2026 is a great year to celebrate. Happy Anniversary!
Each year we’re pleased to recognize Ontario golf courses celebrating milestone anniversaries. 1926 was a banner year for new course development, coming right in the middle of what we now call The Golden Age of Golf Course Architecture. Noted course architects like Stanley Thompson and Donald Ross were prolific during this period and we’re fortunate that much of their work has survived and flourished a century later. Four Ontario courses are celebrating their centennial this year: Erie Shores, Oakdale, Orchard Beach and Roseland.
An even bigger cause for celebration in 2026 is the Toronto Golf Club (pictured above), which is 150 years old. Founded in 1876, Toronto is one of the oldest clubs in North America.
Finally, the Northern Golf Association is also 100 years old this year. Representing golf courses and players in the vast northern regions of the province, the NGA features 33 golf course members spread over 269,000 square kilometers.
Happy Anniversary to all!
Toronto Golf Club, Mississauga, Ontario (Private)
The Toronto Golf Club was established in 1876 and moved to its current site in Mississauga in 1911. Designed by the legendary Harry Colt, the course underwent a refurbishment at the direction of Martin Hawtree in 2010. The work was designed to restore Colt’s original heathland layout. LEARN MORE
Erie Shores Golf & Country Club, Leamington, Ontario (Public)
Erie Shores started celebrating its centennial a little early with the grand opening of its new clubhouse last year. The mature, tree-lined routing, with its gentle elevation changes, makes Erie Shores an easy walk. With Lake Erie in full view at the start and finish of both nines, it’s a scenic walk as well. Although just 6,145 yards from the tips, the proximity to the lake means that wind can be a regular factor. LEARN MORE
Oakdale Golf Club, Toronto, Ontario (Private)
Golf fans will be familiar with Oakdale, even if they’ve never played it. As the proud host of the 2023 RBC Canadian Open, Canadians were thrilled to watch Nick Taylor break the jinx and become the first Canadian in almost 80 years to win his national championship. Stanley Thompson designed the original 18 holes at Oakdale in 1926 and another Canadian Golf Hall of Fame architect, Robbie Robinson, added a third nine in 1957. LEARN MORE
Orchard Beach Golf Club, Keswick, Ontario (Public)
Designed by legendary architect Stanley Thompson, this 9-hole gem just north of Toronto has carefully preserved the character and charm of his original vision. Orchard Beach can also claim to be the birthplace of Hockey Night in Canada. LEARN MORE
Roseland Golf Club, Windsor, Ontario (Public)
Canada’s only municipal Donald Ross golf course (est. 1926), Roseland rests in the heart of Windsor. An elegant layout loyal to its original design, its terrain may be flat, but its greens provide elevation and movement. Typical for Ross designs, putting surfaces are generally pitched from back to front, with multiple tiers and the odd false front contributing to the challenge. The depth of well-placed greenside bunkers adds to the defence of par. The course’s parkland style incorporates mature trees, gentle elevation changes, and natural corridors that create a timeless, traditional aesthetic. LEARN MORE
Northern Golf Association
The Northern Golf Association (NGA) is a non-profit organization representing golf courses and players across Northern Ontario. The association has proudly served the Northern Ontario golf community since 1926. Their mission is to grow the game in Northern Ontario by supporting member clubs and players, coordinating tournament schedules and resources, advancing women’s and junior golf, and delivering competitive opportunities for men, women, and juniors. In partnership with Golf Ontario and Golf Canada, the NGA works to uphold the integrity, development, and long-term success of the sport across the region. LEARN MORE
