A stay at Wooden Sticks offers a perfect escape without the travel

There are a handful of public courses in Ontario that draw me back year after year for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s as simple as the challenge of one particular hole or a set of greens that has mystified and taunted for years. In other cases, it’s the tranquil setting of a pine forest that immerses you in its surroundings and makes the rest of the world disappear.

Whether golf is a challenge, an escape or an adventure, rounds on these courses are a special experience, made even more so because they’re rare, not part of a weekly routine but rather eagerly anticipated as an annual outing with others that similarly appreciate the journey. Wooden Sticks in Uxbridge is one of those courses for me and I have relished the opportunity to return pretty much every year since architect Ron Garl designed it 25 years ago.

For those that don’t know, Wooden Sticks is noted for its replica holes, re-creations of famous holes we see each year on the PGA Tour. From Augusta to the Old Course, the island green at Sawgrass to Troon’s Postage Stamp, golfers can test themselves against the same challenges faced by touring professionals. The non-replica holes that Garl has crafted are equally beguiling, if less famous. It’s an unforgettable mix that offers plenty of challenge and loads of fun.

This spring, General Manager / Managing Partner Greg Seemann reached out with an offer to stay in one of the club’s new cabins. They have six two-bedroom cabins that are ideal for groups of four (two queen beds in each room) and very popular for buddy trips but had recently added four new cabins, each with two King Suites.

According to Greg, the 4-person cabins were fine for larger groups but not really offering the intimacy and privacy that a couple would want. The new King Suites are situated adjacent to the first tee and close to the clubhouse. Each one has a separate entrance, sitting area, kitchenette, king bed and 3-piece bathroom. The front porch is a perfect spot to enjoy a cocktail and watch the sunset or take your morning coffee and observe golfers starting out.

For all the times I had played the course, I had never actually done a stay-and-play at Wooden Sticks and my wife and I were intrigued to try the new cabins and spend a little more time soaking up the vibe. Golf courses can be a fun place to hang out, even when you’re not playing. The atmosphere after a round is magical – strangers are more talkative, everyone is pretty relaxed – even the guy that just double-bogeyed the last hole.

Since the beginning, Wooden Sticks has had a unique fee structure that includes a meal with your round of golf, cart and use of the practice facilities. It gives the outing a member-for-a-day experience similar to a private club. The food is exceptionally good too.

Stay-and-play packages typically include one round of golf, an overnight stay and two meals, probably dinner and breakfast or a two-round visit that covers lunch, golf, dinner, overnight, breakfast, golf and lunch. I talked to a foursome that was just wrapping up their second round. They were part of a group of sixteen that had been coming to Wooden Sticks once a year for “a long time”. Neither was sure how many years. But they considered it the highlight of the year and said there was a waiting list back home to join the group.

Not much to report on our own golf. My game has been a constant struggle and my wife’s game is pretty rusty, but she did birdie the 4^th hole which is a beautiful replica of the par-5 13^th at Augusta, complete with azaleas and a scoreboard with the latest Masters results.

The back nine starts with a replica of the opening hole at the Old Course and its large green looming behind the Swilcan Burn. Then it’s on to Troon’s Postage Stamp hole. The closing two holes include the par-3 island green and then the closing hole at the Old Course with the Swilcan Bridge, the Valley of Sin and a massive, sloped green that has welcomed some of the greatest Champion Golfers of the Year. With the shape my game is in, I love driving on the 10^th and 18^th. The combined fairway is about 100 yards wide and even I can’t miss.

Following golf, we headed to our cabin for a quick shower and a cocktail before dinner. The sun was setting and nobody was starting out, so it was as peaceful as can be on the porch. A perfect spot to reminisce about the good shots and commiserate the bad ones. I realized my game still needs work so that there’s more reminiscing and less commiserating.

Then a short walk to the clubhouse for dinner. We were seated on the verandah where we could barely make out the 18^th green in the dusk and perused the menu. Executive Chef Justin Vas has created an eclectic offering that presumably satisfies a wide range of tastes. It certainly made us pause as we considered all the options and we weren’t disappointed. Everything was delicious!

We took the long way back to our cabin, which took us past the putting green and the first tee. The opening hole is even more daunting in the dark. You know those church pew bunkers are out there. You just can’t see them. In the morning though, I watched from our porch as several groups teed off and a sizable number of them found the church pews. Just about every group said something about avoiding them, but few did.

Over breakfast with Greg Seemann, he told us about the club’s plans to build a boutique hotel on the site. It’s still a couple of years away but will offer another stay-and-play option for Wooden Sticks, not to mention much-needed accommodations for Uxbridge. From a golf perspective, they could offer longer stays where other local courses are added to the itinerary. I could go for that. A golf holiday with no airports or travel.

As we drove home, my wife commented that our visit was like being at an upscale resort without all the hustle and bustle. She was right. A perfect escape.

For more information about Wooden Sticks and stay-and-play options, click HERE.