I’ve known about Scarboro Golf Club for many years because it is a hop, skip and a jump from where I live near the bluffs; however, even though it is close to most Local readers, I still meet many who have never heard of this stunning golf course. We wanted to make sure Local’s readers were aware of the lovely world that is the Scarboro Golf & Country Club including the fact that membership recently became more flexible. One of the things I learned along the way is that Scarboro has curling as well! Always lots to learn at Local.
If you are on a browser, here is the copy and the .pdf file is at right. Enjoy.
MUCH MORE THAN A GOLF COURSE
SCARBORO GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS A ‘HIDDEN GEM’. THE NEW TEAM RUNNING THE BEAUTIFUL SPACE IS HOPING TO CHANGE THAT.
In fact, one of the reasons I wanted to cover this story for Local was because few of Local’s readers seem to know about Scarboro Golf and Country Club which seemed a shame to me, even more so once I learned about the Club’s storied history and had a peek inside the stunning grounds and club house. I have to say, the place really is a hidden gem!
This hidden gem however, has been sitting on the Highland Creek ravine just north of Kingston Road on the street named in its honour, Scarborough Golf Club Road, for over 100 years! The course just celebrated its 102nd anniversary and this year is the 100th anniversary of the charming and impressive clubhouse. Members certainly know where to find it and many of them arrive several times a week not only to play golf but to enjoy the friendly atmosphere that characterizes the place.
“This is a very relaxed fun-loving group,” Chief Operting Officer, Neil Rooney says of his members, “It’s quite different from other clubs which can be a bit imposing. Here when members see a new face, they want to know who they are and often ask, ‘Do you want to come and join us?'” Neil Rooney knows this first-hand since he just arrived at the Club in January of 2013. Neil has been in the business for nearly twenty years. He started in Dublin, Ireland where he is from and then spent time at golf clubs in western Canada including Calgary, Vancouver and Edmonton. He was attracted to the General Manager position at Scarboro because the Board of Directors was looking for a change.
“It was time for a shake up of the Scarboro brand,” Neil tells me. “The Board had the vision to want to see something different.” After nearly 20 years, Neil was excited at the prospect of building his own team and that is exactly what he has done. Since his arrival, Neil has brought on a new Club Pro, Tyler Fitzgerald; a new Marketing & Sales Manager, Paul Bussiere, and a new Executive Chef, Dillup Attygalla. The four of them symbolize the new face of Scarboro Golf Club and have been working hard to evolve the Club even in the short time they have been there.
The biggest change was a challenging one. This year, Scarboro changed its membership structure from an equity membership, in which members paid a share of the Club’s overall value upon joining, to a non-equity membership. They were the first golf club in Canada to make this move. While this could have created a divisive atmosphere, instead the Club came together. and after months of consultation, 80% of members showed up and voted 97% in favour of the new structure. The results were largely due to many town hall meetings and the hard work of an ambassador group that gathered feedback from the membership over the course of a year. An annual membership is a more flexible and less expensive membership structure and the hope is that it will attract new members to the course and the club.
Golfers have always been attracted to Scarboro Golf Club. Marketing and Sales Manager Paul Bussiere says, “It has always been known for the greens – how beautiful they are but also that they are quick and true.” This is due at least in part to the efforts of Superintendent, Bill Gilkes who had his work cut out for him after this year’s harsh winter and ice storm but restored the greens. Neil Rooney tells me one of the perks of being a Club Manager is you get to play great golf courses all around the world. “One of the things I judge by is how quickly I want to return,” he says and says he still enjoys coming out to play at Scarboro and the course is “challenging but fun and enjoyable.” More importantly he says, “Not only do I enjoy it, but when I hear about a member who has been here since the 50’s and they still come out a few times a week, that is the proof in the pudding.”
The course is not interesting and challenging by chance. It was designed in 1924 in what is considered the golden age of golf course design by a man named A.W Tillinghast. It is the only one of his courses in Canada but several famous courses in the U.S bear his signature which was the design of courses based on strategy and shot making. As Paul explains to me, “You have to plan what club you are going to hit and what shot you are going to hit and every hole can play differently.” He says that the one thing that members always talk about it that “every time you play the course it feels different, it never gets tired.”
Neil Rooney is quick to point out to me though that it is not just getting out and playing golf that Scarboro offers its members. “There are going to be 30 guys out on the deck for a barbeque this afternoon who play every Tuesday. It’s not just about the round of golf. It’s about the camaraderie and interaction they enjoy afterwards.”
The Clubhouse at Scarboro is stunning. The building wraps around the greens so that each of the many rooms opens on to a balcony that in turn opens on to the greens. It is no wonder that Scarboro hosts many corporate events as well as weddings, retirement parties and other private parties there are rooms to suit every occasion. The Club also throws many parties for members including Mother’s Day and Easter brunch and Christmas and Hallowe’en parties for as many as 400 kids. At Christmas members’ children are treated to Santa arriving by helicopter!
This is the category Scarboro most hopes to grow with its more flexible membership. “We want to encourage the entire family to invest in the lifestyle here at the Club,” Neil tells me. “We want to be the destination for the husband and wife and the kids, not just the individual.” Brenda Tilley, the Club President represents this new demographic. The second female President in five years, Brenda, a professional with children, is part of the push behind attracting families. It seems to be working. The junior golf program at the Club exploded this summer with such high enrollment in day camps, an extra session was added to meet demand.
And Scarboro is not just a golf club. Curling is also a huge part of the attraction. With six sheets of ice and leagues that cater to all ages and abilities, the curling club at Scarboro is the hub thoroughout the winter months.
One of the newest attractions at Scarboro was the addition of a new head chef. One of the first things chef, Dillup Attygalla did upon arriving at Scarboro was to plant a vegetable garden. His face lights up when he talks about how he intends to expand it next year. And although the deer that live around the course were amongst the first to benefit from the bounty, the menu now boasts fresh to table offers that include ingredients fresh from the garden.
Dillup’s is not the only garden at Scarboro, gardens in fact are everywhere and the head gardener, Sandy offers a monthly garden club for members where she gives tips and ideas that they can use in their own gardens. And the greens, with their vast assortment and variety of trees, are absolutely stunning to look out at, never mind to play.
“The variety of holes from one to the other is fantastic,” says Neil Rooney, “No two holes are the same and the undulations and changes in landscape are pretty significant from one hole to the next. The course flows together really well from a golf perspective, and it’s fun!”
Scarboro hopes the new membership structure will help attract new members. As Neil says, “everybody benefits from having new faces in the room and new blood in the club.” If you are interested in seeing Scarboro, Paul Bussiere will give you a tour or play a round of golf with you. As Neil says,” I hear the Club being described as the hidden jewel which is great in that it is a jewel but not so great in that it is hidden.” In time, this new team is going to change that.
