It’s all about the game at Mad River Golf Club.
The clubhouse isn’t rented out for weddings and the property isn’t open during the off season.
Established in 1991, Mad River is the only private, equity golf club in the Georgian Bay area. It’s run by members, for members, for the purpose of golf. Period.
“That’s not to say the club roster doesn’t offer the social side of golf as well,” says Sandy Higgins, who oversees marketing and membership services. “But it speaks volumes about the commitment this club has made to ensure that the golf course and its pride of ownership are maintained to the highest standard everyday.
“Mad River exists purely for the pleasure of the members.”
The full complement of 300 memberships is currently owned, but openings do become available from time to time.
“Usually a few spots come open every year – it’s about one per cent per year,” says head professional Brian French.
Membership packages at the Mad River Golf Club encourage children to play alongside their grandparents.
“Comprised of 300 families, Mad River can only offer re-sales as they become available to sell,” adds Higgins. “Mad River is unique in that one membership provides for your children and grandchildren, we are proud of the multi-generational aspect of our club. To watch three generations of one family walk down the fairway together is inspirational to say the least.”
To get young people up to speed and on the course, “we have a very large junior clinic,” says French. There are also summer camps and junior tournaments monthly throughout the summer. “We have actually quadrupled our junior members in the last two years.”
Children have to be eight years old and accompanied by an adult to venture onto the course.
Younger golfers have to qualify first.
For players of all ages, there is a full practice facility with driving range, short game area and putting green, to focus on skills development. More formal instruction is also available at the Golf Association of Ontario-sponsored golf school and from staff CPGA professionals.
This is especially important since this is a challenging course.
The 72-par, 6,900-yard course enjoys a 148 slope rating, “one the highest in Ontario,” says French.
“It tends to be forgiving for the higher handicapped golfer, and very difficult to score for lower handicapped golfers.”
The course was created by renowned course architect Robert Cupp, says Higgins. Cupp had had just finished Beacon Hall in Aurora when he met with Founders, Wil Matthews, Peter Barnard and Ray Richards, to set about creating a family golf club experience in a rural setting on 210 acres of gently-rolling terrain, richly endowed with mature woodlands and entwined with streams and ponds.
French describes the course as 60 per cent wooded and 40 per cent link-style. Unique features are the smaller-than-normal greens.
“That would be the course signature,” he adds.
Located near Creemore, the club has played host over the years to two Canadian Open qualifying tournaments, the Ontario Ladies Match Play, Ontario Men's Mid-Amateur, Ontario Ladies Amateur, Ontario PGA and the Ontario Men's Match Play championship.
Most recently, it was listed among the Top 50 courses in the province by Ontario Golf Magazine.
Non-members do have occasion to try the course through tournament play. Outside tournaments are only held on Wednesdays, with a shotgun at 1 p.m., says Higgins.
“We prefer our memberships to bring us tournaments,” she adds. “They would generally sponsor the tournament.”
The Collingwood General and Marine Hospital tournament is held annually at Mad River Golf Club, Higgins says. And, for the first time, one day of the Royal Victoria Hospital’s three-day event will be held there.
Après-golf time is spent in the new clubhouse, which replaced the original farmhouse structure after a fire in 2005. The new building, which retains the pastoral style, accommodates a larger dining room and pro shop.
All designed to enhance the game.
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