Under sunshine and blue skies and amid record temperatures, a new season of golf is officially upon us. Locals are set to hit the links for the first time this weekend.
Trehaven Golf & Country Club is opening on Friday. Owner Charles Xiao says the conditions at the Oro-Medonte course are “great,” especially for mid-April.
“It’s the driest I’ve ever seen it,” he said. “It’s in really great shape.”
This season, Trehaven plans on re-furbishing its bunkers and applying the highest quality of grass seed possible to improve the course’s conditions.
Inside, the course is re-opening its kitchen where players can enjoy a lunch menu. Players who golf in a foursome twice in one week this season will be rewarded with a free hamburger if they return the following week.
This year, Trehaven Golf & Country Club has 60 members. The interest in the club has grown substantially over the past two years, Xiao said.
“Last year was busier than the year before,” Xiao said. “We think that our cash prizes have made our course more popular.”
While golfing in a group of four, on the 18th hole, if you score a hole-in-one, the course will pay you $2,000. If you shoot for a birdie, you will earn $100, and if you get a par, you will be given $20.
This season, the popular men’s league will take place on Tuesday nights starting in May. In October, the first-place finisher will earn $5,000; second place will get $3,000, and $2,000 will go to the third-place golfer.
“We really hope the men’s league will keep growing every year,” Xiao explained, noting those interested in joining should call the club at 705-487-3220.
Over in Coldwater, Bonaire Golf Club is also opening on Friday. General manager, and golf professional Phil Hidden says conditions are “not bad” for early spring.
“It looks pretty good,” he said. “The team has worked really hard to have it in the best condition possible for this time in the season.”
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bonaire saw a record number of golfers. Last year, it was almost just as busy, Hidden says.
“I expect golf to continue to be a hot sport this season,” he said. “We are starting to see more tournament bookings and those big events that couldn't happen during the pandemic, which is a big plus for us.”
Hidden hopes to maintain the popularity boom that golf was afforded during the pandemic to keep people coming back. To improve the golfer experience, Bonaire will be implementing 80 new carts on June 1. They are also offering lessons this season for beginners and those who want to take their game to the next level.
Couchiching Golf Club has set a target date for opening April 24.
Edward Novosky, president of the 107-year-old course on Peter Street, says it “wintered very well” and is in good shape.
“We are excited to get people back on the course,” he said. “Last year we built off the growth we had during the pandemic.”
With only being a nine-hole course, the rapid growth of the sport caused the Orillia golf club to have capacity issues.
“We’ve always been known as a place people can just show up and get on the course,” he said. “That’s changed over the last few years.”
Now, Novosky encourages golfers to call ahead to book tee times; he expects it will be another busy summer.
“In the past, we would have a single or twosomes going out,” he said. “We are to the point where we have to group people together.”
When team sports were not permitted to play games during the pandemic, a lot of people turned to golf, which is why the sport has grown substantially, Novosky believes.
“During the pandemic, we had a lot of first-time golfers,” he explained. “They went out to have a good time and they realized golf is something they like."
Couchiching Golf Club has purchased 25 new carts this year and has made some modifications to the club restaurant, Bogey’s, which opens on April 18.
As for Evergreen Golf Centre in Washago, it is also opening on Friday, while Hawk Ridge Golf Club in Orillia will be opening on May 1.
Lake St. George Golf Club officials say they will provide an update later next week regarding the facility's opening date on their website and social media channels.
