A Spring Golf Getaway for Couples

Posted : February 26, 2014

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.

As the beginning of another golf season draws near and the longing to blow the dust off the clubs grows stronger it’s time to start planning your first couple’s golf getaway of the new season. If you are looking to play a little golf, enjoy some great food, spend some quality time relaxing in the spa, while hanging out in a country setting and you want all this without spending hours in the car en-route, then a couple of days at The Millcroft Inn combined with golf at nearby Osprey Valley is the tonic for you.
Located in the Village of Alton-Caledon (10 km south of Orangeville, a mere 90 minutes west of downtown Toronto) in a stunning countryside setting alongside 100 acres of protected forest you will find the Millcroft Inn. The Inn offers 52 guest rooms, ample meeting space, a four-diamond restaurant and a full service spa. Alton is also home to Osprey Valley Resorts, a three golf course complex design by award winning Canadian golf architect Doug Carrick. Each of the courses is a unique playing experience with the Heathlands offering a links routing, the Hoot serves up wasteland layout and the Toot is a parkland beauty. Package the two together and all your golf getaway needs will be met.
stone mill covered in ivy
The Story of Millcroft:
The power of Shaw’s Creek has been used to drive mills as early as the 1840’s to create yarn and blankets. In 1881 Benjamin Ward built a four story stone mill with the stone coming from quarries in Inglewood and the mortar was processed at the Alton lime kilns. The Mill was later purchased by Ward’s son-in-law, John M. Dods in1892. A dam break in 1889 damaged the mill and a fire left it in ruins in 1917. Dods rebuilt the mill adding a water tower and sprinkler system. Before passing away in 1923, Dods became a civic leader in the community of Alton. Sons James and Andrew Dods continued to operate the mill before leasing it to the Toronto Millstock Company of Waterford. Millstock ran production out of the mill until closing it in 1965. The contents of the building were sold, preparing its future as a country retreat.
The original stone mill is now Millcroft Inn, Dod’s warehouse is now a meeting facility, and his home is the Manor House, consisting of 10 rooms furnished in antiques and heritage colours of colonial days. The Main Mill offers 22 guest rooms featuring a mix of Canadian and European themes with no two rooms alike. The Croft Units, contemporary two story chalets, with walkouts and wood burning fireplaces, rounds out the Millcrofts’ accommodation options.
The Spa
The Centre for Well-Being was added to the Inn in 2004 and boasts 17 treatments areas, steam rooms, hot tub, indoor pool, a fully equipped fitness studio and peaceful spa lounge overlooking the surrounding scenic woodlands. In addition to offering the traditional spa services, the Centre serves up several treatments that are unique such as a malt and barley scrub and soak or the Swiss shower kur. Reiki, Thai massage and morning yoga sessions are also standard issue. For those wishing to extend their post spa bliss an après treatment visit to Spa Café is a must where healthy cuisine is the only choice.
 
exterior of Millcroft buildingThe Food
In addition to the aforementioned Spa Café the Inn’s four-diamond Headwaters Restaurant presents gourmet dishes that are replete with locally grown fresh, organic and natural foods. For those who have a craving for lighter fair, a cold beer or glass of fine wine in a relaxed atmosphere then the Millcroft Lounge is the spot for you.
 
The Golf
All three courses at Osprey Valley are visually stunning but offer completely different golfing experiences. The Heathlands is a classic links-land style course routed through mounding adorned with fescue grasses. Perennially rated amongst the finest course in the province, Heathleands offers four sets of tees ranging from 5248 to 6810 yards and is a true test for golf even the best of golfers. The routing of the Hoot is of a wasteland nature and is carved out of tall pine forest with large waste bunkers skirting the fairways on many holes. It is a treat for players of all abilities to enjoy. One gets the feeling of being transported to the Pinehurst/Sandhills area of North Carolina. The locals tend to favour the Hoot with its five sets of tees from which to choose from at 5140 to 7201 yards. Measuring 5372 to 7106 yards, the Toot concludes the Osprey Valley triumvirate. This parkland beauty features generous landing areas off the tee and puts a premium on precise shot making to avoid the well placed and numerous bunkering.
Greens and Bunker at Heathlands Golf Course
For stay & play package details contact the Inn at 800-383-3976 or visit: http://www.vintage-hotels.com/millcroft/
If you are looking for additional golf getaway options many local, national and international golf destinations will be showing their stuff at the Toronto International Golf Show this weekend running from 12:00 on Friday until 5:00 on Sunday at the Metro Centre downtown. Details here: http://www.torontogolfshow.com/ Don’t forget to pop in to the Central Counties Tourism booth, 619-623, and pick up some golf swag.
 
Written by Alistair Orr
Editor/Publisher of On The Tee magazine and Director of Golf for the BAGS Junior Golf Tour.
www.ontheteemagazine.com
www.bags.on.ca

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