf & Country Club, then 11 years as the superintendent at Saskatoon’s Riverside Golf & Country Club, Puddicombe moved on to the Royal Mayfair where he was the head superintendent for 20 years winning several awards along the way including the John B. Steel – the Canadian Golf Course Superintendent’s Association’s highest award for excellence in 1997.

In 1982 Puddicombe started his family-owned Sid Puddicombe and Associates golf construction company with his sons Grant, Mark and Tod.  Together, on a project basis, they were involved in the design, redesign or redevelopments of over 75 courses from Alberta and B.C. to New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

“And there were probably 75 other courses he had his hand in,” said Grant. “He was involved in so many things over the years.”

Locally, Puddicombe was responsible for such great courses as RedTail Landing, White Tail Crossing and the fabulous Coal Creek course near Tofield.  He was also responsible for the total redevelopment of Windermere and the Edmonton Petroleum Club.

Active right to the end, Puddicombe’s last brand new design was the Wainui 27-hole course in New Zealand.

Puddicombe, who also started the turf school at the Fairview and Olds Colleges, was 85.

He will never be forgotten.