Course in Huntingford hosted Canadian women's amateur championship in 2014
By
Mark Schadenberg
As
recently as the summer of 2014, the top women amateur golfers in Canada arrived
at Craigowan for the national amateur championship – August James would edge
current LPGA star Brooke Henderson to claim the winner’s trophy.
The
golfers were most certainly the star of the show, but Craigowan was shining
brightly as well.
This
winter financial reports – as published in a well-written story in the Woodstock
Sentinel-Review – noted that Craigowan is struggling to flourish.
Oxford
Golf & Country Club (Craigowan) has a rich history of hosting many
important championships, including the Ontario men’s amateur in 2009 and the
Canadian junior boys’ event in 2005.
The
course’s reputation is top notch. Golf writers like to use terms like manicured
fairways, undulating greens, and an overall challenging layout. Craigowan fits
those descriptions and when you factor in the new clubhouse built in 2005, the
18-hole facility is among the best in southern Ontario.
I
was once an avid golfer, but two young kids places time limitations on a
lifestyle and when you factor in the hip replacement I had in late 2014, it’s
easy to see that I am not among the statistics of golfers who may have departed
the private club, but when you glean through the Sentinel-Review story you will
quickly see that membership numbers have decreased.
Craigowan
has received many positive reviews, include this one noted in 2014 on the
course’s website:
()()()()()()()
"Craigowan is a fabulous place where it would be impossible
to get bored. Everyday would be a great day on this course. There is a great
mix of holes - long, short, left, right, up and down. The golfers will need to
bring all their shots for this one," says Bob Weeks, editor Score Golf magazine.
()()()()()()()
www.craigowan.com
Some
outsiders such as myself may guess (assume) there are simply too many golf
courses, and that the avid hobbiest may want to play their own tour of area
destinations such as Sally Creek, Meadows, Cedar Creek, Creek Side, Ingersoll,
Innerkip, Burford, Cobble Hills, and other possibilities in London, K-W,
Cambridge, St Marys or in Elgin County. I realize some of those layouts are
just 9 holes, but with time as an issue some golfers only have enough time for
9 holes riding in a cart, and don’t have the luxury of a longer timetable.
If
you are retired and live at the adult-only Sally Creek neighbourhood in
Woodstock, you’ll likely secure a membership at the Sally Creek club.
The
Sentinel-Review piece notes that Craigowan itself estimated they needed 450
members to maintain the long-term viability of the business after the new
clubhouse opened. It’s a stunning facility and much more functional in all
aspects to the old clubhouse. The S-R story places the club’s 2016 membership
level at 315.
I
think it would be a very sad day to see Craigowan close, so everyone I believe
will hope a buyer could be found who will also provide some level of financial
compensation to the Craigowan shareholders.
Craigowan’s
website notes that public greens fees are $65 for 18 holes in the prime time of
Friday, Saturday and Sunday (May 1 – Sept 25) with rates varying for other time
slots.
A
full membership for 1 adult for 2016 was $2,850 and a couple’s membership was
set at $4,990. Lower rates were applied to juniors and intermediate age groups.
Feel free to check out their website for lots of additional info on rates,
schedules, leagues and tournaments.
Craigowan
plays an important role in providing a high-end destination for significant
charity tournaments such as the hospital foundation, chamber of commerce, and
Youth For Christ.
Craigowan
was established at its current Huntingford location in the late 1950’s and was
designed by Robbie Robinson.
Current Clubhouse
Original Clubhouse
The
current scorecard notes all yardages from the various tee blocks, but the
professional back tees are measured to create a 6,728-yard par-71 (35-36)
layout.
My
favourite holes are the back-to-back dog-leg rights on the back nine at numbers
16 and 17, but I’m also the first to admit I have not played the course in
about 6 years.
John
Herbert, who is a long-time London Free Press writer, described No 2 as one of
the most challenging holes in southwestern Ontario.
The
history of Oxford Golf & Country Club can be read in the Rick Young book From Fifth to 59 as the
club began as 9 holes on the top of Fifth Avenue in Woodstock (Subdivision now
homes featuring golf names such as Glen Abbey, Augusta, St. Andrews, Pebble
Beach, and Pinehurst, plus a street named after the Anderson family) before
moving north of Woodstock on Highway 59 in Huntingford.
I
posted this story before anything was reported as a news story from the membership-only
meeting scheduled for Jan. 23.
After
more than 50 years as a distinguished golf destination, I hope Craigowan will
see another 50 years.
Time
will tell.
Clubhouse at previous Fifth Avenue location in Woodstock
LINKS:
Material on this website is written by:
Mark Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(SRES designation)
Royal LePage Triland Realty
Independently Owned & Operated, Brokerage
757 Dundas St, Woodstock
(519) 537-1553, cell or text
Email: mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter: markroyallepage
Facebook: Mark Schadenberg, Royal LePage Triland
Discussion . . . Direction . . . Determination . . .
Destination
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