Golf course renovations are on course.
Keith Evans, vice president of Rees Jones Inc., points out some features of the redesigned Lambton Golf and Country Club's main course during a tour on June 29. Rees Jones was responsible for the new course design, with the facility to re-open Aug. 6.
Staff photo/JEFF HAYWARD
The scheduled re-opening of a sprawling golf facility bordering Etobicoke is right on course.
Officials of Lambton Golf and Country Club recently invited the media to tour its redesigned facility on Scarlett Road. The private club closed up August 2009 for an "extensive makeover", and club owners say they're confident it will re-open Aug. 6, with a grand opening for members on Aug. 13.
The newest course was designed by American golf course architect, Rees Jones. While Jones wasn't able to attend the media tour due to an injury, Keith Evans, vice president of Rees Jones Inc., made an appearance to point out the upgrades to the main 18-hole course and nine-hole facility, with additional changes planned.
The project, carrying a $7 million budget, also includes an approximately 21-million litre reservoir and upgrades to irrigation on the 171-acre site. Peter Farmer, president of the board of directors for Lambton, said while many "less desirable" trees were removed for the redesign, 1,200 more will be planted.
"We're planting the trees to fit the (new) course," said Farmer. "There's a whole new look and feel to the roll of the land and watching it coming back to life has been very rewarding."
Farmer also pointed out that the tee-off area was lowered and the fairway shifted at a hole bordering Scarlett Road, to move drives away from the roadway.
The current facelift is the biggest in the club's history, according to resident golf pro Conrad Riley.
"Nothing like this has ever happened in terms of renovation," he said.
However, an unplanned 'renovation' came in 1954 after much of the course was destroyed by Hurricane Hazel, according to club officials, who also pointed out the club has a long history that dates back to 1902. That timeline includes hosting the Canadian Open in 1907, 1910, 1925 and 1941 as well as welcoming other high-profile tournaments. Lambton is the fourth oldest course in the Toronto area, with Toronto Golf Club the oldest, opening 1876.
While the more than 400 Lambton members were without a home facility since last August, they were able to secure tee times at numerous other GTA courses in "reciprocal arrangements" with Lambton, said course officials.