Posted : April 6, 2021
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
Golf Canada’s Golf is Calling campaign is an invitation to players who may be newer to golf to experience this amazing game, building off the incredible success of golf in Canada in 2020. Within the York Durham Headwaters regions there are three championship courses, each with exceptional stay and play options which will make answering this call easy and enjoyable.
The magic of any stay and play package is to savour the experience, as it takes all that is great about the golf experience and stretches it out beyond the four hours it takes to play a round. Royal Ashburn, in Whitby; Wooden Sticks, in Uxbridge; and Hockley Valley in Mono, just outside of Orangeville offer exceptional golf and their own enticing experiences, which seem like they were made to support Golf Canada’s new campaign.
Royal Ashburn – Whitby, Ontario
The Stay – The keys here are service and value. Royal Ashburn offers excellent stay and play options for golf groups in modern cabins. For golfers, it is truly an all-inclusive experience – 2 rounds, one night, 3 meals and unlimited use of range facilities. For a facility with a deep commitment to service, they offer an excellent website with options and pricing clearly presented. Five cabins opened in 2020, offering space for groups to enjoy added convenience with a chance at immediate redemption on their second round!
The Play – This family-owned course is fun, but it’s no slouch. Extremely well conditioned, and rightfully one of Ontario’s top public courses, this parkland-style course will provide challenge, and fun, for players of all skill levels. From the test of the shorter par 4 11th hole, the scenic par 3 signature 16th , and the challenging 12th green, Royal Ashburn has a unique ability to test your mettle and bring out your joy of the game!
Local Tip – The Whitby craft brewery scene is dynamic. Schedule your golf to allow for a tour of one of Whitby’s best local breweries – Town Brewery, Little Beasts Brewing Company or 5 Paddles Brewing Company. Grab some to take back to your cabin and relive the highlights of your round!
Wooden Sticks – Uxbridge, Ontario
The Stay – Wooden Sticks markets their Stay and Play packages to perfection. With 6 cabins on site, 24 golfers can enjoy a modern, comfortable stay between rounds at one of Ontario’s more unique and enjoyable courses. Packages can be customized so there is great flexibility for groups to enjoy multiple rounds, meals, and a memorable stay.
The Play – This may be one of the more fun golf experiences a player can enjoy in Ontario. 12 holes are directly designed based on famous golf holes from Augusta National, St. Andrews, Troon, Pine Valley, TPC Sawgrass, Carnoustie and Oakmont. The gently rolling landscape brings excitement over 18 holes and with 5 tee boxes to choose from I’d suggest you move up one tee from your usual and focus on the fun factor!
Local Tip – Make some time to enjoy the emerging local food scene in Uxbridge. The culinary trail will offer options to appease any group
Hockley Valley – Mono, Ontario
The Stay – This is decadence. Luxurious, modern amenities and fabulous valley views await visitors at this year-round resort. From value-focused resort rooms to their two-floor suites complete with a fireplace and a Jacuzzi tub, the experience at Hockley is quality at every turn. Resort dining focuses on locally sourced foods and the resort hosts its own 2-acre fruit and vegetable garden. There are three dining options within the resort, all distinct and all excellent – Babbo, Restaurant 85 and the Cabin. Complete with a gym, spa, sauna, and two pools, this resort provides everything golfers need to rejuvenate for their next round!
The Play – The course was designed by one of Canada’s leading golf architects, Thomas McBroom and is set on over 300 acres of rolling terrain. McBroom plays off the elevation changes on the property to create some of the more dynamic vistas off the tee in the province. The links-style course offers four sets of tees but cleverly offers seven options for players to find a yardage and slope rating which is best suited for their game. Accuracy is more of a premium than length here. The 10th is a jaw-dropper with its 100 foot drop to the green below. The 7th is stout, needing length and accuracy. Fact is, there are too many fun holes to experience to identify a favourite.
Local Tip – Hockley offers something unique with an adjacent winery for visitors to consider – Adamo Estate Winery. Here, visitors can schedule and experience tastings and tours. Vines were first planted in 2010 and Adamo plays to its strengths, focusing on varietals which grow well in the cooler climate of central Ontario. It’s a unique and enjoyable experience, but at Hockley that is just par for the course.
Golf is calling, and here’s three clubs exceptionally well positioned to help you answer that call, all within 60 minutes of Toronto. Enjoy the play, and the stay, here in the York Durham Headwaters region.
Story by Mike Johnny
Mildly addicted to the game of golf. Fiercely loyal. A planner, a dreamer, reflective and a proud and passionate Canadian. A father. A fiancé. A tree planter. A Trent graduate. A dog owner. Falling in love with my putter after many failed relationships. A scratch golfer stuck in a 10 handicap body. Love, love, love golf value. Fade on a good day. One ace (and seeking a second). A golf writer/blogger focused on public golf in Canada. Chipping away at my own Bucket List of Canadian golf courses.
Website: www.36aday.ca
Twitter: @36aday
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