The North Bay Golf and Country Club isn’t letting the closure of Ontario golf courses spoil a milestone celebration.
Jeff Mancini, General Manager of the course, says there will be a Zoom ceremony to commemorate the club’s 100th anniversary.
“Sometimes you hear of courses where it just passes them by. But we want to recognize the past and present members,” he said.
Mancini says there will be presentations from past and present members along with historical photos.
It comes as Ontario’s golf courses have been mandated to close as part of provincial COVID-19 restrictions. A letter was sent to the Ontario government on behalf of golf courses and players requesting the restrictions be lifted, citing the sport allows for safe activity outside.
Mancini and the North Bay club are represented in the letter through involvements with Golf Ontario and PGA Canada, saying it’s a “big push” from the organization.
“We take what’s happening in the world very seriously,” Mancini explained. “We’ve put together a really good game plan to provide safe and enjoyable entertainment outside which is great for mental health as well…We proved we were able to do that successfully last year.”
Despite the closure of golf courses, Mancini still reflects fondly on the North Bay Golf and Country Club’s storied history.
“It’s extremely special. We’ve had lots of people contribute. We’ve had lots of members provide us with insight. We’ve had lots of former members come back and help us out with this celebration. It just lends itself to see the pride that people have of this golf course,” he said.
According to Mancini, the North Bay Golf and Country Club was first funded by about 129 North Bay residents who each bought $100 shares in 1921. The first nine holes were designed by famed course architect Stanley Thompson, with the back nine drawn up by his apprentice Howard Watson in 1966. The current clubhouse and underground irrigation systems were built in the 1990s.
The 100th-anniversary ceremony of the North Bay Golf and Country Club will be on April 29 via Zoom.
