Rumours of a dragon sighting in the countryside in the west end of the GTA near Burlington are true.
While it has been three years quietly in the making, golf course architect Boris Danoff and owner Bryan DeCunha are now anxiously waiting for Dragon’s Fire Golf Club to take flight in May when the course opens to the public.
“Dragon myths and legends have been around since the dawn of time and we hope we have created something here that is true both to their magical spirit and a memorable golf experience,” says DeCunha, who lives just minutes from the course in Burlington.
Dragon's Fire Hole 2
While the 18-hole championship caliber design doesn’t have supernatural powers, the secrets dwelling within Dragon’s Fire boundaries are well guarded by some 80 bunkers and other natural hazards. DeCunha purchased the 190-acre former tree farm in 2005 and then sold his stake in Royal Ontario GC in Milton to Kaneff Golf. He called upon Danoff, the Toronto-based architect who recently co-designed Thundering Waters GC in Niagara Falls with John Daly, to create a player friendly design.
“With the abundance of trees that we had to work with and the rolling landscape it turned into a great countryside property to build a golf course on,” says Danoff, who also had a hand in designing the likes of Royal Ontario and Royal Niagara golf courses among others. “When you walk the site, and it’s a very walkable layout, there’s a feeling of seclusion and isolation as you play each of the holes that are surrounded by neighbouring woods and farm fields,” he explains. “But I think it’s the strong diversity of the holes and the strategic options that will make the course memorable.”
Whether you want to believe that dragon’s are friendly creatures that bring good fortune and wealth or that they’re fiery beasts that hunt their prey from a distance your theory will probably be determined by the tees you choose to play from. The course stretches from 5,200 to 7,300 yards, par-72 with five sets of tee blocks to choose from. “We have designed this course to be both enjoyable and challenging for the average golfer, yet the further back you go the more the dragon’s fury and teeth will come into play,” Danoff says with a sly smile noting that there is a 660-yard, par-5 to deal with for anyone playing the tips.
The inspiration for the club name evolved through DeCunha’s novel on-line “Name the Course” contest where golfers were invited to send in potential names for the course over a nine-month period in 2007. Last September, DeCunha opted for a suggestion from a young lady who submitted the name Dragon Ridge. In the end, DeCunha, a fan of Lord of the Rings, opted for a version of the name in Dragon’s Fire GC.
“We wanted a name that we could have some fun with that people would easily remember,” DeCunha says. “We’re hoping people will come out and discover the world of our 18 distinctive dragon’s. They may even slay them if they bring an A game, but the question is do they have what it takes to make a fantasy real and experience what we believe will be one of the premier public golf courses in the GTA.”
Whether you’re coming from the east or the west on Highway 401 or the QEW, Dragon’s Fire is easy to find. The club is located just east of Highway 6 at 342 8th Concession in Carlisle.
Construction of the 20,000 square foot clubhouse is scheduled to start in the fall and it will be fully open for tournament and private functions in 2009. Other club highlights include a fully equipped driving range and practice facility, paved cart paths, top-of-the-line Club Car Champion carts, marked sprinkler heads from 200 yards in, as well as the Sky Caddie GPS to measure exact yardage.
For more information visit www.dragonsfiregolf.com
Rob Stevens, owner of the new Turtle Creek Golf Course, about five minutes north of the 401 on the Guelph Line, is putting the finishing touches to his new 6,000 yard layout which winds its way through natural rolling hills, near the top of the Niagara Escarpment.
Stevens has hired long-time Guelph area golf professional Dennis Snyder as his Head Golf Professional and Paul Brown comes over from the Islington Golf Club to take on course superintendent duties.
Stevens says, “we have wintered very well and we hope to have golfers on the course by the end of May or early June. Our grand opening is scheduled for July. We are working with the weather to make this great facility available to golfers as soon as we can.”
With water coming into play on 12 of the 18 holes and three sets of tees, Turtle Creek will be both challenging and playable for all golf abilities.
For updated course opening information check the website at www.turtlecreekgolf.ca
Otter Creek Hole 8
About 20 minutes south of Woodstock and south of the 401, near the town of Otterville, you will find a new Dick Kirkpatrick golf design known as The Otter Creek Golf Course. Winding its way through 260 acres of tobacco farm land this 7,100 yard test of golf is scheduled to open July 1.
Three creeks, Otter, Cedar and Spittler wind their way through the property and provide interesting challenges for golfers. Four sets of tees will allow for every golfer to enjoy the experience in this scenic and pastoral part of Ontario.Darren Allan, formerly with the Hamilton Golf and Country Club has been hired as the Head Golf Professional.
A new clubhouse is scheduled for construction shortly after the course opens in July.
For more info check out www.ottercreekgolfclub.com
by Norm Woods
