July 2008
For Immediate Release
Otterville, Ontario – The Otter Creek Golf Club is ready for a busy summer season. The front nine holes of the championship layout opened in May and since opening the back nine the last week of June, the golf course has received rave reviews from everyone who has made the trip to the small rural town of Otterville (pop. 500).
“Before opening the course we wanted to make sure that we provided a consistent golf experience from the first to the eighteenth hole to all of our guests,” says Allan, who is passionate about providing excellent customer service to everyone who visits Otter Creek. “Given the course is several months old, I think the quality of our golf experience is second to none and we will be regarded as one of the premier public access courses in Southwestern Ontario.”
Designed by veteran golf course architect Dick Kirkpatrick, the Otter Creek Golf Club is located 20 minutes south of Woodstock. The golf course is an outstanding 18-hole layout that features an eclectic collection of holes that extend effortlessly over 300 acres of farmland and tree-lined terrain. Considering much of the land was previously used for tobacco farming, the land is deceptively hilly enabling Kirkpatrick to route several holes along and through the wooded valleys of Otter and Spitler Creeks.
Otter Creek superintendent Randy Booker is extremely pleased with the way the course has evolved in such a short period of time. “In 10 months we’ve come a long way. We’re ahead of where I thought we would be in terms of both grow-in and turf quality,” says Booker, who has been involved with Otter Creek since day one. “From my perspective, we couldn’t have got off to a better start to our first season.”
Kirkpatrick says he focuses on “eye appeal” and “playability” as the two key characteristics that make for a memorable and enjoyable golf course. “I think the average golfer will find Otter Creek very playable and if there are players who want to experience all this course has to offer I encourage them to play from the back tees,” says Kirkpatrick. “At 7,100 yards, it will be a true test of golf.” In addition, he is particularly pleased with the course’s final hole. “The 18th at Otter Creek is a spectacular par-5 that will make or potentially break many rounds,” says Kirkpatrick whose intention from the outset was to establish one of the best new golf courses in Ontario. “I wanted to create a golf course that players of all skill levels will enjoy, remember and return to time and again.”
Complementing the golf course will be a rustic 5,000 square-foot clubhouse thoughtfully designed by Oakville architect Gus Ricci to accommodate tournaments, banquets and other social events. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year.
Otter Creek features 4 sets of tees ranging from 4,700 to 7,100 yards. Green fees are $48 throughout the week and $55 on weekends and holidays.
Photos available upon request.
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For more information contact:
Darren Allan, CPGA
Director of Golf
Otter Creek Golf Club
(519) 550-2926
dallan@ottercreekgolfclub.com
www.ottercreekgolfclub.com
Dick Kirkpartick
Golf Course Architect
(416) 580-8173
Rkirkpatrick11@cogeco.ca
Media contact:
Grant Fraser
Better Golf Communications
(905) 844-7666
gfraser@golf-management.org