Historical Overview
The Seabeck family owned the property that became Whitevale Golf Club for over 100 years, selling the property to John R. Boyes in 1955. When the new clubhouse was built, the original farmhouse was incorporated into the structure. The windmill driving the Beatty Pump was part of the original farm and remains a Club fixture today. In 1960, willow trees the sizes of little sticks were transplanted from the front lawn of the farm to the south end of the pond on the 4th hole. These regal trees provided shade for the pond and area for many years. Today only one remains beside the pond and jealously guards the 4th green. The sale of the farm to Mr. Boyes was a fortuitous one for golfers.
Jack Boyes was an avid proponent of golf. He supervised the construction of the golf course on his property in 1957 and 1958. On June 14th, 1958, the first game of golf was played at Whitevale. In 1959, with a strong membership of 140 members Whitevale Golf Club incorporated as a private golf club. Pictures attest to the strong presences of all the Boyes’ family in Club activities for many years. Jack Boyes himself was very active in the Ontario Golf Association, and was an O.G.A. Board Member for sixteen years. During his time he was Chair of the Course Ratings and Measurement Committee, which saw him personally rate most of the coursed in the province. He was always proud to come home to Whitevale.
Jack Boyes sold the Club to an investment group, Song Bird Golf Courses Ltd. In 1970, Song Bird Golf Courses Ltd. leased the course to the Whitevale Golf Club Board of Directors for 15 years, to the year 1985. However, the lease was terminated in 1974, when the Provincial Government expropriated the property for a planned city, Cedarwood, which would neighbour the proposed North Pickering Airport. The airport properties were held in abeyance for a number of years by the Federal government. Thanks to local activists, many from the neighbouring Hamlet of Whitevale, the Airport was not built.
From 1974 to 1999, the Whitevale Golf Club operated by leasing land from the Province. When a window of opportunity opened, between 1997 and 1999 the members undertook the purchase of the lands from the Provincial Government. Club Director’s Barbara Rogers and John Trimble spearheaded the sensitive and lengthy negotiations. The purchase of the lands is a great source of pride for members. Although members have always loved the beauty of the golf course, there is a new sense of direction that comes with ownership and the ability to plan long term for the Club. Therefore 1999 was a pivotal year for Whitevale Golf Club. The Club celebrated its 40th Anniversary and become one of the very few private equity membership clubs in Ontario.
From 1999 to the present, the Whitevale Golf Club Board of Directors and the newly formed Long Range Planning Committee have been addressing several issues that faced the Club. KPMG’s Golf Industry Practices Division were hired from 2002 to early 2003 by the Board of Directors to perform an operational review and prepare a long range strategic plan for Whitevale Golf Club. From this the Long Range Planning Committee spearheaded by Lynne Sage developed a master plan for changes to the golf course and the ageing clubhouse. Changes needed for the golf course included bunker redesign and rebuilding, tee renovations, lengthening of some holes, providing a new forward set of tee decks, a new 2-line irrigation system and the building of a new 3 acre reservoir to retain the water for course irrigation. In June 2004, the members passed a resolution which authorized the Board of Directors to borrow up to $3 million to fund this important project. The Canadian golf course architectural firm of, Thomas McBroom & Associates Ltd. designed the renovation of the now 42 year old golf course retaining it’s original style and natural beauty. The renovation to the golf course was successfully completed by the spring of 2006.
While work was underway on the golf course, the Long Range Planning Committee continued developing a plan for the club house. By 2006, the Long Range Planning Committee after years of investigation and study recommended to the membership that building a new clubhouse in place of the old was the most efficient approach to take. At the 2006 Annual General Meeting the Board of Directors and the Long Range Planning Committee presented a proposal for a new club house to the membership. It was turned down by the membership in a vote, as considerable concern was voiced over the amount of additional financing that would be required for the new club house and the upheaval associated with construction commencing so soon on the heels of the golf course construction.
Whitevale Golf Club sits surrounded by Toronto and Region Conservation Authority lands. It’s newly renovated golf course is a sparkling jewel nestled amid the quiet natural beauty of conservation lands. The original club house still remains. The new Board of Directors are exploring new ways and means to address the clubhouse issue, but until then this active golfing membership is busy enjoying a golf course like no other in the GTA.