This Canadian golf course can be found in Etobicoke, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the west-end neighborhood of Islington. This country club offers its players 18 holes and has hosted many golfing tournaments, including the Canadian Women’s Open and Canadian Open.
Membership Cost
Being an upscale country club, they do not publicize membership requirements but several online sources state that initiation is CAD $70,000, which would be about $56,000 in U. S. currency. There are annual dues of approximately CAD $4,250. In U.S. currency that would be approximately $3,400. There is also a refundable debenture of $5,000. Although it is not stated, as in most high-end golf clubs, guests will allow to play golf and partake of the amenities with a member plus a fee.
History Of St. George’s Golf And Country Club
It was founded by Robert Home Smith in 1909. He was from Stratford-upon-Avon, England. The land that he purchased was on the Humber River banks. The Royal York Hotel was being planned in the downtown area of Toronto so the St. George’s Golf and Country Club was built in coordination with the hotel. They figured that for the guests staying at the hotel, it would be necessary to have golfing facilities. Sir Edward Wentworth Beatty was in charge of building the hotel.
Stanley Thompson, an Architect, was the one building the golf course. He was one of the most prolific amateur golfers in Canada at that time. He was the one to establish the golf club in 1929, which opened under the name of Royal York Golf Club. In1933 the club hosted the Canadian Open. The name was changed in 1946 to what it is now because of a financial arrangement with the Canadian Pacific Railway.
| Name | St. George’s Golf And Country Club |
| Membership Cost | CAD $70,000/ USD $56,000 |
| Established | 1909 |
| Location | 1668 Islington Avenue, Etobicoke, Ontario M9A 3M9 |
| Phone Number | 416-231-3393 |
| Website | http://www.stgeorges.org/ |
History Of Golf Courses
St. George’s Golf and Country Club has held the Canadian Open six times, 1933, 1949, 1960, 1968, 2010, and 2022. It has held the Canadian Women’s Open five times, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1982, and 1984. To attract more Canadian Opens, they have extended the course to 7,025 yards. During the winter months, they did host a curling program but in 2020, it was discontinued. The reason for discontinuation was cited as no longer a good fit for golf. Where curling was held has been replaced by an indoor golf center.
Stanley Thompson helped to manage the club and the course until he died in 1953. At that time, C. E. Robinson took over and made several changes to the golf course. It was these changes that give it its character today. The main change was done to prepare for the Canadian Open in 1968, which was the lengthen the number of holes.
St. Charles’s Golf and Country Club is set in a rolling landscape that gives golfers troughs and sheer peaks to create a variety of challenging holes. One of those holes is a Par 3, 3rd hole that is positioned in its own dells with bunkers. The bunkers are a fair distance from the green. This creates a visual deception, making it exciting to tackle. The 13th hole is also a Par 3 that has an approach that goes over the creek.
Amenities
The same historical prestige that is found on the course is carried over to the clubhouse. It offers a range of modern comforts with Old-World beauty. In the dining area, there are several seasonal menus. They range from upscale gourmet dishes to casual bites. All of their meals are accompanied by a wonderful wine list.
Many of the dishes offered are made with homegrown produce from the club’s garden. They have on staff a sommelier and executive chef to ensure you have a great dining experience. The two things that St. George’s Golf and Country Club does not have that many other country clubs do is a large gym or pool.
What they do offer, in addition to exquisite dining and excellent golf, are beautiful, comfortable lounge areas, and locker rooms. They do offer an indoor learning center, which features many state-of-the-art golf stimulators and a 1,000-square-foot green. They also offer club fitting facilities and training bays.
Dress Code And Rules
They adhere to a conservative, strict dress code. You are not allowed to wear any illustrations, numbers, or commercial logos on your clothing unless they are club related. In one of the lounges, you are allowed to wear denim. The lounge is called the Royal York Lounge. Men cannot wear any headwear, including visors, backward. When you are in the clubhouse, you have to remove them. Women can keep their fashion hats on.
What Other Clothing Is Allowed Includes :
- Golf shirts with a collar
- Mock turtlenecks or turtlenecks but must have a collar of 1.5 inches minimum
- Unless the shirt is meant not to be tucked in, it has to be tucked in when in the clubhouse and on the course.
Cell Phone Use
All cell phones must be on vibrate or silent. They are not to be used for conversations for any reason except for private messages that have been pre-arranged. These are only allowed in certain parts of the clubhouse.
St. George’s Golf And Country Club Trivia Facts
- St. George’s Golf and Country Club has been rated amongst the Top 100 in the World and top three of Canada several times.
- Stanley Thompson, in 1924, at the Canadian Amateur led the qualifying round.
- Stanley Thompson was elected to the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1980, about 27 years after his death.
- St. George’s Golf and Country Club wine list received, from The World of Fine Wines, a 3-star rating in 2017.
- When the Clubhouse opened in 1930 there were 28 bedrooms you could stay in for $3 a night.
Conclusion
St. George’s Golf and Country Club is one of the premier country clubs in Canada. They offer an excellent golf course with many challenging holes. It has been the host of many Canadian Open Championships and Canadian Women’s Opens. Although they don’t offer as many amenities, they do offer fine dining and an impressive wine list to accompany their meals.