The well-groomed private 27-hole course permitted golfers to play 9 holes on either the North, South or West courses, which all started and ended at the Clubhouse. No matter the direction played, each golfer was challenged with a gentle sloping terrain, ponds, trees, sand traps and a creek that wound its way through the property. Added to that was the Club’s no tee time policy which allowed golfers the freedom to golf at their leisure.
With the move to Unionville, the Junior Golf Program became an important part of the York Downs golf atmosphere. Started by Head Professional Norman Smith and his staff, the subsequent Head Professionals Bruce McCarrol and then Ian Crebbin and their respective staffs have always promoted this excellent development program. Since 1971, it has produced many outstanding young men and women who have excelled at their game provincially, nationally and on some professional tours. The outstanding program was featured on Global TV’s “Making a Difference” segment hosted by Susan Hay. Many York Downs members learned the game of golf in our junior program and later their children and grandchildren also participated. There were many opportunities for young golfers at York Downs to participate in tournament play both individually and with their parents and or other members in the Senior/Junior trophy competitions. The Junior / Senior Ryder Cup Tournament was one tournament that highlighted profoundly serious play between a team of Juniors against a team of Seniors with the obvious bragging rights for a year.
In 2015, the property was sold to developers and 2020 was the final operational season of York Downs as a golf club. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 golfing season looked different than usual. The start of the golf season was delayed; tee times were required; some golf events and tournaments were cancelled; the Patio Room had restrictions and limitations and Clubhouse events were cancelled. Even with these challenges, York Downs continued to be the hub of social activity for our membership and their guests and had record breaking numbers of rounds played. Our Final Hole-In-One celebration, which also doubled as our Closing Ceremonies, was modified and a virtual video celebrating all that is York Downs was created.
In its ninety-eight years of history, York Downs underwent changes that may well have been a function of the times. However, it stayed true to the values of its founders and succeeding Boards. Namely that York Downs will be, first and foremost, a golf club ----- period. That means members enjoyed a first-rate course with conditions second-to-none, and they dined sumptuously in beautiful surroundings when their play was finished. In closing, as was written when York Downs moved from Bathurst Street to Unionville, “Times change, but not the spirit of York Downs” and as Joseph McLuckie (President 2019-2021) stated in his closing address to the membership, “that spirit is its people”.