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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1991-04-24, Page 14Page 26 ..J 1111105 Advocate, Apiil 24, 19J1 Get your clubs out, it's time for golf Bayview .. Owners Archie and Jim Masse What:. Bayview Golf Course Where: Highway 21, 7 miles north of Grand Bend near St. Joesph's. (236-4030). Hoke: 18 holes, Par 72; 6,064ards (white), 5,384 yards (yellow). clubs, $5 (includes tax); pull carts, 52.50; electric carts, $22. Green fees: weekdays, 515; week- ends, $17; nine holes, 511. ST. JOESPH'S - What a differ- ence a little water makes. Jim Masse who owns and oper- ates the Bayview Golf Course, with his father Archie, is in the process of building a new green on the eighth hole. For the regular visitors to this scenic course, it means ahether 90 yards on the already • interesting hole. "This summer we're building a new green replacing number eight. It will go over the water. What we've done the last couple of years, is we've moved greens to utilize the ponds," said Jim. They've already done that to holes 13 and 16 and it has become really popular. Masse feels when golfers go out to play, they should remember the course, and that's what adding the ponds to the holes provide. "When you go to the golf course and . can't remember any of the holes, you don't have very much fun." But there is a lot of fun here as indicated by the popularity of the regular leagues. There are 120 men on Tuesdays, 60 seniors on Mon- days and 40 ladies on Thursday mornings. This fairly flat, course is located on Highway 21 in the hamlet of St. Joesph's between Grand Bend and Zurich. This year, Jim and Archie have been busy adding new tees to; holes 9, 11, 13, 14 and 16. Those should be ready in four weeks. Exeter Ironwood .. EXETER - Nothing is new at Ironwood, but just wait until mid- June. That's when the Dows will be opening another nine -holes. It's been seven years in the planning and if pictures which hang on the wall of the clubhouse are any indi- cation, it's going to be a very inter- esting 18 -hole set up. Although the Ontario Golf Asso- ciation has yet to come and meas- ure the new nine, it's about 3,200 yards. If you like trees, and aren't afraid of a few white squirrels, this is the course for you. Gib Dow Sr. said four of the nine new holes are literally carved out of the bush. "I've been puttering around with it for several years," said Dow. The other five holes have also got lots of trees. "The trees were planted in 1984 so they'd be well -treed. That's the difference between the new nine and another nine." Ironwood is a fairly challenging course in that it has a lot of water, including two ponds. "The new nine will be more chal- lenging because of the trees," said Dow. This may be true but there are probably a few regular golfers who shudder every time they come up to the seventh hole which has a 65 - yard wide pond. On the front nine, not only is there a lot of water but holes eight and nine are dog legs. Number three is tough as well because it has Exeter Golf Course .. . You have to be able to drive very well off the tee on at least two holes at this course. Starting off, the first hole is a 434 -yard par 4, that's right par 4. The tenth hole is also a par 4 at 428 - yards. In all, the 18 -hole, par 72 course is 6,064 yards from the whites and 5,384 from the yellows. The longest is the 542 -yard par 5. Bayview offers two open scrambles each year along with their annual invitational which will be held September 7. Owners Bob and Janet Mason What: Exeter Golf Club Where: County Road 6, (Kirkton Rd.), one mile east of Highway #4. (235-1517). Holes: Nine holes, Par 36; 3,020 yards Lessons: Private, $30 half- hour; groups seessions beginning a no fringe green. There are three very popular leagues at Iron- wood and golfers are encouraged to sign up for the Tuesday night men's, Monday night ladies, and the juniors who golf on Thursdays. Like Exeter Golf Club, Ironwood has been attempting to draw the big -city golfers to their course. "We always figured we couldn't attract the London golfer with a nine -hole course. That's why we've got 18," said Dow. He said a lot of golfers are com- ing from Toronto due to the new condominiums in Grand Bend.' Owners Gib and Gib Jr. Dow What: Ironwood Golf Club. Where: one mile east of Exeter, off Highway #83. (Morrison Dam Road) 235-1521 Holes: Nine holes, Par 35; 3,134 yds. (blue), 2,926 (white), 2,393 (red). Owners: Gib, Gib Jr. and Barb Dow Rentals: clubs, $3 plus tax; pull carts, $2.50 plus tax; gas carts available. Green fees: nine holes, $11; 18 - holes, 517.25. May 17, $70. Club Pro: Bob Mason, C.P.G.A. Pro Rentals: clubs, $5.75; pull carts, $2.50; electric carts, $11.50. Green fees: weekday, $10; week- ends and holidays, $11; twilight (after 6 p.m.), $8; 'seniors before 1 p.m. on weekdays, $8. EXETER - After 30 years, the Exeter Golf Club is sull a very popular spot to be. They have three competitive leagues; Monday night men's, Tuesday morning ladies, and Wednesday night ladies. The la- dies will have their opening golf and lunch on May 7. Bob and Janet Mason are into their third years of owning and operating the club. In that time, they've noticed an increase in the num'ier of golfers to their fine nine -hole course. "We're getting players out of London as a result of their courses being busy; said Bob. "People want reasonable play- ing conditions and access to the golf course," he added. Exeter Golf Club is semi -private as there are memberships available but it's also a pay -as -you play for- mat as well. The recreational course is challenging, but the at- mosphere is relaxed. "Here it's very casual golf, there aren't any long lineups." The rune -hole layout has two dog -legs, the 473 -yard first hole and the 316 -yard five hole. If you like a course with water, you'll like this one. A stream runs through five of the holes and Bob, who is also the club pro, says the 378 -yard sev- enth ewenth hole is the toughest. Although it's straight away, the shot to the green is a semi -blind one and it's up-and-down hill. In all, the Par 36 layout stretches 3,020 yards. What's new at Exeter this spring, lots. The Masons are currently build- ing six new tees which mean level- ling, cultivating and seeding. Those should be ready in early August. They've also built a practice putting green and a practice sand trap. "They were needed to round out the facility," said Bob. Speaking of rounding out his fa- cility. Bob says they are planning on setting up a driving range in the fall. If you like to relax in a very unique atmosphere, you'll find the club house here to your liking. It's a barn, complete with dining facili- ties and a pro shop. GRAND BEND - Cel- ebrating it's 60th year, Oakwood Inn and Golf Club in Grand Bend is in the midst of a very large expansion. Not only have they built an ad- ditional 38 rooms and a confer- ence centre, but within a couple of months work will begin on nine new holes. Oakwood is a unique course in that there are nine holes on each side of the highway. They stag- ger, .meaning golfers don't cross over once, but four times. Club pro Gil Parkinson said in two years another nine holes will be built where the driving range is now. That will be combined with the nine on the east side. "It's a big expense for us with the insurance for the carts. They cross the road four times now." Parkinson said the nine holes around the inn itself will then be- come a nine -hole, par three execu- tive course. But before that happens, golfers will still be putting and driving on the very well groomed 18 hole, 5,356 -yard, 70 par course. "The course is really enjoyable to play. It's not really long or diffi- cult, it's different," said Parkinson. What's different, is the various lengths of the holes. There is the 90 -yard ninth hole and a whopping 600 -yard 14th bele. The chal- lenged golfer will like the range. "I think we're' one of the few courses with a 600 -yard hole," said Parkinson. Although the Par 5,' 14th is a tou- ghie, it's the seventh hole which could be the hardest. Just 175 yards, this hole has got lots of trees and a major water obstacle. One highlight to this course are the greens; they're soft and play- able. Two-thirds of those who golf at Oakwood are residents of Grand Cove Estates, just across the high- way. There is a Tuesday ladies' league and a Wednesday men's group. Parkinson confirmed that once again the popular Dave Scatclierd Invitational will be held on June 19. That will bring in 244) golfers along with 32 tennis players. This annual charity event is a big hit and proceeds go to the Scatch- erd Children's Centre. Oakwood. . HOTEL _ LUSH` lJ GOLF P RKING DINING HALL NOTE)�'—CgBINS PARKIN BLUE WATER HIGHWAY Oil Pa*J non What: Oakwood Inn and Golf Club Where: On Highway 21 in Grand Bend 238-8060 Holes: 18 holes, Par. 70, 5,356 metres. Lessons: private and group appointment, Club Pro: Gil Parkinson, C.P.G.A. Pro Rentals: clubs, 58 (includes tax); pull carts, 53; electric carts, 524. Green fees: twilight (after 4 p.m.), 512; other times, S20. ..4 4 I _ i