Ainsdale gears up for golf season with a couple of new events

It may not look like golf weather outside, but Ainsdale Golf Course is gearing up for another great season with a couple of new events.

Owners Charles and Taylor Candler welcomed a good crowd to the open house, held April 6-7, where golfers were able to obtain memberships, and enjoy some fine refreshment as they gathered in the clubroom and the pro shop to socialize and talk about golf.

Located on Highway 21, south of Kincardine, the 18-hole golf course features a restaurant, bar and banquet facility and is the perfect place to eat, drink and play golf.

Bill Pike and Arno Weissenboeck run the pro shop with all the accessories you're looking for to enjoy a round of golf.

Pike says the hope was to open Friday, April 20, but the latest blast of snow could delay things a bit.

“We have to wait for the snow to disappear and for the frost to come out of the ground,” he says. “The ground has to be firm; otherwise, any activity would damage the course. Players will know the course is open when the flags are flying.”

League play begins May 1 for the ladies, and May 3 for the men. The clubroom has free shuffleboard available, the restaurant menu has been expanded, the bar has six different brands of beer on tap, and there is plenty of memorabilia to view throughout the building. Plus, there are specials for those wanting to come and enjoy the football and hockey finals.

New events this year, are the Ainsdale Golf Classic and the Junior Golf Camps.

The golf classic, slated for Saturday, Sept. 8, with a 1 p.m. shotgun start, will benefit Kincardine Minor Sports Associations and Kincardine District Secondary School Athletics.

Taylor Candler says she wanted to put on an event in support of Kincardine minor hockey, baseball, soccer, the Kippers swim team, and the Kincardine Skating Club, as well as high school teams.

“When I was growing up, I played just about every sport here,” she says, “and I became a well-rounded athlete. When I was going for that golf scholarship, my coach at Oklahoma University was looking for athletes who had played other sports.

“I want to support the Kippers who were behind me when I played golf, as well as other minor sports and high school sports in town because those coaches and players have been very supportive of my golf career.

“I've wanted to do something like this even when I was still at university. Now, it's the perfect time because we own this course – it's a great opportunity to give back to the community. 100 per cent of the proceeds will go to the sports groups.”

The classic is open to 144 golfers and will include raffle prizes and a silent auction, and a big meal following the round of golf.

“We hope to have Kendra Fisher and Garrett McFadden here to speak,” says Candler, “and I'm going to speak as well. We hope local golfers will participate, and people from local sports will also take part.”

The classic will be a four-person scramble, at a cost of $500 per foursome. To register, contact Candler at taylor@ainsdalegolfcourse.com or call 519-395-5555.

Junior Golf Camps are also planned for this season. To register for these, contact Candler at the above E-mail address or telephone number.

For more information about Ainsdale Golf Course and all that it has to offer, visit the website at: ainsdalegolfcourse.com