Toronto – The City of Toronto’s Dentonia Park, Don Valley, Humber Valley, Scarlett Woods and Tam O’Shanter golf courses will open tomorrow morning for the 2023 season. Following their opening on Tuesday, April 4, all courses will operate daily into the fall season, weather permitting.
Golf at the City’s five courses continues to grow in popularity, with an increase of 30,500 more rounds played last year than during the previous year. A record high of 225,501 rounds were played in 2022. The previous record was of 218,000 rounds played in 2003. Toronto’s golf courses are affordable, high quality and TTC-accessible. Each course has unique characteristics and offers something for all skill levels. The City also offers a family discount allowing junior players to golf for free during weekend afternoon nine-hole times when accompanied by a paying adult. A limited number of Junior memberships are also available for all five golf courses. More information in available on the City’s Junior Golf webpage.
Tee off start times vary throughout the season, end at dusk and are staggered 10 minutes apart throughout the day. As daylight hours extend, tee times will adjust to allow for dawn to dusk play. Golfers are encouraged to book in advance through the City’s website or by calling the golf course directly up to five days in advance. Rentals are available from the pro shop at each clubhouse. At Humber Valley, an accessible golf cart is available at no cost to golfers with mobility needs.
Fling golf will also be available at Dentonia Park, Humber Valley, Scarlett Woods and Tam O’Shanter golf courses. Fling golf combines elements of golf and lacrosse and is played with a fling stick that can be rented on site. Players hurl or fling a golf ball across the course for a faster pace of play that helps introduce new players to the game of golf while providing a new challenge for experienced golfers.
The self-led outdoor fitness circuit Bench Fit continues to be available at all City golf courses. Bench Fit uses park benches with instructional signage at stations along the golf course to encourage participants to perform up to 40 exercises along the 10-station circuit. Bench Fit is also available in many City parks.
This year, the Tam O’Shanter golf course in Scarborough celebrates 90 years since first opening for play. Created in 1933 and owned privately until 1973, the course was purchased by the Metro Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Metro Council, Scarborough Council and the Province of Ontario in 1973 and has been a public golf course for the last 50 years.
More information about the City’s golf courses and booking options, including contact information for each course, is available on the City’s Golf webpage.
“It’s exciting to see the growing demand for the City’s golf courses. I would like to thank all the golfers and staff involved for helping make 2022 a record-breaking year for our five great greens. I would also like to congratulate the Tam O’Shanter golf course as golfers and staff celebrate its 90th year in existence and its 50th year as a public course.” – Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie (Scarborough-Rouge Park), Chair of the Infrastructure and Environment Committee