JUST FOR FUN

GOLF IN THE CITY

No shortage of great courses to hone your skills

by KRISTY ELIK

If you discovered a secret passion for golf during the pandemic, you’re not alone.

Seems that in our quest to find safe, healthy activities that would get us out of the house, Canadians figured out that a. playing golf is fun AND b. the sport checks all the boxes for social distancing protocols. After all, it takes place outdoors, it’s healthy—both mentally and physically—and it’s a great way for people from different households to spend time together.

Word got around. Whether there was play at a local course, a nine-hole layout, or a championship 18-hole track, 2021 saw more of us teeing it up than ever before—this after a record-setting year in 2020.

Whether you’re experienced or not, now is the time to plan your golf adventures this summer. DYK? The City of Mississauga offers two public courses, Lakeview and BraeBen, and there are also several private courses within driving distance that you can add to your bucket list.

Both public courses are family-friendly, affordable and accessible by public transit, and whether you’re looking to practice your putting, visit the driving range or hit the greens, both courses are good for all skill levels. Amenities at each location vary, although both offer cart rentals, pull carts and licensed snack bars.

TOP OF THE CITY

At BraeBen, be prepared to take in the view! 360-degree vistas of surrounding Mississauga can be seen from most holes and from the driving range. Braeben will be the official golf course for the 2022 Ontario Summer Games, taking place July 21 to 24.

Looking to improve your game? BraeBen also offers golf lessons and clinics for all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re looking to improve your skills or pass on the love of golf to your kids, you can register and check lesson times online.

Online review: “this is a fun, challenging, scenic course in the heart of suburbia.”

BRAEBEN GOLF COURSE

LAKEVIEW GOLF COURSE

MATURE AND PICTURESQUE

Known as one of the ‘gems’ of the Ontario golf scene and the finest municipal golf course in Toronto, Lakeview Golf Course has played many roles in golf history (including hosting the Canadian Open twice, in 1923 and 1924). Located south of the QEW, just minutes from downtown Toronto, this majestic jewel offers a parkland-style layout with lush greenery and tall, shade-giving trees. Sand traps and elevation changes provide challenges throughout the 18-hole course, and golfers can rent carts and clubs on site. Additional amenities include a driving range and a clubhouse.

COURSES NEAR MISSISSAUGA

Lionhead Golf & Conference Centre offers scenic views and two championship courses designed to blend in beautifully with their natural surroundings. This attention to detail and the Ontario landscape make the two courses here—the Masters and its lengthier cousin the Legends—a memorable day for golfers at any skill level. Well-groomed fairways and greens keep the two eighteens challenging yet friendly, with staff happily offering tips and tricks. Players who pride themselves in accuracy and concentration may find themselves rewarded here. — from Ontario Yours To Discover

Granite Ridge Golf Club is located on the beautiful Niagara Escarpment in Milton. A 36-hole facility offering challenging layouts that can play up to 6500 yards, Granite Ridge was designed by renowned Canadian golf course architects Rene Muylaert and Dick Kirkpatrick and opened its doors to the public on July 1, 1996. The architects designed a user-friendly course with playability and tournaments in mind. Quick undulating greens and menacing water hazards await you.

LIONHEAD GOLF & CONFERENCE CENTRE GRANITE RIDGE GOLF CLUB

MISSISSAUGUA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

Local Links

1 Mississauga Golf mississauga.ca/golf 2 Braeben Golf Course mississauga.ca/golf/braeben 3 Lakeview Golf Course mississauga.ca/golf/lakeview 4 Mississaugua Golf &

Country Club

mississauguagolf.com 5 Lionhead Golf &

Conference Centre

kaneffgolf.com 6 Granite Ridge Golf Club golfgranite.com

Regarded as one of Canada’s most historic and significant golf clubs,

Mississaugua Golf & Country

Club is a natural jewel hidden in an urban setting. Over a century old, Mississaugua offers a classic setting and style, with modern agronomy and conditioning. An easy, charming walk, with holes regularly running along and over the Credit River, this course has tested the game’s best for decades. The club’s fabled “Big Chief”—the par 5 12th—bettered Jack Nicklaus on several instances, but the course has also created great winners. The natural landscape dominates the features of Mississaugua, starting with the opening holes that plunge into the valley surrounding the Credit River. LL