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THINGS CHANGE BUT...
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If you take a drive along Bathurst Street, just south of Sheppard Avenue, you might notice York Downs Drive, a tribute to the original location of York Downs Golf and Country Club. In 1922, York Downs was founded by Edward Cronyn and a group of his friends. With its founding, York Downs became one of two prominent private courses in Toronto, along with Toronto Golf Club located in Mississauga. Designed by Golf Course Architect Captain Charles Hugh Alison and with the construction of the course supervised by Stanley J. Thompson and Co., the course was ready for its official opening. |
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Exhibition match played on May 6, 1923 |
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George S. Lyon, the Toronto Golf Club’s Olympic Gold
Medalist, George Cumming,
the Head Professional at Toronto Golf Club, Frank
Thompson (Stanley Thompson’s younger brother)
and Willie Freeman, the newly
appointed Head Professional at York Downs. |
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As the surrounding area of
Bathurst Street developed and grew in the 1950’s and 60’s, York Downs was in
need of significant repairs. Consequently, the members of the Club decided it
was time to relocate to a quieter location just to the north in nearby
Unionville. Therefore, in the spring of
1971 York Downs relocated to 16th Avenue with a new 27-hole facility
designed by Course Architects Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson. All three
nines and the practice facilities were updated and redesigned by Thomas McBroom
in 1996 and 1997. In 2014, Jeff Mingay was retained by the Club to develop a
Golf Course Master Plan and to assist in the reconstruction of 3 holes on the
South Course. |
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In time, the gardens took
shape and filled in as the trees matured and lined the fairways and the
surrounding property. Before long, 16th Avenue was widened, and the
gravel road became a paved four lane roadway. Yet, even as the neighbouring
community grew, York Downs remained serene and peaceful. With
very few houses visible from the course it felt miles away from the city - it
was a cozy little hideaway with deer, coyotes, wild turkeys and other wildlife
inhabiting the property, observed by golfers frequently during their rounds. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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. |
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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”. |
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Please enjoy viewing our
Final Farewell video |
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