Innisfil's well kept golfing secret

Big Cedar Golf Club member Bill Docherty takes a swing at the Innisfil course recently. Big Cedar is a non-profit course, where proceeds are used to pay staff and upgrade the site. About 150 people play the course each day. "Innisfil's best-kept secret is a nine-hole jewel on the west shore of Lake Simcoe," said Bill Docherty, describing the Big Cedar Golf Club in the simplest way possible.

To Docherty, the course is more than just a golf course; it's a home away from home. For regular golfers, it's a place where everyone knows their names.

The course was built on land donated by King Houston. After the official opening in 1931, the course had only one to three employees, and had far fewer members than it does now. Local residents used horses to develop the land into what it is today.

Since then, the course has evolved into something a little more impressive. Currently, the employee count sits at 20, while the amount of members is above 400, according to course manager Mike Jackson.

As a result, the course is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. 180 days of the year. Each day, approximately 150 players arrive to enjoy a round.

Originally, the land was donated to the community and had to remain not-forprofit. Yearly memberships range from $220 for a junior to $1,000 per couple. Still not a single person profits from the course today. All surplus money goes towards improving and maintaining the course. Four hundred members own a share of the course.

This sometimes gives members the chance to voice their opinion regarding changes to the course. For Jackson, it was designing a new pond that is currently on the grounds.

There are a few extra environmental positives to the course. According to Jackson, they have permission to extract 545 litres per day from Lake Simcoe.

He also mentioned that the course has never taken as much as they've been allowed.

In 2008, due to all the rain, the course only needed to extract water from the lake eight days.

Not only are the mature forests surrounding the course the reason it has become a secret, but they are also the home of many natural plants and animals. Management refrains from disturbing the forests, unless a tree has become dangerous. Whether a tree has gotten too old, or winds have brought it to the ground, the rule of thumb is to plant two trees as fitting replacements.

Animals are usually left alone on the property, unless they're causing a disturbance. A family of foxes are currently living underneath the halfway house, and more often than not, they give golfers something to talk about.

Six swallow condominiums have also been built on the course. Swallows naturally reduce the amount of mosquitoes on the course, which eliminates excessive use of pesticides to remove the bugs.

According to Bob Vent, the course's superintendent, the goal is to reduce the amount of pesticides, and only use when absolutely needed. Instead of prevention, their method is reaction.

Only areas that have been affected by pests or weeds will be sprayed, which decreases the amount of pesticides that end up in the neighbouring lake.

Golf courses often receive a bad impression, since they've been allowed to use pesticides while the rest of Ontario is banned.

"To run a successful business, you need a good product," Vent said. "Golfers have come to expect smooth, fast greens and lush looking turf in fairways. Golf courses have to be playable to keep golfers coming.

"No golfers, no money, no business."

Vent is required to use pesticides to keep the customers coming to the course. But he tries to spray at minimum and use natural methods when possible.

The course is located at 1590 Houston Avenue.