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6 saturday april 20 2002 economist sun stouffville tribune sports swinging into a new golf season tiger mike weir help make spring busy on courses in markham stouffville by michael laughlin correspondent the arrival of springmeans many things to- different people to some it signals a time to work on the garden for others its a time to begin spring cleaning for golfers its a longawaited sign thats welcomed with open arms for those who did not have the luxury of playing somewhere during the winter months in warmer climes south of the border its been a long wait to swing a club onthe links within the boundaries of markham and whitchurchstouffville the public golf cours es have or are about to open their gates local golf professionals from the various courses note thestart to this years season is about average they said the time line for opening is usu ally the first weekend of april to the middle of the month although the ultimate decision goes to mother nature were it not for some wet weather in the form of snow and rain in recent weeks some courses might have been opened sooner as old man winter was gentle this year by dumping little snow but whatever the scenario theres always a loyal group of golfers who will come out in herds no matter what time of the season the courses open i think the golfers are really excited about this year notes brad hunt head profession al at parkview golf club markham wljose r links opened two days my advice ts to call now earlier than last year jf want tq pl people have been j r phoning us all season staff photosjoerd wtteveen the arrival of spring has golf enthusiasts out in full force on the links or driving range here sam lew far left watches as his friend raymond fung hits a ball off the mat at the fairtree golf centre on hwy 48 and denison avenue ularity kevin thistle director of golf opera tions at angus glen golf club in unionville feels theres several reasons one he said is the medias portrayal of the game and in extolling the exploits of several of the games superstars such as tiger woods and in canada mike weir in doing so he notes the younger genera tion are getting into the game whereas 10 years ago the game might have been viewed as being for the older generation guys like tiger woods make it a cool game to play for younger people said thistle and mike weir has canadian people excited to play the game thistle also feels the work of the royal canadian golf association and professional golf hunt says he wouldnt be surprised to see more golfers coming out this year golf has grown in the last five years people are coming out more and more every year he cited the real golfers are already out and they are always happy added wayne cameron director of golf at claremonts four seasons country club the golfers have all been ready to golf this year they seem really excit ed hunt points to his reservations list as proof of golfers enthusiasm his tee times are already booked solid which is impressive this early in the year even more impressive is the fact that golfers must reserve a time two weeks in advance y my advice is too call now if you want to play advises hunt something tells me that the courses phone lines will continue to ring for the rest of the season in explaining the surge in the games pop- association in the united states have encour aged more youngsters to take to the links through their youth programs in the last five to eight years kids are starting the game earlier heres a rundown of local courses that are open to the public within the vicinity of markham and whitchurch j angus glen golf club location 10080 kennedy rd northwest corner kennedy road and major mackenzie drive telephone number 905 8875157 web address wwwangusglencom course layout and fees north course 18hole 7514- yard par 72 to open south course 18hole 7400yard par 12 open green fees monday to friday 175 saturdays and sundays 175 after noon 120 holidays 175 after noon 120 golf academy and club rentals on site as well as full driving range chipping greens and putting greens new clubhouse open new tee deck on hole 18 south new putting greens bajllantrae golf club location highway 48 just north of aurora road telephone number 905 6406333 web address www ballantraegolfclub com course layout and fees 18hole 6808yard par 72 for 18holes monday to thursdays 65 fndays-weekends- hohdays 80 power cart 28 pull cart 650 for nine holes monday to thursdays 45 fndays-weekends- holidays 45 power carts 18 pull carts 650 new pro shop also multiple play packages available practice facil ities on site bushwood golf club location 10905 reesor rd 10th line telephone number 905 6401233 web address wwwbushwoodgolfcom course layout and fees 18hole 6450yard par 72 set to open apnl 13 as well as executive course spnng rates monday to fndays 35 weekends 45 normal rates monday to fndays 38 weekends 48 seniors and juniors monday to fridays 28 excluding holidays nine- hole 3200yard par 31 executive cdursef spring rate monday to fridays 11 weekends 13 normal rate monday to fndays 13 weekends 15 pro shop and club house on premises club and cart rentals and practice facil ities available changes include new tee decks and re- sanding bunkers four seasons country club location brock rd two kilometres south of claremont telephone number 905 6492436 web address wwwontanoweddingscom4seasons course layout and fees 18hole 5700yard par 69 monday to fndays 40 after 3 pm 35 after 5 pm 25 weekends and holidays 50 after 1 pm 45 seniors dis counted 5 off regular tee times juniors discounted 10 off regular tee times membership packages available clubhouse pro shop club rentals and practice facilities on premises changes include new tee decks the course is already open for the season glen cedars golf club location seventh concession rr5 claremont telephone number 905 2944457 web address wwwgoltglencedarscom course layout and fees 18hole 6525yard par 72 set to open april 10 fees until may 13 monday to thursdays 4750 fridays 5250 weekends and hol idays 5750 after may 13 monday to thursdays 47 fridays 5250 and weekends and holidays 55 twilight rates after 2 pm 40 after 4 pm 30 after 6 pm 20 chipping and putting area on site small area to hit your own balls and retrieve includes club house pro shop full bar restaurant and snack bar on site club and cart rentals available changes include renovations to pro shop maples of ballantrae golf club location 14248 highway 48 stouffville telephone number 905 6406077 web address none course layout and fees course open championship course 18hole 6715yard par 72 fees monday to thursdays 4486 fridays-weekends- holidays 5421 twilight weekend after three pm 3738 monday to thursdays 3364 everyday after 430 pm 2243 executive course a ninehole 1469yard par 29 rates junior monday to friday after 12 pm 2921 senior monday to fridays before 12 pm 3125 regular fee1495j8- holes 2523 changes include renovations to club house 8th hole has a new bndge club and cart rentals available clubhouse and pro shop on site markham green golf club location ninth line just south of hwy 7 telephone number 905 2946156 web address wwwmarkhamgreengolfclubca course layout and fees ninehole 3004yard par 35 fees for nine holes set to open apnl 12 fees weekdays 26 18holes 45 twilight weekdays after 6 pm 1825 18holes weekends 29 twilight weekends 21 junior weekday 17 junior 18holes 29 junior weekends 22 power cart 18 power cart 18holes 29 club rentals available licensed snack bar on site chipping and putting range on premises along with warm up dnving net no changes to course parkview golf club location 6402 steeles ave e markham telephone number 416 2932833 web address www parkviewgolfcom course layout and fees upper course- 18hole 6400- yard par 71 valley course 18hole 5860yard par 71 fees for both courses monday and tuesdays 38 wednesday to fndays 44 saturdaysundayholidays until 12 pm 56 after 12 pm until 4 pm 48 twilight after four pm monday and tuesdays 28 wednesday to fndays 30 saturdaysundayholidays 36 power and pull cart rentals available along with club rentals inside full lounge outside patio putting and chipping area also on site short iron practice facility no changes have been made to the course rolling hills god club location warden aveone km nortti of stouffvilterd telephone number 905 8881955 web address wwwclublinkca course layout and fees championship course an 18hole 6340yard par 72 weekend prime 48 weekday prime 36 regular 36 opportunity 29 twilight 29 five hours before dark dusk 17 three hours before- dark challenge course an 18hole 4456yard par 70 weekend prime 40 weekday pnme 30 regular 30 opportunity 20 twilight 20 dusk 15 classic course an 18hole 4010yard par 62 weekend pnme 30 weekday pnme 25 regular 25 opportunity 20 twilight 20 dusk 13 club and cart rentals available all three courses are now open to the public all courses open unionville golf centre location 44 main street unionville telephone number 905 4771148 web address none course layout and fees 18hole 2103 yards for men and 1799 yards for ladies par three fees weekdays 21 weekends 25 junior and senior weekdays 1650 weekday dusk after 5 pm 1650 weekend dusk 1850 weekday twilight after 7 pm 1250 weekend twilight 1250 the course is already open club rentals 6 pull cart rentals 4- drivihg range putting and chipping areas on site no changes to the course with files from mike hayakawa dont pay that traffic ticket j- c t traffic ticket experts is staffed by expolice officers who will act as your agent in f court defending all traffic tickets speeding accidents careless impaired etc v a r i mmm guaranteed service call for free consultation 905 9403000 4418 hwy 7 east unionville