New owners of Ainsdale launch new logo, set dates for spring open houses

Golf season is a couple of months away yet, but the new owners of Ainsdale Golf Course, located just south of Kincardine, are already hard at work.

Taylor (Schmidt) and Charles Candler, who purchased the course in January from Al and Kathy Mackay, have launched a new logo and have set the dates for their open houses this spring.

The Candlers and their six-month-old son, Wyatt (right), have moved into the house west of the clubhouse at Ainsdale and are gearing up for their first season.

Taylor grew up in Kincardine and played a lot of golf at Ainsdale. She and Charles were living in Wichita, Kansas, and working at golf courses in that area, when they heard the course in her hometown was for sale, so they purchased it and moved here in the middle of a Bruce County winter.

Familiar with an off-season, they have used the time to develop a strategy and look forward to meeting with members during the open houses, set for Friday, March 31, from 4-8 p.m., and Saturday, April 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the clubhouse.

“We were very fortunate to purchase this course from the Mackays,” says Taylor. “We appreciate the hard work they did on the property and their high standards for maintenance.”

The Candlers hope to market the banquet facilities more, and will welcome Christmas parties and events there through to the end of December, even though the golf course will run only until the snow hits.

Taylor says she will take on the role of the golf professional, while Charles will be in charge of grounds and maintenance, and the food and beverage program. Golf pro Joey Rettinger will no longer be at Ainsdale.

Bill Pike will continue to run the pro shop, and several other employees will be returning to the golf course in the spring.

“I love teaching golf,” says Taylor, “and I'm a strong proponent of the junior golf program.”

Once they have met with their members, they will decide what further changes are required, if any.