Ian Andrew Golf Design to lead enhancement of Parkland style, practice facilities
Caledon, Ont. – TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley announced on Monday a major enhancement project on its parkland-style North course and practice facilities, with work beginning in late 2023. Renowned golf course architect Ian Andrew will lead the renovation, which will see the North enhanced as a venue for high-level championship competition while retaining its signature appeal for golfers of all abilities.
The project will begin in early August, with work scheduled to be completed by the end of the 2023 season in time for a grand opening alongside TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley’s new clubhouses, on-site accommodations and amenities in 2024.
Augmented course features will include renovation of green sites to expand closely-mown runoff areas, as well as strategically re-located bunkers and tee boxes. TPC Toronto’s practice facilities will also be completely renovated, including resurfacing of the driving range and construction of new short game and putting greens.
“For more than 20 years the North course has been known to golfers as a welcoming and wide modern course that players of all skill levels can enjoy. With this renovation, the course will be elevated into a compelling test for high level championship play while retaining its identity as fun, friendly and accessible for all players,” said TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley President Chris Humeniuk.
Originally designed by Doug Carrick, the 7,151-yard North course opened in 2001. Momentum to enhance the course to suit high level competition began in 2018, when Osprey Valley became the first Canadian facility to join the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network and launched the Osprey Valley Open, an annual PGA TOUR Canada event. In consultation with the PGA TOUR and TPC Network, a vision was forged to renovate the course as a venue for championship play.
Collaboration with Ian Andrew Golf Design began in 2022, with a focus on course changes to enhance competitive features, providing additional shotmaking options and strategic intrigue to the modern, parkland-style course. Following the completion of changes, the course will measure over 7,500 yards from the championship tees.
“Ian has presented us with a compelling approach to supercharge the course in a way that will test elite competitors and make the North a choice venue for high level competition while retaining the playability and fun factor that golfers have come to know and love,” said Humeniuk.
Andrew, who worked under Doug Carrick on original construction of the North course, including extensive work on design of the course’s green complexes, has an extensive portfolio of golf course design including renovations of St. George’s Golf and Country Club and Oakdale Golf and Country Club in preparation for the PGA TOUR’s RBC Canadian Open.
In addition to two original designs at Laval-sur-le-lac in Quebec (with Mike Weir) and Maple Downs in Toronto, the Brantford, Ontario resident has also been called upon for renovations to dozens of classic venues throughout North America designed by distinguished golden age architects such as Stanley Thompson, Seth Raynor, Walter J. Travis, A.W. Tillinghast, Willie Park Jr. and others.
With a focus on transforming the course for the modern competitive game, Andrew said golfers can expect to see course changes that intensify the challenges placed on elite competitors yet keep the fun factor for players of all abilities, such as strategically placed fairway bunkers confronting the longest hitters and runoff areas that offer multiple recovery shot options around the greens.
“This property, and the North course in particular, is a special place for me, having worked with Doug on the original design of this bold and truly fun golf course. With TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley at the forefront of so much excitement in Canadian golf, I’m thrilled to play a part in this project and look forward to continued collaboration with Chris and the Osprey Valley team,” said Andrew.
Following the 2023 August long weekend, renovation will begin and see the North course and practice facilities closed for the remainder of the 2023 season.
Opened in 2001, the parkland-style North (formerly known as Toot) course features wide fairways and dramatic green complexes protected by deep bunkers. The course has hosted several high-level competitive events, including PGA TOUR Canada’s Osprey Valley Open, RBC Canadian Open Regional Qualifying and U.S. Open Local Qualifying.
The course currently ranks 54th on SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Courses in Canada and 18th among the Top 59 Canadian Public Courses.
About TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley
TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley is one of Ontario’s premier golf destinations and the only TPC facility in Canada, located 45 minutes outside of Toronto and featuring three courses – the Heathlands, Hoot and North – all ranked in SCOREGolf’s Top 100 Courses in Canada. In 2022, Osprey Valley and Golf Canada announced a major partnership and bold vision to build a new Home for Canadian Golf, a campus experience that would include Golf Canada’s national headquarters, the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame, national headquarters for First Tee – Canada, and more.
